The phrase "6-7" exploded across playgrounds and social media last year, transcending typical teenage slang to become a fixture in the national conversation. Its journey from adolescent in-joke to mainstream phenomenon, appearing at sports events and even in lesson plans, has left many adults baffled and often irritated.
More Than Just Numbers: The Social Meaning of '6-7'
While a common complaint is that the expression "doesn't mean anything," linguists argue that this is precisely the point. According to Professor Nicole Rosen, a Canada Research Chair in Language Interactions, "6-7" is void of semantic meaning but rich in social significance. It functions as a marker of solidarity and belonging, separating those 'in the know' from those who don't understand.
This concept, known as "social meaning," conveys value-added information about the speaker's identity, attitude, and how they wish to be perceived. It's akin to wearing a specific football jersey or using niche terminology; the message is about affiliation, not literal definition. The trend even caught the attention of politicians, with reports that Sir Keir Starmer was reprimanded by a teacher after encouraging students to perform the viral hand gesture.
Why Adolescence Drives Meaningless Slang
The fact that an expression with purely social meaning has been championed by young adolescents is no accident. This life stage is a period of intense social development, where teenagers actively distance themselves from both childhood and their parents' generation. Language becomes a key tool for staking their own place in the world.
Typically, the peak for new slang adoption is between 15 and 17 years old. However, the "6-7" trend has been popular with a younger cohort, aged roughly 11 to 14. This shift potentially reflects children engaging with online culture at an earlier age, accelerating their social-linguistic development.
The Inevitable Cycle of Youth Slang
For adults exasperated by the phrase, linguists offer a simple consolation: it will pass. In fact, by becoming overly widespread and adopted by the 'uncool' (adults and younger children), it has already lost its original cachet. This is the natural lifecycle of adolescent slang.
The creation of phrases like "6-7" is not simply "brain rot" but a developmentally appropriate way for young people to navigate the complex social dynamics that dominate their lives. As one trend fades, another emerges to take its place—with some observers noting that "41" may be the new "6-7."
The article, originally penned by Professor Nicole Rosen from the University of Manitoba, was republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license on Wednesday 14 January 2026.
