Toy unboxing is one of the most popular genres on YouTube. Kids’ toys unboxing channels frequently rank in the top tier of YouTube channels with the most views. Although, toys provide fun, education, learning, joy, and emotional. And mental growth and playing with toys used to be the most beloved activity of the kids. But today, the actual toys have been replaced by these YouTube channels. These channels are run by children who make unboxing videos of different toys. The kids are glued to the screens, watching these videos all day long.
Kids Toys Youtube Channels
Kids who watching these channels regularly feel like they’re with friends. Frequency and positive emotions create a sense of relational attachment. Even though it’s one-sided, a feeling of actually knowing that person develops. And then kids continuously watch these channels. Watching the toy unboxing videos, kids start to imagine. Like they’re part of the play, and even though they can’t necessarily play with a toy on their own. They’re excited to feel like they’re included by watching the child who unboxed it, play with it.
All of these unboxing videos typically follow the same format in each video. So a child knows exactly what to expect. These videos are also short in length keeping in mind the short attention span of children. Often toys for kids unboxing videos tend to feature characters from popular cartoons. And movies that further grab the attention of children and entice them to watch these channels for extended periods of time.
The unboxing videos are often associated with the joy and happiness of getting new toys. This is pure manipulation which is being used as a marketing tactic that leaves the kids with a feeling of deprivation. When the kids watch these videos, they may ask questions like: Why don’t I have any toys like that?
Some Popular Channels
Eight-year-old Ryan was YouTube’s top earner in 2018, with an estimated income of $22 million yearly, and his videos have been watched more than 47 billion times (YouTube data source: Social Blade).
Several studies have been conducted on this particular issue. A 2014 Google study suggested that one out of five shoppers consult an unboxing or review video before buying something. This trend has massively increased since then. The unboxing of toy videos has become an uncanny category of entertainment for kids and it surely has got them hooked.
These toy unboxing channels generate millions of dollars in revenue for both themselves and toy companies, while teaching children poor habits. There are many ways in which these channel owners earn. Firstly, they make money from paid advertising. Once they have surpassed 1000 subscribers, they can start making some dollars. Second, comes the brand product placement which is the most important source of income once you have got enough subscribers. Brands pay these channels to unbox their products and for endorsing them.
Lastly, for our kids, toy unboxing videos look like a standard fun video of people enjoying themselves. Our kids stare in awe at the amazing toys these kids have without realizing the fact that at times, they didn’t buy any of them. Most of this content also provides no value to kids. It doesn’t teach them anything other than materialism and to want more possessions which can lead to a lack of gratitude and thankfulness.
