The Creepy Doll That's Sending Shivers Through Social Media

A post shared by a woman named Liron Shoshan has gone viral across social media. In the post, Shoshan expresses her alarm over a creepy doll named 'Boogie-Woogie,' which has inexplicably become popular among many children in this new, baffling trend. "Do you know the doll in the picture? This ugly creature is called 'Boogie-Woogie,' and you can find it in all sorts of versions - small, large, male, female, colorful, or monochromatic. But they're all equally horrific," she writes.

"If you haven't encountered it yet - great. If you have, I appreciate you taking a minute to read this post: I'll start with a short true story that just happened. About an hour ago, my son Jonathan, who is seven years old, and I went to The Red Pirate to gear up for the summer break and to buy a gift for our cousin's birthday.

"My son was naturally excited. He took his wallet and planned to buy himself something. Those who know him understand how this sweet boy saves his money, and for him, going to a toy store is a fun day where he finally buys something he has saved for. What happened in reality was that we entered the store, and within less than a minute, he clung to me and whispered in my ear, 'Mom, that doll is here.'

"I tried to calm him, but he became anxious. I watched as his face turned pale in an instant, and the smile he entered the store with vanished completely. 'Jonathan, do you want to try to overcome this and find what you wanted?' 'No, Mom, I just want to leave.' So, we bought the gift we needed within a minute, paid, and left the store while he was shaking, scared, not speaking, glued to me, eyes downcast, just wanting to get home."

It seems Jonathan's reaction in the store was not an isolated incident. "This is a light story, just one of many," she writes, explaining that "for some time, this doll has been causing him nightmares and anxiety. For a seven-year-old, who, according to those who know him, is mature like a fifteen-year-old. He's been struggling to fall asleep, waking up at night in a fright and coming to our bed, and there were days he didn’t want to go to school, and in hindsight, we realized it was because a friend brought the doll to class."

It turns out that it’s a bigger problem, as the scary doll was spread throughout the store. "Kids bring it to school, after-school programs, and camps. And my son stands no chance against it. So, what is this doll anyway? A quick Google search will reveal that this doll was created by some eccentric person with the aim of scaring children."

Shoshan further explains that the doll appears in various videos across social media, mostly 'popping up' without the child being prepared for it. In other videos, this horrifying doll waits for the child in the dark, and when the child 'approaches' it, it gives them a scary hug from which there is no escape. "And this is what our kids watch. The whole process. Horrifying, right?! Needless to say how terrible it is for a child to be exposed to such content, and what happens in their bodies in those seconds while watching the video. My son experiences anxiety from this thing, and I’m sure he’s not the only one."

It is quite common for children to be afraid of something. But when her son sees this doll or even just hears its name - he freezes. "Imagine this happening in class or with friends. There, in addition to the fear, he also experiences a social situation where he is perceived as 'cowardly' or 'whiny,' which is a very difficult situation to be in. Besides, he hasn't felt safe anywhere for a while - simply because this doll is everywhere."

Shoshan now laments a similarly troubling phenomenon where innocent games of hide-and-seek have been replaced with the words 'Huggy Wuggy,' and here too, needless to say, her son is terrified just at the sound of those words. "My son freezes and doesn't participate. Instead, he finds himself scared on the side, or makes up an excuse for me to come and pick him up. And why am I writing to you about this? Mainly - because I believe in the power we have as parents and the power of social networks. And also for the following reasons:

To wake us up and make us pay attention to the content our children are exposed to. There are so many harmful things that can adversely affect them. So that we do not turn a blind eye to this. How can it be that a doll whose purpose is pure violence becomes something sold everywhere and found in almost every house? I'm sure most parents who bought this doll for their children do not know it, so maybe now it will change, and this thing will stop.

Even if some children respond to this just fine, there are children who do not. Do not send your kids with toys to school, especially not something you do not understand completely, and certainly not something with violent connotations. I might be naive, but perhaps this post will reach the right eyes, and this silly doll will be taken off the shelves. We need a change here, urgently. I’m asking you to share this post. And please, stay alert. Explain to your kids what this is, why these kinds of toys have no place, and help make this a safer space for our children. There are already enough challenges kids face today," she concludes.