By Marni Rose McFall
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There’s a new TikTok trend taking over our For You pages: Group 7. The trend is sweeping social media, with videos amassing millions of views. Celebrities like Madelyn Cline and influencers like Hayleyy Baylee and, more strangely, the car manufacturer Hyundai have jumped on the trend.
But what does it actually mean? Newsweek breaks it down.
Why It Matters
Whether it’s the "6-7," meme, "Holy Airball," or the "Lock In," social media platforms, and TikTok in particular, are often inundated with new trends that quickly pick up steam online and enter the cultural lexicon.
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What To Know
So, what actually is Group 7, what does it mean, and where did the trend come from?
It all began with U.S. musician Sophia James. She took to TikTok to promote her new track, "So Unfair," and test out TikTok’s famous algorithm in the process.
James filmed seven videos on the platform of her new song. Each video had the text overlay “you are in group [insert number here].” For example, the fourth video had the text overlay, “If you’re seeing this you are in group 4,” and added a note about her logic, “I am posting a bunch of videos and seeing which ones reach the most viewers. This is the fourth post of the batch so you are group 4.” There were a total of seven groups, with the video for Group 7 being posted last.
Since then, the internet has simply done its thing and decided that Group 7 is the group to be in. It has become synonymous with being cool/a baddie/elite, basically, whatever your favorite chronically online term of endearment applies to the trend.
As for how to know which group you belong to? Technically speaking, you need to wait for one of James’ videos to pop up on your For You page in order to truly know which group you belong to.
But given the significant number of views the Group 7 video has generated—15.6 million as of press time—that’s the video you’re most likely to be served, which is good news if you're feeling like being an alpha.
What People Are Saying
Madelyn Cline, an actor, in a TikTok viewed 4.6 million times**:** “Good morning group 7 baddies how we doing.”
Hayleyy Baylee, a social media influencer and creator, replying to James’ Group 7 TikTok video in a comment liked over 160,000 times**:** “I think we are all in group 7.”
The official account for the skincare brand Aveeno, replying to James’ Group 7 TikTok**:** “I heard group 7 has really great skin…”
Car manufacturer Hyundai USA replying to James’ Group 7 TikTok**:** “Group 7 is superior.”
Blue Man Group in reply to James' Group 7 TikTok**:** “Happy to be here.”
The TikTok account @2peoplecooking, in a video viewed 1.1. million times: “Happily eating the chili we made together knowing we are a part of group 7.”
What’s Next
Given how rapidly the trend cycle cycles, the lifespan of the Group 7 trend is yet to be seen; it could die out quickly or have a more extended online impact.
For readers across the pond, James has organized a meetup for Group 7 members in London on Friday, October 24.
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