People's Channel star Michelle Dewberry has added her voice to the long list of disgruntled parents who've slammed Argos for marketing a £15 wooden "influencer kit."
The toy set is designed for children as young as three years old and is produced by the retailer's own Chad Valley brand.
In it, the toy contains miniature content-creation equipment, including a camera, smartphone replica, tablet, microphone, tripod stand and adjustable lens.
Described online as a "beautifully crafted wooden live streaming set," the product promotes "career role-play" and encourages youngsters to pretend they are filming videos and taking selfies.
Michelle Dewberry is not happy with the high street store
| GB NEWSThe kit has drawn sharp criticism from child welfare campaigners and parents who argue it sends harmful messages to toddlers about aspiration and self-image.
Daisy Greenwell, who co-founded the charity Smartphone Free Childhood, has condemned the product following its discovery online.
Speaking to the Daily Mail, she questioned whether anyone genuinely believes such a toy "is what a two-year-old needs."
"We have to ask what we're teaching our children to aspire to," she said. "When we normalise the language and props of influencing in toddlerhood, we send the message that being watched matters more than being curious."
Argos has defended its product
| GETTYMs Greenwell argued that early childhood should focus on self-discovery rather than image cultivation.
"Childhood should be a time to discover who you are - not to start polishing your personal brand," she added.
Parents have also expressed outrage over the product, with many agreeing that toys should not encourage toddlers to view selfie-taking as a career path.
Michelle took to X to express her dismay at the product. "I know this is a ‘sign of the times’ & I am perhaps getting old etc, but..." she began.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:
I know this is a ‘sign of the times’ & I am perhaps getting old etc, but…
— Michelle Dewberry (@MichelleDewbs) March 24, 2026
It makes me sad that little kids are even aware of all this stuff. Which they mainly are of course because so many parents exploit their kids online for ££, without a care in the world for their privacy…… https://t.co/3PQhRIGsVX pic.twitter.com/wk1gKvEbq6
The Dewbs & Co host went on: "It makes me sad that little kids are even aware of all this stuff.
"Which they mainly are of course because so many parents exploit their kids online for ££, without a care in the world for their privacy," she signed off alongside a sad-looking emoji. (sic)
Meanwhile, Lucy Simpson, a 37-year-old mother of two from Poole in Dorset, criticised the inclusion of a toy ring light in particular.
"We shouldn't be teaching our toddlers to make a career out of taking selfies, especially with the use of a ring light," she told the Daily Mail.
Michelle Dewberry regularly shares her opinions on social media
| GB NEWSShe noted that influencers typically use such lighting equipment to conceal imperfections and present an artificially polished image of their lives.
"It is completely irresponsible," she added.
Despite the backlash, Argos has defended its decision to stock the product.
A spokesperson for the retailer stated that the company offers "a broad selection of toy sets that encourage imaginative and creative play."
The influencer kit forms part of a wider Chad Valley range that also includes items such as wooden tool boxes, toaster sets and pizza counter toys, all intended to help children enjoy themselves through pretend play.
Not all customers have been critical of the product, with one reviewer describing herself as "very happy" with the "well-designed" kit, which she purchased as a Christmas gift for her daughter.
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