A recent trend that has been emerging and developing on the Internet and social media is the existence of tiny cooking videos and the detailed "art" of replicating food in a much smaller size.
This trend originated in Japan, as a form a miniature art that predominately appeared in accessories and toys. Beginning around 2010, some Japanese Youtubers began styling miniature food toys in videos that simulated cooking in a much smaller setting.
These initial videos showcased toys only that replicated the look and texture of real food but were actually inedible. Popular miniature food toys included Konapun and Poppin Kitchen By 2014, other Youtubers began experimenting with miniature food, but this time with actual edible ingredients. Popular YouTube channel Miniature Space creates and styles tiny food in a model kitchen with a candle as a stove.
Around 2015, America began catching on to the tiny cooking trend. Things like Tastemade's Tiny Kitchen emerged, showing up on not only YouTube but also other social media sites like Facebook, Instagram, and Snapchat.
So why the obession? Based on reviews from peers and personal experiences, the aspect of scale and precision brings a sort of satisfaction that makes for a sensory viewing experience. In fact,in 2015, a report from a video intelligence firm Tubular Labs indicated that these miniature food videos contributed up to 3% of the total views in the food category