Hello Barbie’s interactive abilities and Web connection are just plain creepy, say critics

National Post ^ | March 26, 2015 | Matt Townsend, Bloomberg News

[rickmichaels]

NEW YORK — Mattel’s Hello Barbie, a new doll that can hold Siri-like conversations with kids, was meant to help spur a turnaround for the company. Instead, it’s drawn the ire of one of the toy industry’s most influential critics.

The product, unveiled last month at the Toy Fair in New York, has been targeted by Susan Linn, the activist and academic who led successful campaigns against Baby Einstein videos and sexually suggestive Pussycat Dolls. Hello Barbie’s Web connection and speech-recognition software have the potential to violate children’s privacy, Linn alleges. And plus the doll is just plain creepy, she says.

[SunkenCiv]

Make her life-sized and anatomically correct, and it would mean long lines at the store and a skyrocketing stock price.

[RginTN]

children have privacy! When did this happen? I never had privacy as a child. My parents would come into my room without knocking.

Dang I need to tell that to my sister who’s a mom to a 6 year old. She’ll get a laugh!!

[rickmichaels]

PA announcement:

"Clean-up in the Barbie aisle, please. Clean-up in the Barbie aisle."

[Scrambler Bob]

Run her for Pres (D).

Or on the $20.

[justlurking]

If the child asks, will Barbie call her "Sexy"?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vti6yzyuy1I

Skip to 2:40.

[Talisker]

children have privacy! When did this happen? I never had privacy as a child. My parents would come into my room without knocking. Dang I need to tell that to my sister who’s a mom to a 6 year old. She’ll get a laugh!!

I think you missed the part about the always-on cloud-uplinked family-surveillance database hooked to Barbie's microphone.

[married21]

Remember the recent case where a couple of girls committed murder because they believed SlenderMan was real and was ordering them to?

What’s going to happen when they believe that Barbie is in charge and wants them to do something awful?

[RginTN]

nope I read that just focusing on the children have right to privacy part.

[MeshugeMikey]

WAIT UNTIL THEY Debut this One!!

talk about CREEPY!!

[ansel12]

[Organic Panic]

[Jane Long]

[freefdny]

My name is Talky Tina and I don’t think I like you.

[Organic Panic]

Always chose the right settings

[bobby.223]

Git ‘er Telly! Use the saw!

[wally_bert]

I think that episode is on now.

Johnny Bravo had a great parody called Talky Tabitha.

[ansel12]

Well done.

[catnipman]

If Siri-like convesations bug her, I guess Susan’s gonna go batshit crazy when Cortana ends up on a billion PCs, hey?

[a fool in paradise]

Remember the recent case where a couple of girls committed murder because they believed SlenderMan was real and was ordering them to? What’s going to happen when they believe that Barbie is in charge and wants them to do something awful?

I recall the Talking Tina incident.