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Original poster

Horror survival game characters sold as toys to young children

36 replies

Kaleidoscopic8 · 29/04/2022 13:02

Hi All,

So a few months ago I heard my children talking about playground games that sounded horrific, I looked into them and turned out they are online horror survival games that kids who are not supervised at home are turning into playgroumd games at school.

The games are:

Huggy wuggy
Five nights at freddies
Among us

I researched them and yes they are rated as violent and gore etc with the aim of murdering and killing in violent ways eg stabbing, suffocating- things primary/junior children should not be encouraged to do!

There were also numerous articles on dangers of these games, police forces sending notices to parents to inform them etc. When I informed my kids school they did an assembly on the games.

So it was a real shock when suddenly everywhere I am seeing Huggyvwuggy teddies being sold on kids toy kiosks, kids toy aisles and characters from Among us on childrens clothing in zara! What is going on!? Society is actively encouraging violence!?

The Among us mystery toy has a dagger inside!!! And the age rating 3+! I would not want a 3 year old playing with toy daggers!? The aim as we know is to kill the other characters, why would society be encouraging young children to role play stabbing this using toys.

I have contacted my local MP and everywhere Ive seen the items in kids aisles i have reported to the relevant store managers.

Has anyone else noticed the sudden surge of horror survival characters being sold as kids toys? What are your thoughts?

Horror survival game characters sold as toys to young children
Horror survival game characters sold as toys to young children
OP posts:
CorsicaDreaming · 30/04/2022 00:23

No Among Us WAS so last year, but now it's had an update and it's completely OP again...

Apparently.

I'm sure it will be so last year again next week though...

Mandatorymongoose · 30/04/2022 00:43

When I was a kid, and computer games were pretty limited (!) I absolutely adored the werebear teddy we had. It looked like a lovely bear but then you could turn bits inside out and it had fangs and claws and would jump scare my little sister I don't think it encouraged me to be violent.

Although my cartoon watching habits have still left me thinking every night that what I should be doing is trying to take over the world.

BlackboardMonitorVimes · 30/04/2022 01:07

Among us really does make cluedo appear violent, definitely closer to wink murder Wink

Heartofglass12345 · 30/04/2022 11:23

But that's the thing, huggy wuggy and five nights at freddys look scary but that's it, there is no violence in the games they just jumpscare you. I don't get how that desensitises kids to violence. Among us has violence but it's very minimal.

NoviceNetwork · 30/04/2022 11:34

Meh.

I played many video games, some of which could be considered violent. I also used to turn non violent video games (like the Sims) into torture houses of death.

My mother was genuinely worried about me when she caught me maniacally laughing as I burnt a nursery down in black and white aged 10.

Somehow managed to become a functioning member of society, a somewhat decent mother and have never been in a fight in my life.

Some children have always been fascinated by scary horrible things. And I don't think they really think about it the same way we do as adults.

There are films I watched as a child that I would be absolutely horrified if my two dc saw today (Aliens!) but at the time I just found them fun. The darker themes just sort of went over my head.

Ds(6) is very much like his father. Anything lien these games, or even the slight peril in U-rated childrens films, is too much for him.

Dd(9) has turned into a little me and I have to keep chasing her away from my horror book collection. She started with goosebumps but wants scarier. I'm considering getting some of the old 'Point Horror' books. I also have had to pin lock the television as she would happily put on 'IT' or any scary thing she saw on the Amazon list.

ldontWanna · 30/04/2022 11:39

Heartofglass12345 · 30/04/2022 11:23

But that's the thing, huggy wuggy and five nights at freddys look scary but that's it, there is no violence in the games they just jumpscare you. I don't get how that desensitises kids to violence. Among us has violence but it's very minimal.

By the sounds of it OP has no actual personal knowledge of the games. Just "researched" it, read something scary and decided it's evil incarnate and everything that's wrong with society today.

PeekAtYou · 30/04/2022 14:36

Do you celebrate Halloween OP?

Chaoslatte · 30/04/2022 14:46

You need to be concerned about this approximately the same amount that you need to be concerned that Harry Potter is promoting satanism

MedusasBadHairDay · 30/04/2022 16:55

Kaleidoscopic8 · 29/04/2022 23:50

Thanks guys for your responses.

I think my main concern is what clairemaddix gas said, these games will desensitise kids to violence.

Yes I did figure 3+ is about product design BUT i feel as they are violent there should be some warning. Like a sex toy might be suitable for '3+' in terms of safety and design but you wouldnt want it next to Sonic and Mario toys on a shelf.

My kids have lego, minifigures have swords sabres etc but these are not depicted in a violent use. So my issue is that in the horror survival games they are depicting stabbing, slicing, chopping heads off and this is very gorey and violent, even if it's a cartoon, this is how kids learn what is normal/acceptable. And now they are role playing in playground, police forces have issued warnings because kids are strangling each other, suffocating and showing their fingers across neck as a sign to chop ppls heads off....lego characters dnt show this.

After reading comments I think I'm definitly more an overprotective overthinking type of parent when it comes to safeguarding- i dont take any chances. I wont welcome my kids playing these games, im not in doubt of that at all. My worry is all the other kids 3-10years playing them/watching or being exposed to in playground, what kind of messed up future society will we have? This is my concern and why I really want the 'toys' merchandise OFF kids toy shelves, have some warning sign for violence and age guidance.

Huggy wuggy for one does not remotely look child friendly! It should not be sold as a kids teddy, he has razors for teeth!? We are talking about innocent young children not adults. Yes for adults its not scary ppl watch Saw and the purge etc but try and look from a very young childs perspective, these characters and games are psychologically damaging.

Show quote history

You must hate these cuddly toys

Horror survival game characters sold as toys to young children
Springtrap · 08/01/2023 15:27

Hello, the creator of Five Nights at Freddy's, Scott Cawthon, has stated that the game is actually directed at kids. There is no blood and gore, he has kept the game PG for 8 years and even through retirement, the company FNaF was given to has kept the game gore free, there are jumpscares which are a little silly looking but that's the fun of it all

Poppy Playtime isn't targeted towards kids, despite it's not really that scary. Kids are known to latch onto any known trends, and when this game initially came out it was 18+. This game is not marketed to children yet due to children being the only individuals talking about it, sellers get the wrong idea.

Among Us is wholeheartedly directed at children, cute little characters with a developer team who are child friendly - Among Us is literally a game where you have to find the impostor (killer) among the crewmates. Not harming anyone.

You're definitely overthinking this, when I was somewhat young when FNaF came out and my mother let me play, it hasn't harmed me, it hasn't harmed my family. Same with many other families and children. 😛

Lozois99 · 16/03/2023 10:37

These games are fine 😂 theyre really not what you think they are

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