Ankle Monitor Toys: Are They Real Or Fake?

A viral video of a toy ankle monitor for children has sparked concern and criticism among viewers. The video, which has been viewed millions of times on TikTok and Twitter, shows a person picking up a product called My First Ankle Monitor from a Walmart shelf. The product is presented as a way for parents to track their children's movements and even shock them if they misbehave. However, the product is completely fake and was created as a satirical prank by content creator LegBoot, in collaboration with artist Shampoooty, who creates product parodies. The fake product is a parody of the popular toy brand Little Tikes, with the branding changed to Little Yikes.

The 'My First Ankle Monitor' toy is fake

The "My First Ankle Monitor" toy is fake. It was created by TikTok user @legbootlegit, also known as LegBoot, in collaboration with Instagram user @shampoooty, also known as Shampooty. The video, which has garnered tens of millions of views, shows someone taking the product off a shelf in Walmart and explaining how it can be used to monitor a child's location and even shock them if they move to restricted areas. However, there are several clues that indicate the product is not real.

Firstly, the brand on the box and product is "Little Yikes," a parody of the popular manufacturer Little Tikes. The ad copy on the box also includes satirical statements such as "Prepare your mini me for its future house arrests" and "See back panel for exclusive parole officer discount offer." Additionally, a warning sign on the box reads: "They will not stay. You must be firm. Try using a bike lock."

Secondly, LegBoot's TikTok page features other satirical videos and fake products, such as an "AI-generated action figure" and a "Cute Lil' Terror Tots Figure." LegBoot has also used the "Little Yikes" branding on other fake toys.

Finally, in an email to Reuters, the owner of the LegBoot page confirmed that "the product and the video are both satirical." Shampooty, who created the product, is an Instagram page that specializes in creating product parodies.

While the video and product are satirical in nature, it is important to note that some viewers did not immediately realize it was a joke, with some expressing concern and criticism. This highlights the impact and influence that social media can have in spreading misinformation, even unintentionally.

It was created by TikTok user LegBoot

The "My First Ankle Monitor" toy was created by TikTok user LegBoot (or legbootlegit) in collaboration with Instagram user @shampoooty, who has an ongoing art series called Kids Toys. LegBoot has a history of creating phony products and posting them on TikTok, including an AI-generated action figure and a fake hot dog brand called Glizzles My Nizzles.

The ankle monitor video, which has tens of millions of views, shows a person picking up the toy off a shelf in Walmart and explaining how it can be used to monitor a child's location and even shock them if they move to restricted areas via an adult-controlled app. The toy is branded in the style of Little Tikes but with the name "Little Yikes," and the box features copy that makes it clear that it's intended as a joke, such as "Prepare your mini me for its future house arrests" and "See back panel for exclusive parole officer discount offer."

LegBoot spent about a month creating the video, and while some viewers believed it to be real, the majority understood the joke. In a statement to Newsweek, LegBoot said, "I've only gotten one email from someone who said they 'need a dozen of them as gag gifts.' I received lots of comments on social media from parents, especially of teens, who said 'I need this' or 'Where to buy?', but the majority of those comments were from people who understood the joke."

It's a collaboration with Instagram user Shampoooty

The "My First Ankle Monitor" toy is not a real product but rather a collaboration between Instagram user Shampoooty and TikTok user Legbootlegit. Shampoooty, whose real name is unknown, is an artist who creates product parodies for their brand, Kids Toys, Adult Issues, which specialises in subverting childhood toys with a provocative, adult twist. Legbootlegit, whose real name is Justin, is a prankster who creates satirical videos of fake products.

The "My First Ankle Monitor" video was posted on Legbootlegit's TikTok account on 1 August 2023 and has since been viewed tens of millions of times. The video shows a person picking up the item, which is branded in the style of Little Tikes, off a store shelf. A voiceover states:

> "If you're the parent of a young child and you're not getting enough sleep at night, I'm betting it's because your children will not stay in their room. That was my problem too until recently when I found this ankle monitor in Walmart."

The video then shows how the product can be set up to monitor a child's location and shock them if they move to any part of a property restricted via an adult-operated app. The brand on the box and product is "Little Yikes", not the real-life manufacturer Little Tikes. The box also features ad copy that makes it clear the product is a joke, such as "Prepare your mini me for its future house arrests" and "See back panel for exclusive parole officer discount offer".

Justin told The Independent that he creates the videos "mostly for the thrill" and that "it's fun to spread harmless misinformation". He also described the products as "art" and said that he does it to "make art statements for and about humanity".

The toy is part of Shampoooty's 'Kids Toys, Adult Issues' series

The "My First Ankle Monitor" toy is a collaboration between @legboot and @shampoooty, as part of Shampoootys' "Kids Toys, Adult Issues" series. The toy is a hoax, with its packaging and app designed to be satirical. The toy is not a real product, despite convincing videos of it being shared and going viral on TikTok and Twitter.

The video, which has gained over 6 million views on Twitter alone, shows a person picking up the item, branded in the style of Little Tikes, off a store shelf. The voiceover states: "If you're the parent of a young child and you're not getting enough sleep at night, I'm betting it's because your children will not stay in their room. That was my problem too until I found this ankle monitor in Walmart." The video goes on to explain the features of the product, including an app that can track a child's location and shock them if they move to any restricted areas.

However, there are several clues that indicate the video and product are satirical. Firstly, the brand on the box and product is "Little Yikes", a parody of the popular manufacturer Little Tikes. Additionally, the ad copy on the box contains satirical statements such as "Prepare your mini me for its future house arrests" and "See back panel for exclusive parole officer discount offer". The box also includes a warning sign that reads: "They will not stay. You must be firm. Try using a bike lock."

The creator of the video, LegBoot, has confirmed that the product and video are satirical and were created as a joke. LegBoot has produced other deceptive, humorous products, such as an "AI-generated action figure" and has used the "Little Yikes" branding on other fake toys. Shampoooty, who created the ankle monitor device, has an ongoing art series called "Kids Toys", which specialises in subverting childhood toys with provocative, adult twists.

While the "My First Ankle Monitor" toy is not real, it has sparked widespread concern and criticism from viewers, with some believing it to be inhumane. However, others have recognised the humour and satire behind the product, with one person commenting, "I'd use it to keep track of stuff in a joking way, but never a child."

The toy is intended as a joke

The "My First Ankle Monitor" toy is intended as a joke, and its packaging and advertising are designed to be satirical and humorous. The product is a collaboration between two artists, @legboot (or LegBoot) and @shampoooty (or Shampooty), who specialise in creating fake and provocative products that resemble real-life items with a playful twist.

The ankle monitor toy is branded "Little Yikes," a parody of the popular toy manufacturer Little Tikes. The packaging includes tongue-in-cheek copy such as "Make sure that little snot stays in its room!" and "Prepare your mini-me for its future house arrests." It also features a warning sign that reads, "They will not stay. You must be firm. Try using a bike lock." These elements are clear indicators that the product is intended as a joke and not to be taken seriously.

The video that went viral on TikTok and Twitter, created by LegBoot, further emphasises the satirical nature of the product. It shows the product being picked up off a store shelf and includes a voiceover that mimics the style of typical influencer product reviews. The voiceover says, "If you're the parent of a young child and you're not getting enough sleep at night, I'm betting it's because your children will not stay in their room... This brand is a godsend... You can also set up no-go zones for extra safety... Now whenever my little juvenile delinquent sneaks out of his room, I get a notification on my phone." The video also mentions the ability to "shock" the child if they misbehave, adding a layer of absurdity to the joke.

While some viewers understood the humour and satirical nature of the video and product, others were genuinely concerned and outraged, believing it to be a real product. This reaction highlights the impact and influence that such satirical content can have, especially when presented in a format that mimics typical product reviews and advertising.

Ultimately, the "My First Ankle Monitor" toy is a clever and humorous creation intended to entertain and provoke thought. It is a form of artistic expression that adds a touch of humour and "playful human error" to the world of product design and advertising.

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