In brief
'6-7' has emerged from social media and pop culture, especially a viral TikTok featuring a young boy, joining the lexicon with uncertain meanings. While some see it as playful nonsense, it represents a significant shift in how youth communicate online, making it a fascinating linguistic phenomenon.
Go ahead and roll your eyes. Shrug your shoulders. Or maybe just juggle your hands in the air.
Dictionary.com has named the viral term '6-7' as its word of the year, a phrase that many young people have embraced, while leaving parents and educators puzzled.
It first gained traction during the summer, stemming from a track by rapper Skrilla and its subsequent viral spread through social media platforms like TikTok.
While the meaning of '6-7' remains ambiguous, Dictionary.com expresses that we're all still trying to figure out exactly what it means. Some speculate it signifies uncertainty or a dual meaning, further clouded by the fact that not even its spelling is universally agreed upon.
Merriam-Webster labels it as a 'nonsensical expression,' mainly popular among teenagers, often used to spur confusion among adults.
As '6-7' underlines shifts in cultural communication, it highlights how social media plays a vital role in shaping language trends, with notable searches increasing sixfold since June. Parents and teachers are responding variably, with some creating educational videos, while others seek to ban the term in classrooms.
As Dictionary.com notes, the 'Word of the Year' is not just about prevalent usage; it encapsulates evolving narratives that define how society communicates.
