What is the “67” Meme? Inside the Gen Alpha Brainrot Trend Taking Over 2025
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“Why do I keep seeing the number ’67’ all over YouTube comments?” “Why is my kid screaming ‘Six Seven!’ while making weird hand gestures?”
If you’ve found yourself asking these questions, you aren’t alone. In 2025, a mysterious number has swept across the internet in the US and beyond, evolving from a digital quirk into a full-blown societal phenomenon.
At first glance, it looks like just a number. But “67” has grown powerful enough to disrupt schools and throw fast-food chains into chaos. So, why is this number going viral? Here is everything you need to know about its origins, its dangers, and the “brainrot” culture driving it.
What Does “67” Actually Mean?
Let’s cut to the chase: “67” doesn’t have a clear definition.
Despite—or perhaps because of—its lack of meaning, it has exploded as the defining internet meme and slang of 2025. It even achieved the bizarre honor of being named Dictionary.com’s “Word of the Year” for 2025.
Our Word of the Year highlights the trends, conversations, and cultural moments that define how we communicate in real life and online.
This year, 67 made a huge impact! 💥 https://t.co/vWoNvv8xsJ
These two formerly innocuous numbers surged across TikTok, classrooms, and… pic.twitter.com/Dh9Odw0c9j
— Dictionary.com (@Dictionarycom) November 3, 2025
The Era of “Brainrot”
To understand 67, you have to understand “Brainrot.” While it literally implies a decaying brain, in internet slang, it refers to low-quality, highly addictive digital content consumed in massive quantities.
For adults, it might seem nonsensical. But for Gen Alpha (born after 2010) and Gen Z, the fact that it makes no sense is exactly the point. It functions as an inside joke—a shibboleth for the digital natives. “67” is the ultimate example of brainrot: a phrase that establishes communication just by screaming it, regardless of context.
Even the experts are baffled. Dictionary.com defines it as an “explosion of energy that spreads and creates connection, even though no one agrees on its meaning.” Meanwhile, Merriam-Webster calls it a “nonsense expression associated with a song and a basketball player,” acknowledging that even prestigious dictionaries have to accept “nonsense” as a definition.
Why Did “67” Blow Up in the US? The 3 Sparks
How did a random number become a massive movement? It took a perfect storm of rap music, the NBA, and one very intense kid.
1. The Anthem: Skrilla’s “Doot Doot (6 7)”
It all started with Philadelphia rapper Skrilla. His track, “Doot Doot (6 7),” features an ominous beat where he repetitively raps the phrase “6-7.” The song’s addictive, eerie vibe laid the groundwork for the meme.
2. The Athlete: LaMelo Ball
The internet quickly connected the track to NBA star LaMelo Ball, who is famously listed at 6 feet 7 inches tall. Fans began creating “fancam” edits of Ball’s highlights set to Skrilla’s music on TikTok, cementing the idea that “67 = Cool”.
The trend grew further when high school basketball prospect Taylen “TK” Kinney went viral rating Starbucks drinks with the phrase “Six, Seven.” He was eventually dubbed “Mr. 6-7,” going so far as to launch his own brand of canned water under the name.
3. The Icon: The “67 Kid”
The trend went nuclear thanks to Maverick Trevillian, now known worldwide as the “67 Kid.”
In a video posted by YouTuber Cam Wilder on March 31, 2025, Maverick stared into the camera at a basketball game and screamed “Siix Seveeenn!!” with a frantic expression and a distinct hand-chopping gesture. The clip was clipped, shared, and instantly turned him into a global icon for Gen Alpha.
The Dark Side of the Meme: From Fun to Nuisance
While the appeal of “67” lies in its harmless absurdity, the trend has started causing real-world problems.
The In-N-Out Burger Ban
The West Coast’s beloved burger chain, In-N-Out, became an unexpected victim. Teenagers influenced by the meme began swarming locations, waiting for order “Number 67” to be called. The moment staff announced “Guest 67,” groups would scream “67!!” in unison to film videos for social media.
The chaos became so disruptive that some locations were forced to remove Number 67 from their ordering system entirely, skipping from 66 directly to 68. While employees describe it as the “peak of brainrot,” other brands like Domino’s and Pizza Hut have leaned into the chaos, offering promotions like “67-cent wings”.
Chaos in Classrooms
Schools are also struggling. If a teacher mentions “page 67” or a math answer results in “67,” classes are derailed by students shouting the catchphrase. This has led to some schools officially banning the use of the number. Even UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer was caught in the crossfire during a school visit, accidentally performing the “67” gesture with a student, leading to an awkward apology.
Is “67” Cursed? The Internet’s Eerie Theories
Beyond the pranks, the meme has taken on a creepypasta-like life of its own.
The Google Easter Egg
If you search “67” or “6 7” on Google, pay attention to your screen. As of December 2025, Google added an “Easter Egg” where the search results shake violently up and down. This mimics the 67 Kid’s hand gestures, but for the uninitiated, it looks terrifyingly like a glitch or a hack.
The SCP Connection
The internet’s horror community has also adopted the meme. The intense imagery of the 67 Kid has been remixed into “Analog Horror” and lore for the SCP Foundation (a collaborative writing project about fictional supernatural entities). Videos depicting a distorted, glitchy “SCP-067 Kid” have spread rumors among younger children that “67 is a cursed word” or that watching the videos will bring bad luck.
The “True” Meaning: A Grim Origin?
While Skrilla claims he “didn’t put a real meaning into it,” sleuths have dug up a potentially darker origin.
One prevailing theory points to Police Code 10-67. In Philadelphia (Skrilla’s hometown), this code can refer to a “death case” or a person found deceased. Given the gritty themes in Skrilla’s lyrics, some interpret “67” as a coded reference to death. If true, it adds a grim layer of irony to children innocently shouting the number in schools.
Others suggest it simply refers to “67th Street” in Philadelphia or Chicago, representing local territory.
Conclusion: The Meaning of Nonsense
“67” represents the modern internet in a nutshell: a random number transformed by music, sports, and algorithms into a massive, global entertainment phenomenon.
It functions like a digital version of urban legends like “The Backrooms”—a mix of community inside jokes, mild horror, and pure nonsense. While it can be annoying or disruptive, it is largely a way for a new generation to signal belonging in a chaotic digital world.
So, if you see a kid shouting “67!” in the grocery store, there’s no need to panic. Just nod knowingly, keep your distance, and remember: it’s just the brainrot talking.
Satoshi / Editor-in-Chief, Minna no RakuRaku Magazine
SEO & AI Specialist. Gadget, Game & Urban Legend enthusiast. Former musician (songwriter). Leveraging web marketing experience to write on the theme of “easy tech.” Also manages internal AI implementation.
