If only Barbie could give a TED Talk
By Sonam Kaloti, Arts Editor
Barbie, for being a plastic toy, sure knows her stuff on human psychology. The Barbie YouTube channel has nearly 10 million subscribers and uploads pretty much all the Barbie content there is, in every language, on just the one channel. There’s even a playlist that has all of Barbie’s vlogs if you’d like to check it out yourself. Note that there are 135 vlogs, so even having a playlist might not narrow down your Barbie selection much.
Barbie’s vlogs include everything from the normal influencer-type videos (getting nails done, mukbangs, DIY’s, fashion videos, challenges, etc.) to the nitty gritty personal topics some influencers wouldn’t dream of approaching in order to keep their brand clear of any potential backlash. Barbie, on the other hand, creates her best work with these darker subjects.
“How Are You Feeling? Sharing My Honest Thoughts” was uploaded just a few months ago by Barbie on July 31. She expresses how she’s noticed that people don’t seem to be expressing how they feel recently. For children and adults alike, this video is a quick and gentle reminder of what we must remember throughout these seemingly impossible times. Midway through the two-and-a-half-minute video, Barbie says, “We all have these feelings that feel like they can’t be solved easily. Today I am having a day where I feel like I am not in control of anything, and I don’t know what to do to fix it.” This is the thought loop of worrying and hopelessness running through everybody’s mind.
Surprisingly, Barbie says, “But I don’t have to fix it. What I can do is listen to myself and name the feelings I’m having. I feel scared. I feel angry. We’re allowed to have feelings—even the unpleasant ones—and we have to give ourselves a break! We can’t control everything, we can’t be perfect, and we can’t fix things all the time!”
It’s simple, but it’s something that everyone needs to hear; to be reminded that the entire worlds weight isn’t ours to bear alone. It can feel like it so often because we do not hear each others’ thoughts. We are stuck with our own, so our perception of all these terrible things that are happening makes us feel even more alone.
Barbie’s key to how she deals with these feelings is worldly and not as corny as expected. She says to remember, “Nothing stays the same. We will change and grow, and the world will change and grow with us.” She continues onto some other cornier phrases, but her message remains eloquent.
Barbie’s vlogs include tons of great, genuinely thought-out videos tackling real-life issues. They’re great for adults and children, and most of them are extremely short and to the point. They feel like a short, supportive, and loving conversation with a friend.
