The Nostalgia, Social Media Craze, and Economic Impact in the Philippines of the Resurgence of Lato-Lato

The Lato-lato toy has been resurfacing and re-popularizing in the Philippines this 2023. The toy has been around since the 1970s and has been a popular toy for children in the Philippines. It is a simple toy that consists of two small plastic balls attached to a string. The player holds the string and swings the balls back and forth, making them collide and produce a clacking sound.

This toy is actually from the United States and is known as clackers or Newton’s Yoyo. The first design of Lato-lato was made of tempered glass, which made it dangerous because it could shatter. The toy was later redesigned using plastic materials, making it safer to use.

Although the toy traces its prominence in Indonesia and Malaysia way before, it has found its popularity in the Philippines, where Filipinos can buy the toy cheaply at a price range of P15 to P25. This cheap access to this toy, which you can buy even on sidewalks, is contributing more to its craze.

The resurgence of it has had a significant cultural impact on the Philippines. It has brought back memories of childhood for many Filipinos who grew up playing with the toy. It has also introduced the toy to a new generation of children who have never seen or heard of it before.

Its craze has also become a social media trend in the Philippines. People are sharing videos of themselves playing with the toy on TikTok and other social media platforms. The trend has even inspired a new challenge on TikTok where people try to perform tricks with the toy.

The resurgence of Lato-lato has also had an economic impact on the Philippines. The demand for the toy has increased, and many stores are now selling it. Some entrepreneurs have even started making their own versions of the toy to meet the demand.

Its resurgence has had a significant cultural impact on the Philippines. It has brought back memories of childhood for many Filipinos and introduced the toy to a new generation of children. The social media trend has made it even more popular, and it has had an economic impact as well.

Reference:

“‘Lato-lato’: What is it and why is it trending now?” POP!, 2023, https://pop.inquirer.net/345574/lato-lato-what-is-it-and-why-is-it-a-trend-now. Accessed 27 June 2023