The state-owned news channel Russia-24 has warned its viewers about fidget spinners, the worldwide toy fad.
The “fidget spinner” craze has spread to Russia, and one of their news outlets has taken this chance to show that they can match U.S. media pound-for-pound on baseless paranoia. After the popular toys were reportedly distributed at a rally for opposition leader Alexei Navalny, state-owned Russia-24 decided to meet the threat head on.
The report says that fidget spinners were also appearing in online ads appearing on YouTube channels that promote the opposition. They rightly claim that fidget spinners are already on their way out in the United States, but lament their continued popularity within Russia.
On July 12, another report called the toys “object for zombifying,” capable of “hypnosis,” that “dulls” the mind. In response to the report, Russian consumer protection agency Rospotrebnadzor has announced an investigation into the popular distraction:
There has been an aggressive promotion of so-called spinners among children and teenagers in Russia recently. Taking into consideration the anxiety among the community of parents and teachers, Rospotrebnadzor, in cooperation with child health research institutions, will study the effect spinners are having on children, including the possible negative impact.
Follow Nate Church @Get2Church on Twitter for the latest news in gaming and technology, and snarky opinions on both.
COMMENTS
Please let us know if you're having issues with commenting.