Richmond-area teachers embrace the viral 6-7 TikTok trend
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Anyone who's been around kids has heard it. Some classrooms nationwide have banned it. Richmond-area teachers have gone viral for posting it.
Why it matters: The phrase means absolutely nothing, but it's impossible to ignore — especially when counting to 10.
Catch up quick: "6-7," pronounced "six-seeevennn," is the latest Generation Alpha trend.
- It skyrocketed in popularity after a TikTok showed a child at a basketball game yelling "6-7" into the camera and making a hand motion.
- But the phrase originated from rapper Skrilla's song "Doot Doot," in which he repeats the numbers.
- "6-7" has even become a top Google search in Virginia, has ended up on "South Park" and has been named Dictionary.com's word of the year despite — not being a word.
The intrigue: While some districts across the U.S. are banning use of the phrase, some Richmond-area schools are leaning in, local spokespeople tell Axios.
- Hanover's public schools seem to be having the most fun with it, per their spokesperson and an Axios review of their social media.
- One Instagram post from Bell Creek Middle School shows a student finding the "67" locker with the caption "6-7 SILLINESS AT BCMS! Doot, Doot!"
- It had over 79,000 likes as of Thursday.
Zoom in: Teachers at Hanover's Oak Knoll Middle posted a banner saying "Kindness is a 6 7 out of 5."
- And districtwide, Hanover schools staff dressed up as the trend for Halloween, according to a Facebook post.
- The caption: "If you can't beat 'em, join 'em?"
In Richmond, John Marshall High School's principal, Monica Murray, got nearly 11,000 likes for saying "6 7" is one of the things she's found herself doing because of students.
The bottom line: "While we can't say for sure, it is likely that our students' attention spans went from a solid 10 at the start of the school year to a shaky 6-7 (insert hand motion) because of this trend," Hanover schools spokesperson Chris Whitley joked.
What we're watching: Whether adults becoming part of the trend is what makes kids decide it's no longer cool — which is a timeless trend in and of itself.