Clack clack! What's the story behind lato-lato, the viral toy craze that's in full swing in Singapore?

Remember when fidget spinners were all the rage a few years ago? Well, now you've got the lato-lato and, love them or hate them, this toy craze is quite literally in full swing in Singapore. 

Comprising two plastic balls connected by a string, it's now become infamous for the clacking sound it makes when players swing it up and down – and it's also ubiquitous at night markets with stalls selling these left and right.

The general rule of play among friends is that the person who maintains the clacking rhythm the longest wins.

With lato-lato capturing the imagination of young folks (and even a certain Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong getting in on the action), here's a quick look at its history as well as some interesting facts about it.

1. IT’S NOT FROM INDONESIA, IT'S AN AMERICAN TOY

The name lato-lato is said to have been derived from the Bugis word "latto-latto" which translates to "making clacking sounds".

A popular misconception about lato-lato is that it hails from Indonesia. While it’s true that the resurgence of its popularity can be attributed to Indonesian TikTok trends, the toy originated in the United States where it was called clackers.

2. IT USED TO BE CONSIDERED DANGEROUS

The original clackers in the 1960s and 70s were made with either tempered glass or acrylic. This meant that the balls would occasionally shatter and send shards flying when hit. As more and more children got hurt from playing with clackers, the US Food and Drug Administration established new safety standards for manufacturers. As a result, clackers were pulled from American shelves.

Of course, these days, lato-lato are made with modern plastics that are less prone to breaking.

3. IT WAS THE SUBJECT OF A COURT CASE IN THE US

In 1974, the United States Marshals Service seized a shipment of about 50,000 sets of clackers. In response, Ace Novelty Company filed a complaint stating that clackers were not banned hazards as defined by the Federal Hazardous Substances Act (FHSA).

In the end, the court decided that the United States had the right to seize the shipment under the FHSA as clackers were mechanical hazards and could cause injuries to children. They then allowed the United States to seize and destroy the shipment of clackers.

4. ACTOR PAUL RUDD HAD TO PLAY IT ON THE RED CARPET

Yes, even an Avenger got into the act. During the red carpet premiere of Marvel Studios' Ant-Man And The Wasp: Quantumania, a reporter from Indonesian media portal detikcom made the cast play lato-lato, with director Peyton Reed emerging as the winner.

5. PEOPLE HAVE DEVELOPED NEW WAYS TO PLAY IT

An Indonesian teacher created a viral TikTok video showing how one can make a new clacking sound by placing one ball on the ground and moving just the second one around.

6. VINTAGE CLACKERS CAN FETCH A HIGH PRICE

While today's lato-lato toys are priced from just S$3.50, vintage clackers can go as high as S$90. An Etsy listing for a set of vintage Ker-Knockers (another name for clackers) is currently going at CA$84 (S$83).