A Viral Mystery
The internet recently fixated on a strange object “that nearly no one could identify.”
Many were baffled until it was revealed to be Clackers—“
something many adults once knew well but younger generations had never seen.”
What Were Clackers?
Clackers, also called Lik Klaks, were a hit toy of the early 1970s.
They featured “two hard plastic balls attached to a string with a small ring in the center.”
Players swung them so the balls struck repeatedly, producing “a loud clacking sound.”
Rise and Fall
Invented in 1969 by Wham-O, Clackers took off fast.
“In just one year, more than ten million were sold.”
But safety concerns grew as balls shattered, causing injuries and bans.
A safer redesign followed, though “the new version lacked the excitement.”
Lasting Legacy
By the mid-1970s, the craze ended.
Today, Clackers remain “a nostalgic symbol of a simpler time,”
remembered for outdoor play and childhood joy.