Students at the University of North Georgia share their love for the stuffed animal brand Squishmallows. The toy is the “softest cuddliest toy around” according to the brand’s website.

This toy has a similar impact of the Beanie Babies of the 1990’s. The popularity of the product allowed sellers to upcharge on websites like eBay and Depop.

Squishmallows have, for some reason, become a favorite of many college students.

Megan Hanlin, a sophomore criminal justice major, who has at least 20 of the plushies, said the appeal is “that they’re really soft and it’s just a really big huggable stress ball type thing. And you can give them names, so they have personalities.”

Hanlin also went on to say, “For really lonely people it allows them to have someone in their life that actually cares about them.”

Danya Cosco, a freshman French major, said she does not own any, but really wants to in the future. “They’re just so cute,” Cosco said. She thinks the appeal of the toys to college students is to “comfort our inner child,” stating that a lot of people have to grow up fast and didn’t get the experience.

Caitlen Blair, an employee at the Dahlonega Walgreens, said the most common buyer of the toy are college age kids. Blair said, “Honestly, I think half of them resell them for higher than market value and I guess the other half collects them.” Since they are a sought after plushie, she said they last on the shelves at her store for a day or less depending on the popularity.

Whether it be comfort or a quick profit, the toy doesn’t stay on shelves for long. It seems history will repeat itself in the form of a plush toy craze, just with a new generation of consumers.