Social media is getting people crazy as usual. But, this time, a new trending 32cm cactus toy was invading and recorded as the most selling product on famous e-commerce platforms.

Advertised as an educational toy, the dancing cactus toy is causing quite a stir online.

Questions from: Is it Educational? What song it’s playing? How it Affects our mental health? What does the toy-maker claim?

Yeah, you need to know. Let’s discuss.

What you missed?

In the last couple of days, people woke up on trending news talking about a dancing singing cactus plant coming from Taiwan that is invading social media, entering our homes, playing with our kids, and actually with their parents, too.

This 32cm dancing cactus toy is marketed as being “toddler-friendly,” and with its cartoonish eyes, friendly smile, and wiggle-ready furry body, with an option to talk back, it’s easy to see why.

The Cactus toy is dancing and singing…about cocain, apparerntly.

It all started from here when a mother discovered the inappropriate in the game and reported it on Twitter.

The lyrics repeatedly mentioned cocaine and attempted suicide “Cocaine and suicide attempt repeated over and over again. It is really shocking,”

The mother said

The song is by Polish artist Cypis. He is one of the most famous rappers in Poland, while the video over the past 6 years made 30 million views. The song’s lyrics cover many topics that millennial rappers talk about; the usual – depression, drugs, and suicide.

Again, the toy producers claim that the dancing cactus can help stimulate imagination and creativity in children, while another online baby product site describes it as a good device for toddlers. So what’s happening now?

Referring to the correct definition of an educational toy, they are objects of play designed for children, expected to stimulate learning. In addition, they are often intended to meet an educational purpose, such as helping a child develop a particular skill or teaching a child on a specific subject.

Are we aiming to teach our kids about cocaine with this toy? It shouldn’t be called an educational toy. It should have been called a spoiling game.

How the Doctors See the Toy?

Many well-known doctors say that it may affect our kids’ mental health negatively. They are talking about Autism and Personality disorders.

While Personality is the way of thinking, feeling, and behaving that makes a person different from other people. An individual’s personality is influenced by experiences, environment (surroundings, life situations), and inherited characteristics.

A personality disorder is a way of thinking, feeling, and behaving that deviates from the culture’s expectations, causes distress or problems functioning, and lasts over time.

While Autism, or autism spectrum disorder (ASD), refers to a broad range of conditions characterized by challenges with social skills, repetitive behaviors, speech, and nonverbal communication. According to the Centers for Disease Control, autism affects about 1 in 54 children in the United States today.

Do we think the dancing cactus actually causes autisim? We highly doubt that. But is it educational? We also highly doubt that.

Let’s be real. We all had toys we talk to as kids. 90s kids grew up watching Toy Story; they spoke with their toys. But, for the most part, they turned out okay.

Is the song choice appropriate? Absolutely not. Would it pass for a toddler who will never speak Polish in their lives? Sure, why not.

Is it worth all the hype and the memes? That part actually confuses us, but to each his own, I guess?

Keep the Tiktoks coming!