67 Meme Explained: Why Gen Alpha Can't Stop Saying '6-7'

67 Meme Explained: Why Gen Alpha Won’t Stop Saying ‘6-7’ and What It Really MeansYou walk into your average middle school classroom, and chances are you will hear it: "Six-seveeeeen!" Teachers nationwide are feeling frustrated, parents don’t have a clue and Gen Alpha kids just can’t stop yelling this curious phrase. Welcome to the world of 67 memes, a viral sensation that has turned two ordinary numbers into the most lost phrase in modern education.This guide will translate the origins, dissect the (lack of a) joke and certainly not attempt to explain why these 67 memes that have no real reason for existing have destroyed an entire generation.What Are 67 Meme? Breaking Down the Viral PhenomenonThe Basic Definition of 67 MemesAt the simplest level, 67 memes consist of kids screaming “six-seveeeeen” and tipping their hands between two imaginary scales. It pops up in reference to page 67, time, rating something out of ten or for literally no reason at all.However, what makes them so baffling is their lack of any coherent context. Unlike past slang words which had meaning behind them regardless of their incoherence with the English language, this one has no meaning whatsoever. But that doesn’t stop children shouting it everywhere they can, adding it into every TikTok possible and using it as an almost vocal brand to stereo typify Gen Alpha with.The Origins of 67 Meme: Where Did It All Start?The Song That Started It AllThe genesis of 67 memes can be traced back to a track by Philadelphia rapper Skrilla called “Doot Doot (6 7),” which went viral in late 2024. The chorus of the earworm of a song is basically just “6-7” sung with rhythm. In Skrilla’s meaning, it could indicate police code 10-67 (reporting a death) but that wasn’t the Gen Alpha usage.As the song spread on TikTok, it quickly became audio for videos and specifically sports videos. The iconography paired with the figure eventually unlocked this usage the phrase detached from its origin Semantically bleaching words, so they contain no inherent meaning.Taylen Kinney's Viral Hand GestureHigh school basketball phenom Taylen Kinney may have given 67 memes their visual signature. In December 2024, when asked to rate a Starbucks drink out of ten, he said: "Like a 6... 6... 6-7," while making the hand gesture that summed up his answer, and the internet went wild. But with over one million followers on TikTok alone, Kinney also spread this meme further than anyone else on our list.‘Mason 67’ and the Meme’s EvolutionThe face of 67 memes came in March 2025 after a viral video showed a young person shouting “6-7!” during a basketball game. with unbridled enthusiasm. The character the internet christened “Mason” and Mason 67 became a meme within a meme, standing in for every student who can’t seem to stop saying the phrase.LaMelo Ball and the Sports Culture ConnectionThe league’s LaMelo Ball, an even 6-foot-7, made the basketball connection stronger. Ball highlight videos started using the Skrilla track, as we combined Ball's height with a viral phrase. Thanks in no small part to Ball gamely playing along, the trend has been legitimized.Understanding the Meaning Behind 67 MemeThe Truth: 67 Memes Mean Absolutely NothingHere’s what annoys adults the most: 67 memes are not meaningful. There is no information being conveyed or transmitted when kids yell “six-seveeeeeeen” in class; all they’re doing is participating in a communal experience by way of pure, childlike absurdism.As linguist Taylor Jones posits, the embracing of 67 memes can be summed up by asking yourself one question: “Do you have a little bit of whimsy? Or are your kind of a party pooper?” The phrase, then, is essentially shorthand that asks if you’re open to engaging with the power of absurdist humor or declaring everything should contribute towards some higher purpose.  Why Kids Are Obsessed with 67 MemeThe Social Function of 67 MemesWhile it may seem like nonsense, 67 memes serve an important social purpose. According to University of Cincinnati professor Gail Fairhurst, the phrase is a “language game” that only members of the in-group understand how to play. It’s a “shibboleth” a word that signals someone as belonging to a certain group.The phrase creates immediate camaraderie. When a kid hears another student yell “6-7” in a new classroom, they know right away they’ve stumbled upon their tribe. That sense of belonging is especially potent during the socially fraught years of middle school.Rebellion and Resistance Through LanguageParadoxically, adult frustration has also extended the trend’s lifespan. “The fact that you can get a big reaction from somebody for something just totally meaningless,” says Taylor Jones, “has really more than anything helped it stick around.” Every teacher ban or parent complaint only seems to make kids more determined to keep it going.This is harmless rebellion. Unlike destructive trends, 67 memes allow students to push back against authority without causing real harm annoying, yes, but ultimately harmless.67 Memes in Pop Culture and Social MediaWhen a recent South Park episode made fun of the fact that there are 67 genders, it seemed like another ridiculous exaggeration from the absurdist cartoon. But in this case 67 was referencing a real meme that had taken off on TikTok earlier this year.When South Park had characters becoming obsessed with that phrase, it was the write-up’s arrival in the mainstream. This is that moment of realization and maybe death-rattle once grownups have dissected something to death, kids tend to look elsewhere.The Future of 67 Meme: Is It Already Over?Signs That 67 Memes Are FadingThere are several reasons to believe the 67 meme is dying. A few students at Parkland high school rolled their eyes as classmates chanted the slogan. After almost a year of mainstream media repeating it, this meme has lost all its insider, linguistic subversion cred. Moreover, it has had a longer life than most other memes (it’s been nearly 11 months in internet time!).Teacher Philip Lindsay recalls hearing “41” as a possible replacement but adds “6-7 came and went. 41 was pushed.” It’s clear you can’t predict or manufacture what will go viral. The next 67 will need to have those three elements in common: catchiness, ease of replication, and adult-befuddling absurdity.FAQs1. What does 67 mean in memes?67 memes don’t mean anything specific that’s the whole idea. It started as a reference to Skrilla’s song and Taylen Kinney’s pose, but we became so detached from that meaning that it doesn’t really mean anything anymore. Kids yell “six-seveeeeen” at each other like they’re saying some secret code or making a joke only they get.2. Where the 67 memes came from?67 memes spawned from a rapper named Skrilla's "Doot Doot (6 7)" song; a basketball player called Taylen Kinney and his hand gesture; the viral 'Mason 67' fan video; plus a link to a professional NBA player by the name of LaMelo Ball (6'7" tall) which all coalesced at the end of 2024 to create what we know today.3. Why are kids obsessed with 67 memes?It's a "shibboleth" phrase to distinguish the in-group members of Gen Alpha. It fosters camaraderie between peers and offers harmless defiance against adults who think it is irritating and vacuous and therein lies its charm.4. Are 67 memes hurting kids?No. But linguists say that inventing nonsensical slang is something that younger people have always done as reflections of their own subculture. The memes are evidence of social savviness, not dementia.5. How long will 67 memes stave you off?Typical viral trends/filter, expected 67 memes that are potentially dying based on mainstream attention, fatigue by students, and anti-logic of its existing over a year. Could also die in like 2 weeks or go strong for like 7 more months.