Psychology of Media & Technology

The Internet functions like a giant petri dish for understanding different human emotions when we remember that at, the core people, are driven by fundamental desires: 1) to connect socially and 2) to feel like that matter.  Unboxing videos offer two important aspects of this.  The ability to see someone's face repeatedly creates a sense of knowing, particularly when they look into the camera and we can see facial expressions.  Our brain automatically responds in kind.  The ability to interact through comments increases the sense of connection by creating some ownership in the relationship.  Sharing the unboxing experience--the emotion, the anticipation, and the speculation about how will something work or what it's good for--creates a level of intimacy.  Understanding how people think and what they like is how we get to know them both off and online.  Finally, seeing information that increases your knowledge bank, even if it is something as simple as how to use a new toy or appliance, increases one's sense of agency and competence.