Radio host Ben Fordham interviewed me today about a Barbie Webcam he’d found in an electronics store. I argue that a webcam marketed to little girls is one more weapon in the corporate arsenal to groom girls for a lifetime of seeing themselves as on display in a culture that rewards exhibitionism. You can listen to the interview here.
7 Responses
“is this just me or is this a little bit creepy”
No it’s not just you. Not just you. This is beyond creepy, it’s blatant corporate exploitation of children. Little girls might want a webcam, but the consequences of their owning one can be devastating. Mattel should be ashamed of making this not only easy but attractive to pre-schoolers.
I think the aesthetics and values of the ‘Barbie’ brand are not great for young girls, but having said that: I see no problem with them making a webcam.
What do people use webcams for? Are they a tool for pornography and objectification of women?
Well, sure, but in the same way a phone is. For normal people however, a webcam is a communication device that allows you to see and hear the person you’re talking to.
It’s a particularly useful tool for families spread across the country or overseas. With younger children communication is a mix of words and visual clues… webcams make for much more coherent and natural conversations.
Is a grandparent wanting to see a child’s latest dance moves wrong? Is an aunty wanting to see a picture painted at Preschool while it’s described (context is very important) wrong?
This is how millions of people actually use webcams.
The fact that Barbie is on this webcam might increase the chance of a shy child talking to absent family online. The sexual connotations the word ‘webcam’ has to you would be completely foreign to the majority of people who use these devices every day to keep in touch with their loved ones.
Glen, I agree that webcams are great for skyping and staying in touch with family, but as I think was pointed out in the interview, in those instances Mum and Dad own and operate the webcam.
Teen and tween girls have been known to upload videos of themselves, asking the online community if they are ‘hot’ (exposing themselves to vicious attacks from cruel people). More concerning is the all too common sexting issue, where girls may take (or be coerced into taking) sexualised photos of themselves and post them online. That is exactly what happened to Amanda Todd- at 12 a stranger she met online through her webcam flattered her and told her she was so pretty, and coerced her into exposing her breasts, which lead to blackmail, cyber bullying and ultimately her tragic suicide. Young girls are not mature enough to always exercise good judgment, and for Mattel to capitalize on this is unsettling at best.
The issue of parental oversight is critical. I’d say almost without doubt that children within the demographic that are interested in a Barbie webcam aren’t going online without parental assistance.
Barbie is very much a phenomena for pre-school girls these days (uggh).
In fact, getting used to the correct use of technology like webcams while they’re young, and using it with parental supervision and participation, is probably protection against things like the Amanda Todd case.
My kid uses webcams all the time. As do my friends kids. When I served overseas it was how we stayed in touch. They often use webcams to chat with their grandparents and in the case of some, their seperated parent. As a responsible parent we have strategies in place that supervise kid’s internet use in the same way we supervise them using the pool. No big deal.
I think the problem here is that you people need to start thinking above your navels. The internet (including webcam use) is not all about sex. There are many ways it benefits and enables our way of life and people who don’t understand it (or are obsessed with sex) should probably educate themselves a little more widely before passing judgement on it.
By the way I have also seen a Barbie themed bed. You know what sort of things happen in ‘beds’?
Online safety is not a game, nor is it OK for Mattel to promote webcam use for very young girls. Unfortunately for every decent parent that monitors what is going on online, there are 100 who dont, who have no idea and can’t be bothered!!! It is these kids that are at greatest risk. The way an adult thinks about and uses a webcam is vastly different to kids. They use it without thought of consequences and with no idea of what cyberspace actually is. The number of parents that contact me for advice AFTER their 13yo daughter has ‘performed’ on webcam and has now realised the reality is concerning. This will only make it more appealing for very young girls to be put at risk as sad as this is, it is reality. Unless you work in this field, with young people you really have no idea. It is beyond the ability of most people to fully understand. Online safety is not something to be joked about, nor is it a toy…. and I hope that Santa has more sense than to deliver this product. Good on Melinda for speaking up….someone needs to be looking out for our girls.
FreeGuy, did you actually listen to the interview?
If you did, you might be able to spot the differences between being a sex-obsessed technologically inept judgy bear, and questioning why a toy company is marketing personal webcams to preschool aged girls. To get you started, here’s Difference #1: only one of these things is actually happening here.