Labubus are f*cking up your dopamine.

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Thank you LEVEL8 for sponsoring this video: https://www.clkmg.com/LEVEL8/Aini (use code 'AINI10' for 10% off)

Everyone is addicted to labubus, and it's all by design.

Timestamps
- 0:00 Intro
- 1:08 FOMO culture and loyalty
- 5:49 ty Level8!
- 6:47 live love laugh labubu
- 7:20 Engineered desire (gambling mechanics)
- 12:17 Conclusion

Editor: Zypher (and me, if you notice any bad editing thats defs me lol)

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Academic References
Jiang, R. (2022). Analysis of Trend Culture from the Perspective of Social Currency. BCP Business & Management, 18, pp.183–188. doi: https://doi.org/10.54691/bcpbm.v18i.552.

Rofiah, C. and Arrahima, I. (2025). Fomo Phenomenon: Cyber-Phenomenological Exploration in the Labubu Limited Edition Product Collector Community. Journal of Economics, Finance And Management Studies, 08(01). doi: https://doi.org/10.47191/jefms/v8-i1-36.

References
Chan, E.Y. (2025). Labubus, Sonny Angels and Smiskis: Are blind toy boxes just child’s play or something more concerning? The Conversation. Available at: https://theconversation.com/labubus-sonny-angels-and-smiskis-are-blind-toy-boxes-just-childs-play-or-something-more-concerning-257611.

Chang, A. (2024). Overnight lines and mall fights: Labubu mania comes to America. Los Angeles Times. Available at: https://www.latimes.com/business/story/2024-11-05/labubu-craze.

CNA. (2024). The lure of Labubu: How people are potentially breaking the law to get their hands on the popular dolls. Available at: https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/labubu-toys-illegal-gambling-social-media-tiktok-4786346.

Wakim, M. (2025). Popularity of blind boxes has a lot to do with luck, chance and scarcity. Abc.net.au. Available at: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-06-05/why-blind-box-collectibles-are-so-popular-with-gen-z/105379012.

Yaptangco, A. (2025). Labubu Hysteria: Inside the Obsessive Spending of Designer-Toy Collecting. Glamour. Available at: https://www.glamour.com/story/going-broke-for-labubu.

Thanks for watching! Here's a strawberry cake for you :) 🍰

Tags:
video essay, cultural commentary, social commentary, internet analysis, analysis video, labubu, labubu unboxing, labubu addiction, pop mart, blind box toys, collectibles, designer toy, luxury, labubu psychology, dopamine addiction, marketing psychology, gambling mechanics, gacha, gacha toy, dopamine, china, aini