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YouTube unboxing and how it is changing the toy industry
- RcouF1uZ4gsC 8y agoUnboxing videos were one of the reasons YouTube got banned from our kids in my home. There really aren’t any redeeming qualities in those videos. Kids don’t learn anything and they were constantly asking me to buy the merchandise and crying when I said “no”. After a few rounds of this, YouTube got banned.
- gadders 8y agoI just imagine armies of 2 and 3 year olds watching videos of toys they can never have. For some reason that makes me sad.
- slezyr 8y agoWell, we already watch reviews of $1k phones, $2k laptops and >$40k cars that many of us will never have.
- TremendousJudge 8y agoyeah but we're not three years old afaik
- gadders 8y agoYeah, I think it was the Dad in me thinking of a 3 year old watching it and thinking "Wow that is cool" and not understanding why they can't have it.
- thecatspaw 8y ago> There really aren’t any redeeming qualities in those videos. There are. I do solve rubiks cubes as a hobby, so when I look for a new puzzle, I watch unboxing videos of those on youtube. Its basically just a short review with some cardboard discarding at the beginning
- RcouF1uZ4gsC 8y agoI am referring to unboxing videos that are targeting kids. I myself watch unboxing videos for laptops and phones and find them useful.
- tinus_hn 8y agoIt’s only the videos about things other people want that are useless, obviously.
- benj111 8y agoSo we should expect kids toys to be significantly easier to unpackage in the future? Or are unboxers armed with scissors, Stanley knives and wire cutters?
- SketchySeaBeast 8y ago> The biggest change to come to the toy industry as a result of YouTube, though, is in packaging. Toy brands are riffing on the unboxing trend by developing special boxes or wrapping that specifically look good on camera, and by creating as many surprises as possible. Nah, they are making the unboxing more elaborate.
- benj111 8y agoI don't mind elaborate. Its the melt bonded plastic packaging, with twist ties that you can't get to because of tape, cardboard and more plastic. So elaborate would be fine, so long as I don't need a tool kit.
- kosievdmerwe 8y agoElaborate can add a sense of joy. Whereas millions of cable ties to cut are just frustrating.
- sevensor 8y agoIt's gotten really bad. They sell toys with superfluous packaging on purpose now, toys where there's next to nothing fun to play with once they're unwrapped. You're left with a trash-bag full of plastic waste and a tiny, badly made, doll.
- sjg007 8y agoOr that fake snow stuff with mini jewel like square creatures in them.. or the pirates in the sand crap. I am amazed with how viral and successful they've become.
- smaili 8y agoIt isn’t just toys - opening trading card booster boxes and packs is also very popular, especially when something rare is pulled :)
- rasz 8y ago> especially when something rare is arranged to get pulled https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-36702905 https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-36702905 https://news.slashdot.org/story/19/01/04/2158259/youtubes-biggest-stars-are-pushing-a-shady-polish-gambling-site https://news.slashdot.org/story/19/01/04/2158259/youtubes-bi... https://www.wired.co.uk/article/youtubers-charged-promoting-gambling https://www.wired.co.uk/article/youtubers-charged-promoting-...
- rubinelli 8y agoVideo games felt this first: games are made now to stream well; it is almost as important as gameplay for many studios.
- deleted 8y ago[deleted]
- MrMember 8y agoMany games now even have a "streamer mode" that integrates with Twitch and lets viewers interact with the streamer through the game.
- nickelcitymario 8y agoThere is a precedent for regulating this sort of thing. Advertising to children is regulated to some form or another just about everywhere. What's new and challenging here is that when a person simply posts a video they made on YouTube, that's freedom of expression. If I want to post videos of me unboxing things, there's nothing morally or legally wrong with that. The grey zone is the money being traded between toy makers and video makers. As soon as money is exchanged, that should logically be considered sponsorship and be subjected to advertising laws. Just because it's on YouTube doesn't change that a company is paying money to an entertainer to promote their products to children. There are already laws in place about this. It's only a matter of time before prosecutors get involved. Of course, the toy companies know this and have factored in the legal risks into their calculations. YouTube will be able to skirt the issue because they're just a platform for other people's stuff, and they're not being paid for these sponsorships. The real risk is being taken by the content producers, who almost certainly don't realize how liable they may find themselves to be.
- Wowfunhappy 8y ago> The grey zone is the money being traded between toy makers and video makers. As soon as money is exchanged, that should logically be considered sponsorship and be subjected to advertising laws. This strikes me as the obvious solution and really not all that gray. Kid posts video on Youtube? That's free speech. Kid posts video on Youtube and company pays them? That's now an ad, and can/should be regulated. Throwing a wrench into all of this somewhat is Citizen's United saying money is speech... but that's a stupid ruling so let's interpret it as narrowly as possible.
- sjg007 8y agoThis will be a fun supreme court decision when it happens in the next 10 years.
- sjg007 8y agoThe third option is where Youtube runs ads on top of the unboxing videos or in line with it. You also have the issue where parents have to sign up children under the age of 13.
- musicale 8y agoLooks like we will be seeing more loot-box type toys that are optimized for the box-opening experience rather than long term value.