NeeDoh is surging with popularity due to its social media virality, where influencers share ASMR videos that create massive trends, turning them into high-demand toys. At Pahrump Valley High School, many students feed the craze. At PVHS, you either have a NeeDoh or know someone who does, including the teachers who despise them.
There is one particular student who loves NeeDoh’s: Arionna Carson. Carson has owned multiple NeeDohs within the last couple of years, so she has been well-acquainted with the brand long before its current popularity.
Carson said,“ Lately, it has been becoming a big issue because now they’re always sold out.” Carson is becoming frustrated because now that they’re trending on TikTok it has become harder to spot them in stores. She believes that most people just want to have them, rather than use them for their intended purposes.
Carson currently owns nine NeeDoh’s, having purchased many more over the last few years. When she goes out, she usually looks for pink NeeDoh’s, but she’s grateful for any style.
While students love to follow trends, there are some who don’t understand or approve of them, such as their teachers, who believe that these squishes are a distraction in class. A good example would be Michael Colucci, the weight room coach, as well as the coach for other extracurricular activities, whose first impression was that high school kids shouldn’t be playing with little kid toys.
Colucci said, “I would never own one. I personally think they are weird.” Colucci expressed he doesn’t really understand this trend and is not sure why kids are considering this entertaining. Other than thinking they are weird, he also views NeeDoh’s as a huge distraction in class, especially in the weight room.
In conclusion, the NeeDoh craze has taken over PVHS, with students and teachers having strong opinions about it. This trend highlights the power of social media’s influence on the community, sparking debates about whether or not it’s an actual stress reliever or a distraction. If you spot someone with a NeeDoh, ask them if they are using it for stress relief or just jumping on the bandwagon?
