J'ai découvert ces petites poupées, Labubu, qui ressemblent à des monstres de type Pokémon. Elles sont habillées de manière bizarre et tout le monde semble en parler. C'est devenu une sorte de tendance, je crois. Un TikTok avec une audio étrange de Lilz Bullz Marbella a commencé tout ça, mentionnant une poupée en or 24 carats. Franchement, je ne comprends pas trop l'engouement. C'est un peu trop pour moi. #Labubu #Poupées #Tendance #Pokémon #Viral

A new TikTok trend, set to a snippet of Charli XCX’s “I Think About It All the Time” featuring Bon Iver, sees users, particularly Gen Z women, sharing lists of “propaganda” they’re not falling for in 2025.  One list, shared by TikTok creator Lxyzfbxx, includes the “clean girl look,” “the normalization of OF,” and “preventative Botox,” among other things. Another user listed “organic deodorant,” “Teslas,” and “mouth tape” among the modern-day propaganda. A third user included “push-up bras,” “being anti-sunscreen,” and “branded sweatshirts.” A fourth took aim at “working,” “a 9-5,” and “employment.” From social media trends to beauty standards, internet users are drawing attention to the capitalist, political, and aesthetic pressures that they’re subjected to daily, and they are de-normalizing those they see as unhealthy, undesirable, or just cringe.  “Propaganda I won’t be falling for”: How did the trend start? While it’s hard to pinpoint exactly where the trend began, it’s clear that it’s caught on: If there’s one thing social media loves, it’s a hot take—and it can be on anything from working a full-time job to singer-songwriter Benson Boone. For instance, 2024 was the year of the “in” and “out” lists. Now, with the hashtag “propaganda” currently at over 240,000 posts on TikTok, we have the 2025 version of a similar trend. However, what is and what isn’t propaganda varies wildly, depending on whom you ask. The comments section below many of these videos is a hotbed for debate. “Sorry but i WILL be falling for the Labubu propaganda everytime,” one person commented under a list that included the viral dolls. “I hate to admit it but Dubai chocolate is soooo bomb,” another commented under a propaganda list that included the pistachio-flavored chocolate. Take these opinions with a rather large pinch of salt. One frequent name that appears on many of these lists is singer-songwriter Gracie Abrams. Does that mean the poster actually dislikes Abrams’s music? Not necessarily. As one TikTok user told The New York Times: “I think sometimes the internet just likes to have a running gag.”Casey Lewis, of the youth consumer trends newsletter After School, did the legwork and tallied up the most commonly mentioned “propaganda” across hundreds of TikToks. The top 10 list she compiled included matcha, the tradwife movement, MAHA-adjacent trends like beef tallow and anti-seed oil, author Colleen Hoover, and milk. Coming in at the No. 1 spot, to no one’s surprise, is ChatGPT.   #9to5 #jobs #chatgpt #preventive #botox

This is today’s edition of The Download, our weekday newsletter that provides a daily dose of what’s going on in the world of technology. By putting AI into everything, Google wants to make it invisible If you want to know where AI is headed, this year’s Google I/O has you covered. The company’s annual showcase of next-gen products, which kicked off yesterday, has all of the pomp and pizzazz, the sizzle reels and celebrity walk-ons, that you’d expect from a multimillion dollar marketing event.But it also shows us just how fast this still-experimental technology is being subsumed into a line-up designed to sell phones and subscription tiers. Never before have I seen this thing we call artificial intelligence appear so normal. Read the full story. —Will Douglas Heaven AI could keep us dependent on natural gas for decades to come Last December, Meta announced plans to build a massive billion data center for training its artificial intelligence models in rural northeast Louisiana. Stretching for more than a mile, it will be Meta’s largest in the world, and it will have an enormous appetite for electricity.To power the data center, a Meta contractor called Entergy will build three large natural-gas power plants with a total capacity of 2.3 gigawatts. It’ll also upgrade the grid to accommodate the huge jump in anticipated demand.The choice of natural gas as the go-to solution to meet the growing demand for power from AI is not unique to Louisiana. The fossil fuel is already the country’s chief source of electricity generation, and large natural-gas plants are being built around the country to feed electricity to new and planned AI data centers. That’s all but wiping out any prospect that the US will wean itself off natural gas anytime soon. Read the full story. —David Rotman This story is part of Power Hungry: AI and our energy future—our new series shining a light on AI’s energy usage. Check out the rest of the package here. Take a new look at AI’s energy use Big Tech’s appetite for energy is growing rapidly as adoption of AI accelerates. But just how much energy does a single AI query use? And what does it mean for the climate? Join editor in chief Mat Honan, senior climate reporter Casey Crownhart, and AI reporter James O’Donnell at 1.30pm ET today for a subscriber-only Roundtables conversation digging into our new package of stories about AI’s energy demands now and in the future. Register here. The must-reads I’ve combed the internet to find you today’s most fun/important/scary/fascinating stories about technology. 1 Democrats are on the hunt for a digital thought leaderThey’rerealizing how far they’re lagging behind their opponents’ online efforts these days. + AI’s impact on elections is being overblown.2 At least two newspapers printed an AI-generated summer reading list The only problem is, some of the books don’t actually exist.+ It’s a useful reminder to never take anything chatbots produce as fact.+ Even regional newspapers aren’t safe from AI slop.+ Why AI hallucinates, and why we can’t stop it.3 The Earth may already be too hot to maintain polar ice sheetsEven if it stays at current temperature levels.+ Why climate researchers are taking the temperature of mountain snow.4 How New York City’s child abuse algorithm flags families for investigationCritics believe it’s open to racial bias.5 Here’s what it’s like to interview for a job at DOGE  The hiring process is remarkably fast, for a government entity.+ The department reportedly tried to enter the US government’s publishing operation.+ DOGE’s tech takeover threatens the safety and stability of our critical data.6 Fortnite has finally returned to Apple’s App StoreAfter five years and a lengthy legal battle.+ The recent ruling has major implications for the iOS economy.7 Most chatbots can be tricked into dispensing dangerous informationFrom hacking advice, to describing how to make drugs.+ Anthropic has a new way to protect large language models against jailbreaks.8 Young Indonesians are being trafficked to scam farmsFraudulent job ads on Telegram and Facebook lure them into a life of crime.+ Inside a romance scam compound—and how people get tricked into being there.9  Inside the building in China where stolen western iPhones are stripped and soldYou’ll find a buyer for every single component inside the Feiyang Times.10 Amazon has started randomly refunding customers for old purchasesSome orders were placed as far back as 2018.Quote of the day “Anybody who’s a computer scientist should not be retired right now. They should be working on AI.” —Google cofounder Sergey Brin says people with the right technical skills should copy him and quit being retired, TechCrunch reports. One more thing This fuel plant will use agricultural waste to combat climate changeA startup called Mote plans to build a new type of fuel-producing plant in California’s fertile Central Valley that would, if it works as hoped, continually capture and bury carbon dioxide.It’s among a growing number of efforts to commercialize a concept first proposed two decades ago as a means of combating climate change, known as bioenergy with carbon capture and sequestration, or BECCS.It’s an ambitious plan. However, there are serious challenges to doing BECCS affordably and in ways that reliably suck down significant levels of carbon dioxide. Read the full story. —James Temple We can still have nice things A place for comfort, fun and distraction to brighten up your day.+ These creepy little Labubu toys are everywhere. But why?+ Happy 25th birthday to one of London’s finest institutions, the Tate Modern gallery.+ Why the Mission Impossible film franchise just won’t die.+ Hummingbirds can fly backwards!? Wow. #download #googles #mission #americas #reliance

Pop Mart has temporarily paused Labubu sales in the UK. LILLIAN SUWANRUMPHA/AFP via Getty Images 2025-05-21T04:26:31Z d Read in app This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers. Become an Insider and start reading now. Have an account? UK fans of Labubu won't be able to snag the toy in stores for a bit. The toy's producer, Pop Mart, said it would temporarily pause physical Labubu sales in the UK. It said this was to "ensure the safety" of people after long lines formed outside UK Pop Mart stores. Labubu fans in the UK have gone so wild for the toy, its seller has temporarily paused in-store sales.Pop Mart, the Chinese toymaker behind the viral doll that's taking the world by storm, announced the pause in an Instagram post on Tuesday."Due to the increasing demand for our beloved Labubus, we've seen a significant rise in customer turnout on restock days — with long queues forming outside our stores and Roboshops," the toymaker said.Pop Mart sells products in 16 locations across the UK, including the vending machine-style Roboshops."To ensure the safety and comfort of everyone, we will temporarily pause all in-store and roboshop sales of THE MONSTERS plush toys until further notice," Pop Mart added.Pop Mart said online drops of the toy would continue as usual.At least a dozen videos on TikTok of Pop Mart's stores in the UK show snaking lines forming at its entrances ahead of product drops.A video of the Pop Mart in Bullring, a shopping mall in Birmingham, showed a line stretching around the building. Barricades were set up at the start of the line to organize the queue.This comes as Labubu fever spreads from Asia to the West, with fans queuing for hours to get their hands on the furry plushie with serrated teeth.Labubus, which come in various designs, are sold in blind boxes, or toys that are not labeled.Pop Mart staff in Singapore told BI in November that stores are restocked with a few hundred figurines twice a week, but they sell out in minutes.Labubu and The Monsters toy line was a major cash cow for Pop Mart in 2024. According to the company's annual report, its sales totaled 3.04 billion yuan, or about million, which was 23% of Pop Mart's total revenue.Representatives for Pop Mart did not respond to a request for comment from Business Insider. #popmart #has #paused #all #labubu

Labubus have captivated the world under a spell of mischievous fantasy that is making the plush purse baubles a must-have collector’s toy. And if you’re a Jim Henson creature fan (think Labyrinth and Dark Crystal) or grew up on Where the Wild Things Are with a dash of Donnie Darko’s Frank the Bunny, you’ll find them hard to resist. Much like the lucky spirits of forest folklore that inspired them, Labubus are everywhere all at once and yet hard to find if you’re trying to buy one. Pop Mart, which distributes artist Kasing Lung’s beloved characters in vinyl and plush collectible form, releases drops that immediately sell out. Cutesy toy collectors are often having to turn to re-sellers at a steeper mark-up than the $20-30 the keychains usually go for, with prices often reaching hundreds of dollars for elusive variants. And while Pop Mart encourages fans to shop through official outlets, many fall for the trap of the Lafufus—faux Labubus, many of which are so cursed-looking, with eyes that fall out or bald peeled heads, they’ve garnered their own cult following as well.  “The Monsters,” as the series that spawned Labubu is called, continue to gain global recognition through popularity in the fantasy cottagecore realms of the internet. Labubu is the breakout species of the Monsters crew; the main character is also named Labubu and became the standout of the group thanks to the extreme ugly-cute quality that made her a viral sensation. Other characters in the Smurf-like tribe of Labubu include the rare pink Mokoko and the Labubu leader Zimomo (who has a tail), who also have a cult following of their own. Toy collectors love them, including celebrities like Blackpink’s Lisa (The White Lotus), What We Do in the Shadows‘ Harvey Guillén, and Madame Web’s Emma Roberts. io9’s conversation with Labubu figure creator Kasing Lung, conducted over email, delves into how Nordic supernatural folklore inspired the fuzzy elven creatures. Also—as fans ourselves, often awake at all hours of the night trying to nab an official Labubu on the Pop Mart app—we were excited to explore with Lung why he thinks the Monsters’ enchanting whimsy has taken over the world. Sabina Graves, io9: I’ve read that the creation of the Monsters was inspired by your time in the Netherlands when you were young. What about that experience inspired the Monsters story book idea, and how did that shift to making them into a physical art form? Kasing Lung: That’s right—Labubu was born from my fascination with Nordic mythology and European folklore, which I was surrounded by while growing up in the Netherlands. I’ve always been drawn to creatures that live in the space between fantasy and reality—figures that are both familiar and mysterious. I wanted to create a character that embodied that duality: mischievous yet endearing, strange yet deeply human. Labubu, like all the characters in the Monsters universe, has an emotional depth that makes her feel alive. When I partnered with Pop Mart, I was able to bring that imagination into the physical world—transforming Labubu from a storybook figure into something people could collect, connect with, and make their own. io9: What makes Pop Mart the ideal collaborator to share the Monsters with the world? Were you a part of collector culture growing up, and if so, what toys did you collect? Lung: Pop Mart’s design-forward philosophy makes them an ideal collaborator for any artist. They prioritize artistic integrity and allow creators like me the freedom to develop characters without compromise. That kind of trust is rare. It means every figure stays true to its roots—from concept to final collectible—and collectors can feel that authenticity in every piece. As for collecting, yes—I have always been interested in that world. I was drawn to toys that sparked imagination, whether it was action figures, miniature creatures, or things with unexpected personality. I think that fascination with small, expressive objects has stayed with me. The Monsters are really just a grown-up extension of that childlike wonder. [TK unboxing IG reel link] io9: I’d love to get your perspective on seeing your creations begin to appear in so many places on a global scale, even on fashion and music icons like Lisa. What do you think about the current fashion craze that the Monsters are a part of? Lung: Seeing Labubu embraced by fans worldwide, from dedicated collectors to global icons, is surreal and incredibly humbling. When I first started sketching Labubu, I wasn’t thinking about fame or fashion trends. I was just following a feeling, creating something that felt true to me. So to now see people lining up for drops, customizing their collections, and making Labubu part of their daily lives—it’s overwhelming in the best way. What’s happening in fashion feels like a natural evolution. Today, people want to wear their personalities, to show the world who they are through what they carry, collect, and wear. Labubu speaks to that desire for something playful, expressive, and a little bit rebellious. The fact that the Monsters are becoming part of that cultural language means the world to me. It pushes me to keep expanding the universe, to keep creating characters that surprise people and give them something they can connect with—emotionally and personally. io9: What are your plans to continue to expand the stories for the Monsters characters alongside the figures release? Are there any collaborations and projects related to them coming up that you can share that will open up their story to more fans around the world? Lung: Right now, I’m letting the Monsters story evolve naturally. These characters are always growing in my mind, and every new figure is a chance to explore a different side of their world. I never want to force their direction—it’s more about following the emotion behind them and letting that guide the creative process. In terms of collaborations, there are definitely exciting projects in the works. Most recently, we collaborated with One Piece for the Monsters × One Piece Series Figures. While I can’t reveal too much just yet, I’m always looking for opportunities to expand the Monsters into new mediums and formats, so fans can experience them in deeper and more immersive ways. © Pop Mart © Pop Mart © Pop Mart © Pop Mart © Pop Mart © Pop Mart © © Pop Mart © Pop Mart © Pop Mart © Pop Mart © Pop Mart © Pop Mart © Pop Mart © Pop Mart © Pop Mart © Pop Mart © Pop Mart © Pop Mart © Pop Mart © Pop Mart To see Pop Mart’s selection of the Monsters’ blind box offerings and collaborations, visit the retailer’s official site. Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who. Source: https://gizmodo.com/labubus-creator-on-the-ugly-cute-sensation-thats-taken-over-the-world-2000600397 #labubus #creator #the #uglycute #sensation #thats #taken #over #world