Scorpio, Leo, Cancer, Aries—these are only four of the twelve star signs, more popularly known as zodiac signs. The use of star signs dates back thousands of years ago to ancient Babylon, but underwent a resurgence of interest in early 2020 led by Gen Z. They reached the peak of their popularity around 2022, with countless videos, charts, and infographics running rampant online. However, hype surrounding zodiac signs has significantly petered out in recent years, and now, as we near the end of 2025, rarely anybody mentions them anymore. Were they just a passing trend? Why did they become so popular in the first place?

The early 2020s were an interesting time for social media. Restricted from face-to-face interaction, many took to the Internet. In particular, teenagers began to form small spaces for themselves, looking to find familiarity and kinship in others like them around the globe. In their search to establish an identity, they stumbled upon star signs, and what was originally just a way to tell time evolved to become something much more complex. 

A common belief connected to zodiac signs was that they determined certain personality traits and features. For example, Aries was often assumed to have a hot temper and Leo to love attention. Stepan Lomako, a sophomore and a Virgo, can confidently state that he hated these clichés, as in the early 2020s he was constantly plagued with stereotype after stereotype on TikTok. Now, he enjoys a zodiac-free experience every time he turns on his phone. “I remember getting so annoyed at being typecast as an overly harsh critic all the time,” Lomako said. “I definitely don’t miss those days.”

Though Lomako personally wasn’t a fan, some still look back on that age fondly. Tenth grader Madelyn Edgecombe, a Taurus, recalls being deep in zodiac-tok during its prime. Her For You page unfailingly offered video after video of any and all things astrology related. Titles such as “Top 3 Smartest Zodiacs” and “Worst Signs to Marry” were regularly found on her watchlist. In her opinion, though, the cause behind the downfall of their popularity was simply because the Internet viewed them, like most other things, as nothing more than a passing trend. “I don’t really see them ever becoming famous again,” Edgecombe said. “But it’s nice to look back on.”

We might never know if star signs really influence personality or fate, or if they’ll ever be popular again. One thing is undeniable, though: the twelve zodiacs remain the backbone of an iconic, unforgettable era.