As shoppers search for the hottest toys this holiday season, some surprising items are popping up on kids’ wish lists: virtual reality headsets, online gaming subscriptions, mini robots, and more. But before dropping hundreds of dollars on the latest tech trends, parents may want to think twice.

Consumer groups allege that several of this year’s trendiest tech toys pose safety risks and privacy concerns that most shoppers are unaware of. In response, organizations like ParentsTogether have published “naughty lists” spotlighting toys they say could harm children.

“We don’t think kids should be raised without access to tech,” said Shelby Knox, ParentsTogether’s online safety director. “But there’s a long track record of children getting really hurt by these products.”

This year’s Naughty List names both physical devices like the popular Amazon Echo Dot Kids and digital offerings such as Twitch channel subscriptions. It warns many of these products leave kids vulnerable to dangers like bullying, sexual predators, and fraud.

However, the top concern highlighted is data privacy.

Data Mining Children for Profit

According to ParentsTogether, the vast majority of tech toys on this year’s Naughty List landed there due to worries over data security and privacy.

“Kids’ private information is a literal goldmine to these companies – they make money selling data about kids to online advertising firms,” said Knox.

Smart toys and devices gather information on children’s interests, behaviors, locations, and more. VTech’s Kidibuzz kid’s smart device, for example, was fined $650,000 by the FTC in 2018 for collecting children’s data without parental consent.

Immersive Worlds with Adult Themes

In addition to data privacy concerns, virtual reality headsets like Meta’s popular Oculus Quest 2 are facing backlash for potentially exposing children to inappropriate content.

“This is really immersive technology that feels so real when you’re inside of it,” warned R.J. Cross, a policy analyst at consumer protection non-profit U.S. PIRG.

While Meta has lowered the minimum age for its VR headsets to 10 years old, Cross notes these devices still provide access to disturbing games and environments through apps like Rec Room. As Meta scrambles to take down inappropriate user-generated content, new versions continue popping up quickly.

Meta says its parental controls allow blocking access to apps and content. However, consumer advocates counter that diligent oversight is still required to prevent harm.

An Industry in Flux

With smart toy sales rapidly growing, consumer groups hope their Naughty Lists will make parents pause before purchasing the latest viral tech gadget.

Meanwhile, tech companies contend these technologies are still evolving, and claim commitment to protecting children. But if this holiday season is any indicator, the smart toy space still has lots of maturing left to do.