Watchly Safety Review

25 Million Orbeez in a pool- Do you sink or float?

5:50 · 59.4M views · August 16, 2016

Minor FlagsReviewed June 2026

5Minor Flags

This is a fun science experiment video where Mark Rober tests what happens when you jump into a pool filled with 25 million water beads (Orbeez). The video combines entertaining visuals with genuine physics education about buoyancy and density, making it both engaging and educational for kids.

Content Breakdown · 5 Categories

Hidden Advertising & Sponsored ContentA little

Minor commercial element detected with mention of equipment rental service, though it appears to be a genuine recommendation rather than undisclosed sponsorship. The mention is brief and contextual.

See evidence (1)

“Thanks to Nathan for the High Speed camera. If you need a High Speed camera to rent for super cheap check him out. Insanely low prices for great gear- http://www.aimed-research.com/”0:01

Parasocial & Emotional ManipulationA little

Very mild engagement request detected with standard YouTube call-to-action for subscriptions and comments. No guilt-tripping, manufactured drama, or emotional dependence language. The request is straightforward and non-manipulative.

See evidence (2)

“PLEASE CONSIDER SUBSCRIBING”Mid-video

“So take a moment to guess in the comments below of how far you think we'll sink”

Engagement Baiting & Manipulative CTAsA little

Mild engagement request detected asking viewers to guess in comments. This is a standard, non-manipulative call-to-action that encourages genuine participation in the scientific question posed. No guilt-tripping, superstition, or exclusionary language used.

See evidence (1)

“So take a moment to guess in the comments below of how far you think we'll sink, and then we'll see if you're right.”Mid-video

Low-Quality, Extreme & Stunt ContentA little

Moderate presence of extreme/stunt-style content detected. The video involves filling a pool with 25 million Orbeez, which is an extreme quantity for entertainment/shock value. However, it's framed as a legitimate scientific experiment with educational value (testing buoyancy and Archimedes' principle), which mitigates the concern. The content has genuine educational merit beyond pure spectacle.

See evidence (2)

“25 Million Orbeez in a pool”Throughout

“So for the past six months, we've been stockpiling with these water balls in Kevin's backyard”

Playful & Fantasy ViolenceA little

Very minor playful element detected when Kevin playfully growls at the kids, causing them to scream and laugh. This is clearly in jest and part of fun interaction with no actual threat or harm. Entirely appropriate for family content.

See evidence (1)

“Also, that Kevin was right there. (Kevin growls) (kids scream and laugh)”Mid-video

What Parents Need to Know

This video is safe, educational, and appropriate for young children. Mark Rober explains scientific concepts like buoyancy and Archimedes' principle in an accessible way while conducting a large-scale experiment. The content includes kids playing in the Orbeez pool, which models safe supervised fun. There's a brief comedic moment where someone in a costume playfully scares the kids, but it's clearly in good fun. The video encourages scientific thinking and hypothesis testing. Parents should note this is a supervised experiment by professionals and shouldn't be replicated at home without proper planning and safety measures.

Talk to Your Kids About

1Ask your child to predict what would happen if they jumped into a pool of different materials - would they sink more in sand? Less in foam balls? Why?
2Discuss the science concept of buoyancy: Why do some things float and others sink? Can they think of examples from bath time or swimming?
3Talk about the scientific method shown in the video: making a guess (hypothesis), testing it, and learning from being wrong. When have they learned something by being wrong?
4Discuss why this experiment required adult supervision and planning, and why we can't just try every fun idea we see online at home.

25 Million Orbeez in a pool- Do you sink or float?

Protected Viewing

What's This Video About?

Kevin (aka The Backyard Scientist) and I filled a pool with 25 million waterballs (aka Orbeez) so I could settle an argument about how far you sink if you jump in. Go watch Kevin's video- https://youtu.be/BDS4DHxPQRE Thanks to Nathan for the High Speed camera. If you need a High Speed camera to rent for super cheap check him out. Insanely low prices for great gear- http://www.aimed-research.com/ MUSIC- 0:01- Nobody Knows- Andrew Applepie- http://www.andrewapplepie.com/ 4:00- Berlin- Andrew Applepie- http://www.andrewapplepie.com/ PLEASE CONSIDER SUBSCRIBING: http://tinyurl.com/MarkRober-Sub **************************************** I make videos like this once a month all year long while supplies last: CHECK OUT MY CHANNEL: http://tinyurl.com/MarkRober-YouTube FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/MarkRoberYouTube TWITTER: https://twitter.com/#!/MarkRober INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/markrober/

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this video safe for young children to watch?

Yes, this video is very safe for young children. It contains no inappropriate content, language, or themes. The video demonstrates a fun science experiment with clear educational value about physics concepts like buoyancy and density.

Will my child try to recreate this experiment at home?

While the video is visually exciting, it clearly shows this as a large-scale supervised project that required months of planning. Parents can use this as a teaching moment about the difference between watching experiments and safely conducting age-appropriate ones at home. The scale and cost make home replication unlikely.

What educational value does this video offer?

The video teaches genuine physics concepts including Archimedes' principle, buoyancy, density, and the scientific method of forming and testing hypotheses. Mark Rober explains why his initial prediction was wrong, modeling that learning from mistakes is part of science. These concepts align with elementary and middle school science curricula.

Are there any safety concerns in the video?

The video shows responsible adult supervision throughout, with kids playing in a controlled environment. There's one brief moment where someone in a costume playfully startles the children, but it's clearly comedic and the kids are laughing. No dangerous activities or risky behaviors are modeled.

Does this video contain advertising or product placement?

The video mentions Orbeez (water beads) by name and shows the product extensively, though it's integral to the experiment rather than promotional. There's a brief mention of a collaborator's channel at the end. Overall, the commercial content is minimal and doesn't detract from the educational focus.

What age child would understand and enjoy this content?

Children ages 5 and up will enjoy the visual spectacle and playful elements, while kids 8 and older will better grasp the scientific explanations. The video works on multiple levels - younger kids enjoy watching people play in colorful balls, while older children can engage with the physics concepts being demonstrated.