Fidget spinners. They’re everywhere! Even in the Whitehouse. Do a quick internet search for “Baron Trump with a fidget spinner” and you will get a bunch of pictures of the First Boy holding and spinning a toy that has recently become all the rage. The fidget spinner is this little two or three winged spinning toy that is held in one hand and spins with the flick of a finger. That’s it. That’s all that it does. I first heard about these little gizmos as a Kickstarter project. They looked kind of interesting, but when I actually held one, I was seriously underwhelmed. I imagine parents in past generations had the same reaction to the Slinky toy when it first came out. Wow, a loose spring that falls down the steps one step at a time. But these spinners became an instant hit with the middle school crowd, driving teachers across the nation nuts with their soft whirring sound and constant distraction. Spinners come in a huge variety of colors and styles. They cost anywhere from a few bucks for an average one to $30 for an ultra deluxe model (that still doesn’t do anything more than spin).
Some Claims of Benefits are Unreal
Other than the obvious concern that all these plastic toys will fad from popularity soon and end up in landfills across the nation, there is something else that bothers me about these toys. That is the outrageous claims some big name advertisers have made about the mental health benefits of the playing with the spinners.
- The advertisement for a spinner from Amazon claims it relieves anxiety, cures autism, relieves stress, breaks bad habits, and keeps you awake.
- Another ad from Amazon says it helps with ADHD and increases creativity.
- Oriental Trading Company suggests giving them out to employees and students and has them labeled as a therapeutic tool.
What’s the big deal?
Sure, these are just toys and there’s no harm in spinning them to your heart’s content, but these claims for the benefits are confusing at the least. I was unable to find any evidence anywhere to prove any actual therapeutic benefits of the fidget spinner. To make such an outrageous claim as to “cure autism” is ridiculous and frankly insulting. And to “cure anxiety?” I think the advertisers meant they could help make one a little less anxious. There is a huge difference in “feeling anxious” and having anxiety. In order to be diagnosed with anxiety a person has to feel a disproportionate amount of serious worry about things for 6 months or more. And many with anxiety suffer with terrible panic attacks. That’s very different than being nervous about something like taking a test in algebra class. Saying theses toys can cure anxiety only adds to the stigma of mental illness by making it seem like all anyone who suffers from real anxiety needs is a distraction like a little spinning toy. Words are important. These advertisers have no scientific proof to back up their claims. They are making these claims to quickly move a product that will likely have a very short shelf life. The claims only muddy the waters surrounding mental health conditions like anxiety confusing it with feeling anxious. It is a big deal to those who suffer with the diagnosis of clinical anxiety. So, go ahead and spin away, just realize the advertisers are spinning a tale when it comes to claiming to fix problems.