Squishy

In the following years, the toys become popular all over the world, [1] and have huge presence on social media (especially YouTube and Instagram).

[2] Squishies became popular among children and adolescents, but also among adults, for the tactile pleasure that one experiences squishing them — which is said to relieve stress.

[2] Squishies are a recent member of a more general class of mindless manipulation toys, that includes stress balls and fidget spinners.

The Danish Environmental Protection Agency tested 12 squishies and found that they all release unacceptable levels of harmful substances, such as dimethylformamide, leading to their removal from the Danish market and the recommendation that all squishies be discarded and that they can safely be disposed as household waste.

[4] Squishies have also been taken off the market in Norway because of their potential choking hazard and their popularity with small children between ages 6-12.