After a viral social media trend prompted by popular creators, namely Gianna Joyce, college students are turning to squishies, gel-filled toys, to relieve stress before exam season.
These soft, squeezable toys — once a childhood memory — are now popping up in lecture halls, libraries, and dorm rooms as a simple way to manage anxiety and stay focused.
But this rise isn’t happening quietly. Squishies have exploded in popularity on TikTok, where videos of “squishy hauls” rack up millions of views. The trend has influenced many, with students rushing to stores like Five Below and Target in search of the latest raves, often clearing shelves within minutes of restocks.Â
As demand grows, many students are also turning to online retailers like SHEIN, where squishies are sold in bulk at low prices, making it easier to keep up with the trend without breaking the bank.Â
For many students, the appeal lies in their accessibility. Unlike more time-consuming stress relief methods, squishies can be used anywhere, whether during a study session or in the middle of a stressful class.
One student, Teona Chereyskiy, a junior neuroscience major at the University of Maryland, said she began using squishies about a year ago as a way to cope with anxiety.
“Playing with a squishy while I’m stressed helps direct my attention away from threat circuits into sensory and regulation circuits,” Chereyskiy said in an email.
From a neuroscience perspective, this kind of repetitive, tactile motion can help shift the brain’s focus away from stress responses and toward more calming sensory input. That shift, even if small, can make a noticeable difference in how students handle pressure.
Chereyskiy said she has seen that impact in her own daily life.
“I feel more okay with doing work for longer periods of time when I have a squishy with me,” she stated.
While squishies may not replace long-term mental health strategies, students say they serve as a helpful, in-the-moment coping mechanism, especially during periods of heightened anxiety.Â
Though they’ve been around for years since their rise to fame in 2016, social media apps like TikTok can be thanked for their rebound.Â
“The influx in squishy consumption is likely due to internet trends on social media…[however] so many people on campus have them that even without social media, one can learn about squishies, thus encouraging a purchase,” Raya Arora, a biology student at the University of Maryland, said in an email.
The rise of squishies also reflects a broader trend among college students — Between academic demands and social pressures, many are looking for simple tools that bring a sense of comfort and control.
As Chereyskiy put it, recent generations are “a really stressed population,” making it more important than ever to find small moments of relief, even if that comes in the form of a soft, squeezable toy.