It is a tad bit frightening and alarming to think that the conversations between your child and their toy are being recorded and that real people are hearing it. The company Mattel, responsible for the extremely popular Barbie dolls, have recently launched a new doll but this time it is one who has the ability to speak back to children. Now this may sound appealing at first but upon further investigation, it is revealed that it does so through Wi-Fi connection. In other words, the conversations the child has with the doll are recorded through this voice recognition and are sent to a third party agency. This seemingly advanced innovation in technology is not only an invasion of privacy but it is one that affects children, those who have no …show more content…
This is based on writer Debbie V.S. Kasper’s article, “The Evolution (Or Devolution) of Privacy” in which she defines different types, or typologies of privacy. The fact that recordings of children who use these dolls are being sent and likely stored to some database clearly shows that this is an example of extraction, and specifically stockpiling. According to Kasper, stockpiling – “includes the processes of collection, exchange, storage of information” (Kasper 77). Furthermore this case is also a form of observation, in particular communication, as it involves the actual voices and speech of children. The listening is done via the built in microphone of the doll. It is unrealistic for people to have to monitor everything in front of their devices. One source says, “Americans do not expect that the devices will persistently record everything they say. By introducing always-on voice recording into ordinary consumer products. It is unreasonable to expect consumers to monitor their every word inform of their home electronics”. A lot of the times people are unaware they are even being recorded by these devices so essentially, the recording is done without their …show more content…
The Hello Barbie device is in fact noted to be insecure and potentially vulnerable to hackers through the Wi-Fi connection. Being a hackable device is never a good thing, but when children are involved the issue of security and safety is definitely a priority. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) stated that potential security risk that are harmful through the internet are and not limited to, “These include enabling unauthorized access and misuse of personal information (such as photos of children or recordings of conversations); facilitating attacks on other systems (by being able to access banking details, passwords etc.); and creating risks to personal safety (in extreme cases, grooming) (The Guardian). A related toy privacy issue similar to this had an incident where everything went wrong, “The Hong Kong firm VTech managed to let the personal data of five million people slip into the hands of hackers, including details, pictures and audio files of children”(independent.co.uk). Considering the Hello Barbie is susceptible to hackers, things such as this have a possibility of happening. The information obtained from the device could land into the wrong hands and who knows what could be done with it. One terrible possibility is it that it could endanger the child’s overall safety and it is definitely something to worry about. The lack of security
This website article provides the history of Barbie and her newly inspiring images for young women. Barbie was the new popular doll during World War 2 because she provided something inspiring for young girls and something that mothers felt strong about, independence. Barbie helped with what was being told to women, that they didn’t have to settle for being just a housewife or a stay at home mother. Women around the country could have a variety, a choice to work and have a career. “Barbie’s early professions were limited
Initially, the technological toys in question do not teach their owners the importance of responsibility. Consider the following question Frank Mullin poses in his article Love In the Time of Robots: “...what does a child
Distraction, lack of education, disinterest and misinterpretation; every one of these words describe a reason people give for being uniformed and unaware of the current events swirling around them. In an effort to try and remedy the lack of awareness about the problems plaguing the country, many artists and entertainers use satire, a literary device which merges a critical attitude with humor and wit to the end that human organizations or humanity may be improved (Harris), to keep the general public, somewhat, informed. Often times, movies, comic strips, music, literature and television shows are used to satirize current events, political views and different morals.
Imagine a world where women are the superior gender rather than men. Imagine a reality where women have full dominance in today’s modern society. However, the whole idea of feminism is to promote equality for both males and females; so that women are treated equally to men. It would be wrong to suggest women as the superior gender just as it is wrong to suggest men in that same light. Jane O’Connor’s story, Fancy Nancy: Fanciest Doll in the Universe, excludes the male gender which ultimately does not promote gender equality to her young readers. Although Fancy Nancy is a popular book series, Jane O’Connor demonstrates gender stereotypes
The poem “Barbie Doll” by Marge Piercy has such a deep message that will instantly pull the heartstrings of many individuals within the world upon reading. Each and every person standing on the planet has had a moment in their life when they do not feel as if they can meet anyone 's standards. They also feel as if they are too fat and ugly to fit it to today’s society. We all have been told some very hurtful words in our lives, some that stick for longer than others, within the creases of our fragile brain. We continuously tell ourselves that it 's going to be okay at the end of the day but the real question is, will it real be okay? When initially looking at the title, one may come to the conclusion that the poem is
University of Bath. 2005. ‘Babyish’ Barbie under attack from little girls, study shows. [press release] 19 December 2005. http://www.bath.ac.uk/news/articles/releases/barbie161205.html
The internet is not the safe haven your child thinks it is. It is a world of hackers, strangers, and potential harm. It is also a place where college administrators, potential employers, teachers, and future dates might just happen to see something that your child puts on the internet. Everything your child types on the internet will been seen. It could effect your child in the future. “But posting thoughts on the internet isn't the same thing as hiding them under your mattress. Maybe you should buy your children one of those little key-locked diaries so that they too can understand the difference” he uses this to suggest that they will understand what private is if they have a chance to write their personal thoughts in a journal of some
...child myself, I wouldn’t want to provide the tools which enable my friend to do so. I believe that people have a perfect duty not to spy on one another. As someone with a reasonable technical knowledge, I would inform the parent that there are other ways of controlling their child’s computer and phone usage without directly monitoring them and reading their conversations. For example, the parent could instead opt to block access to adult websites from the router, restrict functions such as video chat or picture messaging, and limit the amount of time a child can spend on their devices without viewing each and every individual thing that the child does. This way the child will understand what is expected of them with regards to their electronic device usage without feeling that their every move is being monitored and that their private conversations are being read.
Rosen, David. Four ways your privacy is being invaded. 11 september 2012. 13 february 2014 .
In an article in Interview Magazine, Emily Prager discuses her opinions of Mattel's toy doll Barbie being designed by Jack Ryan, husband to Zsa Zsa Gabor, and designer of military missiles. The concept that a doll for young girls was designed by such a person greatly shocked Prager." Suddenly a lot of things made sense to me" says Prager. The element that Ryan designed Barbie may explain some of the key aspects of the doll itself.
That’s My Tracker.”, written by Peter Maass and Megha Rajagopalan, indicates that the, “...tracking device that happens to make calls...” are exploiting our identities far more than we know (Maass and Rajagopalan,P.129). It was shared that cellphone carriers disclosed and “...responded 1.3 million times last year to law enforcement requests for call data...” without warrants (Maass and Rajagopalan,P.129). These reporters enlighten that all the “explosion of GPS technology and smartphone apps...” as well as “...frictionless sharing...”or “...surveillance has caught our attention so much so that it blinded us from the ugly truth (Maass and Rajagopalan,P.129). In actuality, modern technology such as cellphones and surveillance cameras allow the government to know of it 's citizens location, conversations, and actions—“...treasured by police departments and online advertisers...”(Maass and Rajagopalan,P.130). The mania of technology and “...these invasive services have proved irresistible to consumers…” writes Paul Ohm (Maass and Rajagopalan,P.129). He states that the overly advertised technology is like a magnet to consumers because it continues to be bought and sold regardless of the facts
Those perfect days as a child when your countless days were filled with playtime. The time to set up those houses and dress the dolls up, and act out the future. “Through their play Barbara imagined their lives as adults. They used the dolls to reflect the adult world around them. They would sit and carry on conversations, making the dolls real people” (Ruth Handler). As a young child, it is all you look forward to in your future: being successful and confident, loved and cherished. Many dolls were used to project this. Specifically, the Barbie. Barbie is a positive role model girl should look up to for confidence and inspiration. She is a talented and educated career woman, self-sufficient in every aspect of her life, and a stunning example to young girls the body that is healthy and fit.
Barbie was created in 1959 and since then has been a popular toy among young girls. Her popularity among young girls has started a debate whether she is a role model. Some see her as the toy she is, however others see her as the reason so many girls develop body image issues due to her unrealistic body.
Barbie, a doll manufactured by Mattel, Inc., encourages an unrealistic body image, racial insensitivity, and contradictive goals, and it is having a negative influence on young girls everywhere. Launched in March 1959 by Ruth Handler, an American business woman and president of Mattel, Inc., Barbie quickly became popular and has gone on to sell three dolls every second, in over one hundred and fifty countries. However, Barbie’s rise to success has not been wholly positive – there have been numerous controversies, parodies, and lawsuits, all addressing a number of issues. One such issue is how Barbie promotes an unrealistic and unobtainable body image. For example, to scale, Barbie is five feet, nine inches tall, has a thirty six inch chest, eighteen inch waist, and thirty three inch hips. Had Barbie been a real person, she would not be able to walk, much less hold her head up. Secondly, Barbie is racially insensitive and perpetuates stereotypes. “Mexico Barbie,” from Barbie’s “ethnic” line, comes with a passport and a Chihuahua, as well as stereotypical red lace ribbons in her hair. Lastly, Barbie portrays goals that are both unobtainable and contradictive. Barbie has had a variety of careers, such as being a doctor, astronaut, and President of the United States, but also engages in stereotypical domestic activities, such as cleaning and baking. These characteristics are affecting young girls in a time when they are most developmentally susceptible, and teaching them a number of negative lessons.
Staff, Proquest. At Issue: Technology and Privacy. N.p.: ProQuest LLC, 2013. Web. 5 Dec. 2013. .