Social Media Platforms Need to Place Restrictions On Unsafe Content

Social media fuels toy trends: from Labubu dolls to fidget clickers. Recently, dumpling squishies, especially the glittery ones, have become the long-sought after toy. Social media platforms increase the toys’ popularity with unboxing and shopping haul videos. But social media platforms such as YouTube or TikTok promote unsafe content, such as people cutting open the dumpling squishies or eating toxic items. These social media platforms need to take responsibility and set rules, and here’s why.

The dumpling squishies’ rise to fame has been boosted by the internet’s two biggest sensations: blind boxes and squishies. The colorful toys can be stretched, pulled, and squeezed, and people buy them in large quantities to try and get the ultra-rare glittery ones.

Trends have long been dictated by social media creators and content. Earlier trends, such as the Labubu, were promoted on YouTube and TikTok. Influencers unboxed the toys and sparked a craze to all the young people watching. However, many companies take advantage of these situations to make unsafe fakes, and the currently trending dumpling squishies aren’t safe, either.

This most recent trend, dumpling squishies, can be dangerous to children when social media creators do harmful things with the toys, such as biting into them or putting them in the microwave. These creators do these actions for views and popularity, but it creates a risk for young people’s safety. For example, many sources have found chemicals and hazardous elements in the filling of squishies: “Many of the toys look like food, such as jelly cubes, butter blocks or steamed buns, which could be a choking or ingestion hazard for small children,” stated undefined of squishy toys. Encouraged by social media content, a child might bite into a squishy dumpling for attention, and become ill.

Mass-produced unhealthy dupes are also a huge hazard. Companies use bad chemicals and low-quality materials to produce the fake toys; the fakes appeal to children during the trend. The counterfeit toys, such as the fake dumpling squishies, have become a hazard to children, especially younger ones. They usually reek of chemicals and pop easily, releasing their unsafe contents into the hands of young people. “The Trading Standards officers also say some of the toys they examined failed to meet basic UK safety standards,” articulated undefined of the UK’s examination of counterfeit toys. Social media spreads the popularity of these toys overnight, but it also distributes non-compliant products across the market. Statistical data from the CPSC, or Consumer Product Safety Commission, show that around 75% of seized counterfeit toys fail safety standards.

Some people might argue that squishy toys provide a comfort and hands-on activity to children, and that social media connects them with the world. While that may be true, most social media content poses a threat to young people’s safety, too great of one to ignore. Social media platforms need to set boundaries and rules over unsafe videos and posts, and take responsibility over the harm they have caused. One way they can do this is censor any content posted for dangerous actions or unhealthy challenges.

Ordinary citizens can take a stand in daily life, too. Together, we must protest and fight for the safety of this generation, and the future to come. Make a sign, or attend a march whose purpose is to reach the board of the social media platforms. Advocate for rules and restrictions to be placed on YouTube or TikTok. Together, we can make a difference.