"Collect 'em, Trade 'em, Wear 'em"

By: Emily Soroka and Lan’Tiqua Burks, M&M TIPsters

These animal shaped rubber bands have impacted everyone. They are the new sensation and everyone wants them. You can “Collect ‘em, Trade ‘em, Wear ‘em.” Can you guess what these are?

Silly Bandz were invented by 47 year old Robert J. Croak, the founder of Brainchild Products. Silly Bandz started to get popular in summer of 2009, and since then they have gone from shipping out 20 boxes of Silly Bandz a day to 1500. Even though Silly Bandz are very popular, some people still don’t know what they are.

When an employee at Margo Jewelry Store was asked if she knew what Silly Bandz were, the answer was “um, no.”

Silly Bandz aren’t loved by everyone. They are mostly popular among young children, but they have started to catch hold of teenagers. Kwanzaa Dunbar, a 16 year old from Tennessee said, “I gotta get some of them things.”

Many schools in states like Texas, New York, Florida and Massachusetts have banned these silicone bracelets. They are deemed a distraction to students. Students play with Silly Bandz in class instead of paying attention and in some cases their circulation can be cut off from wearing too many.

When Lisa, 21, from Athens was asked her opinion on Silly Bandz being banned, she said, “I think it’s dumb, I mean, if it’s not Silly Bandz it’s gonna be something else.”

When Robert Croak made these stretchy bands he never thought they would become this popular. Even though they have been banned in some schools, they are still popular everywhere. New Silly Bandz will be coming out soon, such as UV activated ones. They have made such a great impact because of the cheap price during this economy crisis. At only $5 for a 24 pack, children can have their parents buy them many at a time.

Some people love Silly Bandz, and some just hate them, either way these stretchy rubber bands are extremely popular.

Emily Soroka, 14, is a Freshman at West Forsyth High School in Cumming, Georgia
Lan’Tiqua Burks, 15, is a Sophomore at Cascia Hall Preparatory School in Tulsa, Oklahoma