What Really is the 6-7 Hype All About?

By Imogen Miller '26

In recent years, a new wave of internet humor has risen, taking over TikTok, Gen Z, and Gen Alpha culture. Characterized by random sounds, words, and phrases that make little logical sense or meaning. These jokes and memes have become so popular among users that even ordinary words can be turned into punchlines.

As 2025 is coming to an end, one of the most unforgettable pop culture memes that

has arisen on social media is the “6-7” meme. The meme swept through TikTok earlier this year after the release of Skrilla’s song “Doot Doot,” that which repeatedly uses the catchy phrase “6-7.” In the song Doot Doot, the phrase was used referring to a height, as in six foot seven, but creators began pairing the phrase with a basketball highlights video—especially of LaMello Ball, whose height is actually 6’7”.

What’s most interesting is that its ambiguity is exactly what made it viral. The randomness and inside joke quality turned it into a shared signal among Gen Z and Gen Alpha. As the sound grew, so did its popularity offline. 

The meme is so widely known that it has been named the word of the year on Dictionary.com. It has gained its popularity specifically because the “older” generations

just do not get it. When someone on the outside of the circle, like a parent or a teacher, says “6-7” unironically it creates a hilarious disconnect. Some schools have begun to ban the use of “6-7.” Often times teachers will tell students not to say the phrase because it has become too disruptive and can derail lessons being taught in the classroom, but this ban has only fueled the meme’s popularity further.

The rise of trends like “6-7” leaves us wondering what is to come next, but more importantly, it has society wondering whether this chaotic shift of humor is harmless or is a sign of how drastically our means of communication have transformed.

All Photos Courtesy of sbnation.com & parents.com

Source: cnn.com

Edited by Kavya Chacko '26, Catherine Polatidis '26, & Ms. Brilliant

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