Regardless of whether you’re an educator or a student, you probably have had an encounter with the viral internet meme “67” somewhere either in or out of school grounds. As of now, it has left a substantial impact on both social media apps, particularly Instagram and TikTok, and communities around the globe. However, those not so familiar with current internet culture are ultimately left to wonder: what does the term “67,” as well as the accompanying gesture, truly mean?
“67” first appeared as a repeating lyric in the drill rap track “Doot Doot” by American rapper Skrilla. Later, this song, particularly the segments referencing “67,” was used in conjunction with edits of popular American basketball players with heights of 6”7, particularly Lamelo Ball. However, it was not until an infamous 9-second clip from a video titled “MY OVERPOWERED AAU TEAM HAS FINALLY RETURNED!” by Cam Wilder that “67” would cement itself into internet history. In it, a blonde-haired kid, Maverick Trevillian, is seen approaching the camera with his friends, slowly raising the volume of his voice before enthusiastically exclaiming the numbers “67,” all while performing a gesture involving the rhythmic rising and falling of both hands. It has since achieved international popularity, with individuals across the globe emulating Trevillian’s iconic moment upon hearing the numbers 6 & 7 used in conjunction with one another.
Following its virality, 67 would inspire a plethora of other viral memes, most notably “Adrian, explain our friend group,” in which an individual off-camera asks Adrian, a slender teenager sporting a purple hoodie, to explain their social circle, to which he and his friend both chant, “we are Ohio;” and “a barbershop haircut that cost a quarter,” which depicts a reenactment of the play Newsies, in which one of the actors confidently sings “a barbershop haircut that costs a quarter,” engendering thunderous applause from the audience. Both of these memes have since been used in a multitude of viral edits, typically depicting their protagonists with lasers coming out of their eyes accompanied by either loud sound effects or phonk, a subgenre of hip-hop; lightning in the background; and heavily edited clips of Trevillian around the perimeter of the screen.
So where’s the humor in “67”? Counterintuitively, most students in Cresskill High School don’t even understand the humor behind the meme in the first place. “I thought it was funny at first because everyone was doing it,” explains sophomore Daniel Park, “but I started to wonder what was funny about it in the first place, you know?”
Others remark that they find the “67” meme humorous because it serves as a callback to Trevillan’s overly expressive facial expressions in the clip. “It’s funny because it references the 67 kid,” mentions sophomore Michael Lopez.
However, many others seem to find the meme stale and even distracting. “It grew old fast,” states 6th grader David Chung, “I can’t even focus in class because my classmates won’t stop shouting ‘67.’”
Due to its staggering popularity and global recognition, “67” has permanently ingrained itself into internet history, forevermore altering modern digital culture. Furthermore, it is highly unlikely that the meme will fade into irrelevancy in the near future. “67” stands as a testament to the rapidly changing digital landscape and perception of humor.
