Six Seven (67) is nonsensical but popular

Generation Z (Gen Z) is those born between 1997 and 2012. Generation Alpha (Gen Alpha) is listed as 2010 to 2024, so there is some overlap. There is a term, 67, pronounced Six Seven, currently being used by the latter group that some adults are trying to make sense of.

This slang term and meme is meaningless, but used as a playful inside joke among the younger crowd The origin is from the 2024 drill rap song Doot Doot (6 7) by rapper Skrilla, which features the repeated lyric “6-7, I just bipped right on the highway”.

The video may seem dark and menacing to some.

The number gained increased popularity when NBA player LaMelo Ball, who is 6 feet 7 inches tall, was featured in viral TikTok videos with Skrikker's song.

This led to the phrase spreading on social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok. It has become a popular meme that teens use in their everyday interactions, but adults are clueless about it.

When you hear a young person say"67," it does not have a specific meaning. If you ask them about it, they might not tell you why they are using it. These numbers are often used as a humorous, nonsensical interjection or response to basically anything, similar to other slang words like "gyatt" or "skibbit."

Saying "67" is a part of young adult conversations like an inside joke or a secret handshake. It connects friends in classrooms, at sports events, or in playful after-school banter. There is also a six seven hand shake.

The meme is considered outlandish and unpredictable, and has led to a contagious energy among teenagers. When parents and teachers attempt to stop teens from saying six seven, this makes the use of the phrase grow in popularity.

I recall the early 200s when my two oldest children, who are millennials, began saying "It is what it is" all the time. This phrase annoyed me, but at least I knew what it meant.

During the 1970s, we said "Right On" and "Solid," which were understood to mean agreement or that something was good or cool. The fist hand gesture was often used when these words were spoken.

Teenagers today sometimes pair 67 with a hand gesture that mimics weighing two options, loosely meaning “so-so” or “about." The randomness and the shared understanding among peers is what make 67 fun without a literal definition.

The appeal comes from the absurdity and spontaneity of the meme. Teachers and parents have sometimes tried to discourage it, which only strengthens its popularity among teens.

Every generation has had slang terms, but until now, they meant something. Thats what makes this new phrase so disturbing to adults, there is no precise meaning. Does it mean something is good or bad? Is it a put-down, or a compliment? How does anyone know what is meant by the person who is speaking?

"67" is a playful, viral meme that functions as a social signal among Gen Alpha. Its origin in music and basketball culture, combined with its nonsensical nature, makes it a flexible and humorous way for young people to connect and express a sense of belonging.

While the older folk think six seven is nonsensical, the teens seem to know what they are communicating to one another. Whether 67 is a short-term fad that will soon be gone remains to be seen. No one believed the sagging pants trend would be around 30 years later, but it is.

This one that can be summed up by lyrics from Will Smith's first hit: To all you other kids across the land, take it from me, parents just don't understand?