What Does ‘6-7’ Mean? Viral Meme Forces In-N-Out to Ban Number 67—Origin & Reactions Explained

Gen Alpha’s favorite inside joke, the “6-7” meme, has broken out of TikTok and into real-world headlines, leaving brands, parents and linguists scrambling to decode two numbers that seemingly mean nothing and everything at once. What is the “6-7” meme? The phrase traces back to rapper Skrilla’s 2024 track “Doot Doot (6 7),” whose hypnotic hook of “six-seven” became TikTok background noise for basketball highlight reels—especially those starring 6-foot-7 NBA guard LaMelo Ball. When a viral clip showed a boy yelling “Six-seven!” while his friend “juggled” invisible balls, the snippet morphed into Gen Alpha shorthand for playful defiance and “you wouldn’t get it” irony. Teens began chanting it in classrooms, hallways and gaming chats, often pairing it with the juggling-hands emoji to signify “so-so” or “whatever.” From viral chant to Word of the Year Searches for “6-7 meaning” exploded sixfold over the summer, convincing Dictionary.com to crown the term its 2025 Word of the Year—even while confessing it still “doesn’t totally know” what the non-word means. Merriam-Webster followed by labeling it “nonsense slang” that shows how Gen Alpha uses ambiguity to bond online. Fast-food chain takes drastic action In-N-Out learned just how disruptive the meme could be when pranksters clogged order counters, waiting for ticket number 67 to be called so they could erupt in a chorus of “Six-seven!” Staff fatigue pushed the burger giant to delete the number from its POS system altogether, skipping straight from 66 to 68 on receipts. Videos of employees explaining the change only boosted the trend’s visibility. Why the nonsense sticks Experts say “6-7” thrives precisely because it lacks a fixed definition. Linguist Dr. Maya Patel notes that open-ended phrases let young users create in-group humor while frustrating adults who demand clarity. The meme also dovetails with the “sigma” and “skibidi” waves of Gen Alpha slang: random, rhythmic, and designed for short-form video loops. Classrooms and content creators respond • Teachers in at least five U.S. districts have added “no 6-7 chants” to behavior policies after students used the phrase to derail lessons. • Toy makers already sell light-up “6-7” necklaces and juggling-hand plushies ahead of holiday shopping searches like “6-7 gift meaning.” • Macro-influencers are pumping out “What does 6-7 mean?” explainers to capture search traffic, driving the hashtag past 14 billion views on TikTok. Bottom line for brands and parents Ignoring “6-7” won’t make it disappear; ridiculing it only fuels the joke. Marketers that lean into the absurdity—think limited-run product drops numbered “68” or playful “Maybe, Maybe Not” taglines—are seeing the most engagement. For guardians, experts suggest treating “6-7” as harmless fun unless it crosses into disruption, then redirecting attention rather than banning it outright. Whether the meme fades or evolves, “6-7” underscores a bigger truth: in the attention economy, even nonsense can become cultural currency overnight.