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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/jul/18/russia-fidget-spinner-warning-opposition
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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Political spin: Russia claims 'addictive' fidget spinners are tools of opposition | Political spin: Russia claims 'addictive' fidget spinners are tools of opposition |
| (about 1 month later) | |
| Russia’s state consumer watchdog has warned that fidget spinners could be harmfully addictive, after state TV said the toys could make people susceptible to the messages of the political opposition. | Russia’s state consumer watchdog has warned that fidget spinners could be harmfully addictive, after state TV said the toys could make people susceptible to the messages of the political opposition. |
| The watchdog said it had noted “the aggressive promotion of so-called spinners around children and teenagers” and was aware of concern from parents and teachers. | The watchdog said it had noted “the aggressive promotion of so-called spinners around children and teenagers” and was aware of concern from parents and teachers. |
| It said it would ask scientists to “study the effects of the influence of spinners on children’s health, including possible negative consequences”. | It said it would ask scientists to “study the effects of the influence of spinners on children’s health, including possible negative consequences”. |
| The announcement, accompanied by warnings not to buy spinners on the street and to check them for chemical smells, came after fearmongering over the toys on state television. | The announcement, accompanied by warnings not to buy spinners on the street and to check them for chemical smells, came after fearmongering over the toys on state television. |
| A show called Virus on Rossiya 24 television on 12 July called spinners an “instrument for zombifying” and a “form of hypnosis”. | A show called Virus on Rossiya 24 television on 12 July called spinners an “instrument for zombifying” and a “form of hypnosis”. |
| Spinners “often have a negative effect on the psyche and make a person susceptible to manipulation”, the presenter warned. | Spinners “often have a negative effect on the psyche and make a person susceptible to manipulation”, the presenter warned. |
| “Possibly it is not by chance that they have started selling spinners” at opposition rallies, he added. | “Possibly it is not by chance that they have started selling spinners” at opposition rallies, he added. |
| The Life News pro-Kremlin news site on Tuesday ran a feature on “Seven tragedies that happened to children because of spinners”, including a six-year-old boy who got one stuck on his finger. | The Life News pro-Kremlin news site on Tuesday ran a feature on “Seven tragedies that happened to children because of spinners”, including a six-year-old boy who got one stuck on his finger. |
| The move to check spinners prompted plenty of ridicule. | The move to check spinners prompted plenty of ridicule. |
| “How would you check this? Make 1,000 children play with 1,000 spinners for 1,000 hours and then make them write a test?” wrote the video blogger and comedian Yury Khovansky on Twitter. | “How would you check this? Make 1,000 children play with 1,000 spinners for 1,000 hours and then make them write a test?” wrote the video blogger and comedian Yury Khovansky on Twitter. |
| The toys first became popular in the US this spring before hitting Europe. They have been banned at some schools in the US, France and Britain. | The toys first became popular in the US this spring before hitting Europe. They have been banned at some schools in the US, France and Britain. |
| Donald Trump’s son Barron was photographed playing with one last month as he descended the steps of Air Force One. | Donald Trump’s son Barron was photographed playing with one last month as he descended the steps of Air Force One. |
| Russia | Russia |
| Toys | Toys |
| news | news |
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