A relative who purchased a baby toy from TikTok for his one-year-old nephew was shocked to discover that the toy spoke unsettling words. Aaron Green, residing in Wythenshawe, bought the jellyfish toy for £8.62 in October, intending it as a Christmas gift.
Marketed as an ‘electric dancing jellyfish toy’ with LED lights and music features, the battery-operated toy was expected to dance and play music only, without any audio capabilities. However, to their surprise, Aaron’s family noticed the toy vocalizing unexpected phrases after his sister shared a video clip on January 12.
The recorded message from the toy stated: “Live audio now being transmitted to data center for analysis.” Subsequent recordings captured the same voice speaking unintelligible words, causing concern among the family members.
TikTok is currently investigating the product, and the listing has been removed from the platform. Despite its unavailability on TikTok, the toy can still be found on other online retail platforms. Aaron expressed his unease, mentioning the toy’s unexpected behavior and the potential implications of its hidden features.
The toy’s origins in a Chinese toy factory raised further doubts about its safety and functionality. Aaron’s sister decided not to let her child play with the toy anymore, emphasizing the importance of being cautious when purchasing products online, even if they seem inexpensive.
Attempts to find the product page led to a message stating it was not available in the region or country. TikTok has not confirmed whether the toy can record audio but assures customers of safety measures in place, such as seller verification and reporting mechanisms.
A TikTok spokesperson assured that customer safety is a priority, and they have taken down the product for a thorough investigation into the matter.