25 Things That Were Ruined When They Became Too Popular

Buzz Feed

28-05-2025

We recently asked the BuzzFeed Community to tell us which things were "ruined" when they became too popular. Here are the fascinating results:
"Superhero movies. Please, please slow down. I grew up with Marvel and have been a fan for 30-odd years, but I am BEGGING them to just take a bloody break. It isn't that the content is bad — I'm one of the people who loved The Marvels — but I think we would all be quite happy to let the genre have a little rest while they figure out what they want to do."
"College! College became the standard, and now, it doesn't make you stand out from your peers. Companies like to see a master's or another sort of certification beyond a bachelor's degree."
"Tri-tip roast used to get it on sale for less than a dollar a pound (granted, quite a few years ago), but once it was discovered, the price went up rapidly — to now $8.00+ a pound."
"Casual collecting or reselling culture. Once something becomes mildly popular, people always buy up the more rare or popular things."
"Pickleball. It started off as a relatively unknown sport that my husband and I discovered about 10 years ago. It was easy to learn, made for great exercise, and the equipment was inexpensive. Now, it's become the in thing because of so-called celebrities like the Kardashians taking an interest in it. Because of that, the cost of pickleball equipment has skyrocketed, with retailers getting on board with 'specialized pickleball gear' (which isn't even necessary BTW) — and pickleball courts are jammed with people trying to become 'pickleball pros' on social media."
"Specific dog breeds. This is an ongoing issue. Rabid GoT fans adopted huskies, then surrendered them to shelters when they couldn't care for them! Now, I'm hearing about people with French bulldogs getting attacked and their dogs stolen! If you want a canine companion, JUST GO TO A SHELTER!!!"
"Stanley cups! The one I bought for less than $10 years and years ago had an unfortunate meeting with a fishing pond, and I thought, 'So sad, oh well. I'll just Amazon me a new one.' Nope. Not for $40, I won't."
"Nashville. My hometown is so congested now, it's disgusting. The cost of living is higher now, too."
"Liking kid's stuff. I mean, liking cartoons and collecting action figures or owning some plushies is fine. Disney Adults, Bronies, gatekeepers, collectors, etc., have taken over. A kid picks up Harry Potter, and instead of having a good mix of kids and teens and adults in the community, it's overrun by adults with excessive trivia knowledge, edging kids who just like the book out of the picture."
"Tipping. It was only popular in the US, and while I'm a fan of globalization, the increase in tipping around the world is an unwanted side effect. People are expecting tips for everything at this point — even when they didn't directly provide a service (e.g., self-checkouts at grocery shops asking for tips). Tips are not supposed to be mandatory; they are supposed to be optional for good service."
"Concert ticket prices nowadays are highway robbery, and that's not even counting the 'handling fee,' 'service fee,' and 'bleed you bloody dry' fee 😑."
"Social media/networking. I remember the early days of Myspace when social sites were just starting. We actually used the sites to network with friends. Nowadays, social media/networking sites like Facebook, Instagram, X, etc. are toxic, politically divided cesspools where people only care about likes and followers."
"Thrifting, especially clothes. Now, something that should be affordable and sustainable is more expensive and promotes overconsumption just as much as anything else. Big secondhand platforms are buying smaller ones and are running sales like fast-fashion websites. Don't get me wrong; buying used will always be more sustainable than buying new, especially from fast fashion — but constantly buying, selling, shipping, and warehousing — it doesn't feel like conscious shopping anymore."
"Airbnb. They used to be fun and affordable. Now, they're all overpriced, and people are greedier than ever."
"When I was a kid, the theme parks were not crowded. You didn't have long waits or high prices for everything. Now, with social media influencers, everything is not only extremely expensive, and now you have to wait in long lines for everything!"
"A Nightmare Before Christmas. I used to watch that movie every Halloween and Christmas Day (and many times in between) because I loved that it blended my two favorite holidays, and I think Tim Burton is a genius. However, seeing Jack Skellington everywhere, ALL THE TIME, is just too much. Some people treat that movie like a religion, and it just totally ruined it for me."
"Subscriptions for every damn thing, so you basically own nothing anymore. Microsoft Office? Annual subscription; must renew. Antivirus software? Annual subscription; must renew. Streaming platforms? Monthly subscription; must renew...with caveats! Pay for a cheaper plan with ads or a more expensive one without! No in-between. Every time I have to renew something, I always think to myself, 'I'd like to tell XYZ company where they can shove their subscription policy...'"
"The Internet, the moment AOL (aka America Online) threw open its previously locked doors and unleashed millions of end users who cared not a whit for Netiquette in a comparatively calm, respectful world populated mostly by academics and scientists. Oh, yes, AOL had its place — AOL chatrooms were legendary — but a certain culture of openness and genuineness on the Internet was lost."
"Casual crafting. With the rise of things like Etsy, you can't just craft anymore. If you make something cute or fun to share with others, everyone thinks it should be your side hustle. I don't want to sell things; I want to enjoy the peace of making something by hand. Crafting is allowed to exist as a way to relax!"
"K-pop. It was nice and fun before, but like most things, fandoms took over and turned it into a hobby I don't like to admit I enjoy out loud."
"Tacos and tequila! These days restaurants have 20 kinds of tacos and a separate tequila shot menu. Just bring me some authentic, delicious tacos and the house tequila, please!"
"Spin-offs! Now, everything is in an extended universe, and there are so many things you're expected to watch to follow one main storyline, and I'm so tired. I have a job, I have a life, and I have to sleep; I want to watch a show or a movie to relax, not to be told, 'Oh, you'll appreciate this more if you watch these seven different episodes from eight different shows because there's one line that makes this so much more powerful.'"
"The term' red flag.' It used to mean something, and now, it seems like something people throw around to mean something they don't like. I recently heard someone say that 'giving homework is a red flag,' which I'm pretty sure does not mean 'if a professor gives homework, then that's a warning that this professor is not a good professor,' since at least where I go to school, some departments mandate that professors give homework (which, let's be honest, is pretty gross) — and even if it's not mandated, professors often give homework because we just don't have time in class for everything, including going through problems. We're most likely already behind on our curriculum."
"Camping. I've camped my whole life, and I love it. I truly encourage others to do so. Then, camping and RVing became insanely popular in 2020. Now, it's next to impossible to find camping reservations less than six months ahead of time, and the rich, entitled people have changed the atmosphere of the campground. Not to mention, the prices have doubled because these people want campground resorts with perfect WiFi."
And finally...
"Air travel. When I was younger, I thought everyone should travel more. Now that air travel has become super popular and the airlines try to squish as many people on board as possible, flying has become unbearable. Seats have become smaller and closer together, meal and drink service has taken a nose dive, we're charged for bags, and people who don't understand basic flying etiquette think people are being 'rude' to them when they act extremely entitled."