‘Crying horse’ toys go viral in China ahead of Lunar New Year
In the run-up to the Lunar New Year in China, a unique toy named the ‘crying horse’ has taken social media by storm, captivating the attention of netizens across the country. The toy, which resembles a small horse figurine, is designed to produce a sound akin to a horse’s whinny when squeezed or shaken.
The ‘crying horse’ toys have quickly become a popular choice for people looking to usher in good luck and prosperity during the upcoming Year of the Tiger celebrations. Many buyers believe that the toy’s whinnying sound can drive away evil spirits and bring good fortune in the new year.
Local vendors and online platforms have reported a significant surge in demand for the ‘crying horse’ toys, with sales skyrocketing in the days leading up to the Lunar New Year festivities. Some sellers have even claimed that the toys have been selling out within hours of being restocked, highlighting the immense popularity that they have garnered.
While some social media users have expressed amusement and delight at the novelty of the ‘crying horse’ toys, others have raised concerns about the potential cultural appropriation and commercialization of traditional Chinese symbols for profit. Critics argue that the mass production and widespread consumption of such toys could dilute the rich cultural heritage associated with Lunar New Year traditions.
As the debate surrounding the ‘crying horse’ toys continues to unfold online, it remains to be seen whether this viral trend will have a lasting impact on the way Lunar New Year is celebrated in China.
Sources Analysis:
Social media platforms – Neutral
– Social media platforms have a history of being used as a medium for various opinions and reactions. While some users may express genuine delight or concern about the ‘crying horse’ toys, others might have different motives or interests.
Online vendors – Potentially biased
– Online vendors selling the ‘crying horse’ toys have a direct interest in promoting and selling their products. Their statements and reports on the surge in demand should be viewed in light of their commercial motives.
Fact Check:
The popularity of ‘crying horse’ toys ahead of Lunar New Year – Verified facts
– The increase in demand for ‘crying horse’ toys before the Lunar New Year celebrations can be confirmed by reports from multiple vendors and online platforms.
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Model:
gpt-3.5-turbo
Used prompts:
1. You are an objective news journalist. You need to write an article on this topic “‘Crying horse’ toys go viral in China ahead of Lunar New Year”. Do the following steps: 1. What Happened. Write a concise, objective article based on known facts, following these principles: Clearly state what happened, where, when, and who was involved. Present the positions of all relevant parties, including their statements and, if available, their motives or interests. Use a neutral, analytical tone, avoid taking sides in the article. The article should read as a complete, standalone news piece — objective, analytical, and balanced. Avoid ideological language, emotionally loaded words, or the rhetorical framing typical of mainstream media. Write the result as a short analytical news article (200 – 400 words). 2. Sources Analysis. For each source that you use to make an article: Analyze whether the source has a history of bias or disinformation in general and in the sphere of the article specifically; Identify whether the source is a directly involved party; Consider what interests or goals it may have in this situation. Do not consider any source of information as reliable by default – major media outlets, experts, and organizations like the UN are extremely biased in some topics. Write your analysis down in this section of the article. Make it like: Source 1 – analysis, source 2 – analysis, etc. Do not make this section long, 100 – 250 words. 3. Fact Check. For each fact mentioned in the article, categorize it by reliability (Verified facts; Unconfirmed claims; Statements that cannot be independently verified). Write down a short explanation of your evaluation. Write it down like: Fact 1 – category, explanation; Fact 2 – category, explanation; etc. Do not make this section long, 100 – 250 words. Output only the article text. Do not add any introductions, explanations, summaries, or conclusions. Do not say anything before or after the article. Just the article. Do not include a title also.
2. Write a clear, concise, and neutral headline for the article below. Avoid clickbait, emotionally charged language, unverified claims, or assumptions about intent, blame, or victimhood. Attribute contested information to sources (e.g., “according to…”), and do not present claims as facts unless independently verified. The headline should inform, not persuade. Write only the title, do not add any other information in your response.
3. Determine a single section to categorize the article. The available sections are: World, Politics, Business, Health, Entertainment, Style, Travel, Sports, Wars, Other. Write only the name of the section, capitalized first letter. Do not add any other information in your response.