Step aside, Stanley tumblers — hand sanitizer is the hottest new teen status symbol.
Regardless of the generation, popularity always seems to be a big stressor to middle schoolers, with status markers such as what sports, extracurricular activities, friend groups they’re part of — and often, whether or not they have the latest trendy item. This time around, it’s a cute little pocket hand sanitizer.
Just last year, the cool thing to be seen with was the viral Stanley tumbler. Yes, a $45 water bottle. It was the latest craze with kids of all ages desperately wanting to be seen prancing around with a 40 oz bottle in their little hands.
It became a symbol of popularity in middle schools — and even elementary schools — and those who didn’t have one were subject to bullying.
Now, teenyboppers are pushing aside hydration and making sanitation the ultimate symbol of “cool” with the $10 Touchland hand sanitizers.
The Touchland candy-colored sanitizers come in a rectangular glass bottles that fits in the palm of your hand — and they all come in a delicious scent.
They’ve gotten so popular among teens and tweens that they’re akin to lip smackers or Pokémon cards of previous generations, being traded as though they are prized possessions.
“We all have a lot of Touchlands and use them daily,” Gemma Barnhorst, a 13 year old in school in Mamaroneck, NY, told the Wall Street Journal of her friend group.
“We constantly rate and trade the different scents,” Anytime Wynne Beauchene, an 11 year old in Summerville, SC, added.
Part of the appeal is the minimalist and colorful aesthetic that looks more like a gadget than a typical hand sanitizer. They also smell good and are a mist rather than a gel, so they can’t spill in backpacks as easily.
Though the functionality and convenience definitely comes into play, there’s nothing that reels in the younger generation more than the looks of it.
“The fun colors are cool to have and display,” Hank Whinnery, 10, in Minneapolis, shared with the outlet. Whinnery added that there’s also the fact that they are hard to get and sell out fast, so the status symbol is enhanced by whether or not you have one and how many you can get your hands on.
And with Sephora kids continuing to add Touchland sanitizers to their carts, the craze has gotten out of hand at some schools — leading teachers to limit them during class.
“Our teacher tells us we can only have one on our desk because we all have too many,” 10-year-old Vaida Jaunzemis said of her school in Minneapolis.