The term “67” has taken over social media. It has had an immense impact on the younger generations and left older people confused or annoyed. The term “67” comes from the song “Doot Doot (67)” by Skrilla, which was used on videos of the 6’7”-tall NBA player LaMelo Ball.
What makes “67” stand out is the fact that it has no clear meaning. As Forbes reported, Skrilla, the artist who wrote the original song, explained to The Wall Street Journal, “I never put an actual meaning on it, and I still would not want to,” saying that the lack of meaning is “why everybody keeps saying it.” Because there is no real definition, people can interpret it in their own way, allowing it to be more relatable.
August Winchester ’27 showed how the phrase moved past just being a meme and has become a way to express a feeling or moment that does not fit into normal language.
“67 isn’t really a word; it’s more of an emotion,” August said. “It’s life.”
Other students share a similar connection to the term. Chandler Bell ’27 explained that “67” has a deeper meaning than most people realize.
“I think it has a larger societal impact than just us saying six seven,” Chandler said. “It can connect to larger issues such as conformity and societal standards.”
Chandler mentioned that he hears it constantly, both in and out of class. For Chandler, “67” is not just a meme or a joke. It has become a daily habit and a way students interact.
“There’s probably not a day where I don’t say it,” Chandler said. “I see it in math, I see it in physics, anywhere. It’s inescapable.”
Of course, not all students find the phrase “67” entertaining. Dylan Haws ‘27 said he first heard “67” on TikTok and Instagram, but then quickly got tired of it. Like many trends, the constant repetition can make it lose its humor.
“At first it was funny…” Dylan said.“But after a while, it just started to get annoying.”
However, teachers tend to have a different opinion. Señora Yelitza Ramirez, a Spanish teacher in the Upper School, first heard the phrase from her students while teaching numbers in class.
“When I did ‘la diferencia entre’ (‘the difference in’), that’s when they started saying ‘seis siete,’ (67),” Señora Ramirez said with a laugh.
She admitted that the constant repetition of the term can get annoying.
“Every time I count, they say it,” Señora Ramirez said. “I roll my eyes.”
One thing students and teachers can agree on is that it creates a togetherness in the classroom, and in general among younger people. Señora Lori Beth Wisman, the World Languages department chair, recognized this, even though she believes that “67” means nothing.
“[67 is so popular] because it creates community,” Señora Wiseman said. “And like, you have this shared understanding of nothing.”
“67” is not limited only to young people, though, as Ms. Wiseman explained, she’s heard co-workers, and even her husband, say it.
“Like, anytime it comes up at work, people do the [hand signal for ‘67’],” Ms. Wiseman said. “And at my house, my kids go out of their way to say it, really. My husband’s like, ‘No, you can’t just like, say that. It has to be natural.’”
This just goes to show how much of an impact “67” really has on society. What started as a meme on social media has spread to people who don’t even use it. Most adults might find the term annoying (especially those with kids), but every time they hear the number “6,” it’s almost normal for them to think of the “7” to go along with it.
In general, though, the popularity of “67” says something about how people connect online and in person. As said by parenting expert Becky Kennedy, “Six-seven is meaningless in content, but it’s not meaningless in feeling.” It gives students a sense of belonging, a shared inside joke that everyone gets. August again does a good job articulating the vibe conjured by “67.”
“Nobody’s left out when they hear that,” August said.
