Fidget spinners are taking the world by storm. Apparently, they are supposed to ease anxiety and combat cellphone addiction. I, for one, wondered how they got so popular all of a sudden. After I got one myself, I found that they are in fact entertaining, and weirdly enough, calming. Are fidget spinners actually beneficial? Or is it all in my head?
The Hype
Fidget spinners are small devices/toys that can be rotated between fingers and are advertised all over Amazon as “stress-relievers”. The momentum of fidget spinners provides a pleasing sensory experience and the challenge of tossing, transferring and twirling the spinners makes them even more addicting.
Fidget spinners emerged in the spring of 2017, seemingly from out of nowhere. Now, teachers are posting about their frustrations with spinner-obsessed students, and many believe that they do not serve any benefits for individuals with psychological disorders.
Are There Benefits to Fidget Spinners?
The basic gadget has three prongs centered around a circle with bearings in the middle. Marketers claim that the toy provides comfort in stressful situations, helps individuals with autism and ADHD, and improves focus. However, this is really not the case, and they do not serve any sort of health benefit.
According to clinical psychologist and professor Scott Kollins at Duke University, there’s basically no scientific evidence that fidget spinners help individuals with ADHD. They are actually a distraction, and this goes for everyone. Who wouldn’t want to look at a spinning toy instead of paying attention in class?
They’re Really Just For Fun.
While fidget spinners aren’t a terrible thing, it is a common concern that the fidget spinner may just be a more obvious, distracting way to fidget. They are not meant to help you focus, but are still fun.
While fidget spinners may not be doing you much good, they’re still the most fun thing since Pokémon Go. So watch those cool YouTube videos and spin away, but don’t distract yourself.