"Totally wrong": fuss about the new Playmobil set - criticism on the net
ZIRNDORF - Playmobil wants to keep up with the times - and is now offering an "Influencer" figure set. Children should be able to imitate the life of a star on social media. The internet is discussing: Is it age-appropriate - or is it already teaching adolescents superficiality?
A woman is standing in front of a reflex camera, behind her is a blackboard with make-up tips next to a laptop, headlights are supposed to provide perfect illumination. With this picture, Playmobil is promoting a new figure set. "Social Media Star" is what it says, children should be able to play influencers with it. "Every day she produces new videos in her room, gives make-up tips and tells about her life," writes Playmobil on its homepage. "The number of her fans is growing steadily, which is why she has bought a professional camera and headlights. This is how the next video will be a hit."
For just under eight euros, at least that's Playmobil's idea, children can imitate the supposedly exciting life of an influencer in the future. The Franconian toy manufacturer is thus keeping up with the times, Youtubers, for example, are real stars, especially with young people. But: How educationally valuable is such a set?
Criticism - and some support for Playmobil
In the social networks, the protest forms only hours after the announcement post for the toy. "I think the set itself is borderline, because in my opinion it completely contradicts the previous company (Horst Brandstätters) philosophy and gives the children the wrong picture," writes one woman, for example. "But then to present it in such a way that it is great and that your professional dream should be to become an influencer is totally wrong."
The debate is smoldering in the comment column - and the criticism of Playmobil is growing. "At a time when photo filters and superficialities are dominated anyway, I don't have to sell it to the children as a good and worthwhile dream," it says in one article. But some also put it into perspective. "I wouldn't recommend a career as a social media star to my child either, but I find the criticism difficult to understand", writes a Facebook user. "Realistically, these media are part of the everyday life of a large number of households.
