Police in Indiana have taken a humorous approach to dealing with a viral slang term that's been sweeping through elementary schools, issuing mock citations to students who utter the phrase "6-7." The Tippecanoe County Sheriff's Office created a tongue-in-cheek video announcing their new "6-7 ordinance" they joked was passed to "keep parents sane."
The Viral Police Response
In a now-viral Instagram video, deputies from the Tippecanoe County Sheriff's Office informed students that "it is now against the law to use the words 'six' and 'seven' unless using them in a math problem or someone's age." The lighthearted enforcement campaign shows officers handing out "fake" tickets to elementary school children caught using the popular phrase.
Despite receiving these humorous citations, students continued shouting "6-7" while making the accompanying shrug-like hand gesture with palms up and moving alternately. The video even shows two clever students presenting officers with a box of doughnuts, which successfully excused them from their 6-7 violation.
The Origin of 6-7
The term "6-7" - pronounced as individual numbers "six-seven" rather than "sixty-seven" - gained popularity primarily through rapper Skrilla's song "Doot Doot (6 7)." While the exact origin remains somewhat unclear, the phrase spread rapidly through social media and youth culture, becoming one of the most talked-about slang terms of the year.
In a surprising move, Dictionary.com declared "6-7" as its word of the year for 2025, though the website admitted the term is essentially meaningless. "Perhaps the most defining feature of 67 is that it's impossible to define," the website explained in their announcement.
The Meaning Behind the Meme
According to linguistic experts and cultural observers, "6-7" represents a fascinating phenomenon in modern slang. Dictionary.com described it as "meaningless, ubiquitous, and nonsensical. It's part inside joke, part social signal and part performance. When people say it, they're not just repeating a meme; they're shouting a feeling."
Some interpretations suggest that 6-7 can translate to meanings like "so-so" or "maybe this, maybe that," while others use it primarily as an exclamation. The phrase's versatility and lack of concrete definition appear to be key factors in its viral spread, allowing users to apply it in various contexts without strict rules.
The Indiana police department's humorous response highlights how viral internet trends can permeate real-world behavior, even among elementary school students. Their creative approach to addressing the trend demonstrates how law enforcement can engage with youth culture in positive, community-building ways.
