A new phrase has swept through TikTok recently, and if you aren't in "group 7", then you're really missing out.
From influencers to NFL teams, users are flaunting their group identity like a badge of honor.
But what is "group 7", and how did it take over the internet?
The TikTok origin of “Group 7”
It all began with British singer Sophie James, who launched a quirky social experiment to promote her track 'So Unfair'.
On Friday, October 17, she posted seven videos in a row on TikTok, each labeled as a different "group" based on its order of appearance. Her aim? To see which clip would perform best with the algorithm.
“If you’re seeing this you are in group 4,” she wrote in one video, adding: “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.”
In her final upload, video number seven, James introduced what would soon become TikTok royalty: “I have posted seven videos tonight, and this is the seventh one. Just a little science experiment to see what kind of video gets the most reach,” she explained.
“I don’t know what that says about you, but you’re in group 7! Welcome!”
TikTok declares Group 7 superior
Despite the random nature of James’ experiment, TikTok quickly rallied behind "Group 7", claiming it as the elite class of viewers.
“I hereby declare group 7 is the most elite group,” one user wrote. Another chimed in: “Can you imagine not being Group 7.”
Other fan favorites included: “Put all the baddies in group 7,” and “I fear group 7 is the best group.”
Some leaned into the drama with sarcastic flair, like the user who said: “Hi group 7 besties,” while others took a more lifestyle approach.
Even celebrities couldn’t resist the pull. Barbara Corcoran, investor and Shark Tank star, joined the trend by flexing her muscles in a TikTok video with the caption: “How it feels waking up in group seven.”
Over the clip played 'So Unfair', naturally. “What a time to be alive,” she added in the caption.
The meme spreads beyond TikTok
As the seventh video continued to gain traction - eventually racking up more than 48 million views - it sparked creativity well beyond its original context. Fans didn’t just comment and like; they created their own videos, jokes, and memes.
The San Francisco 49ers even posted a TikTok featuring players dancing under the caption: “How it feels being a part of group 7.”
Whether users actually saw the original post or are just playing along, it doesn’t really matter. Group 7 became a self-fulfilling prophecy: the group to be in, purely because people say so.
So who is Sophie James?
James, the mastermind behind the madness, is no stranger to the music scene.
She released a seven-track album in 2024 titled Clockwork and dropped her debut EP, Stand Beneath the Sky, back in 2021.
Over the years, she’s shared a number of singles and EPs, but none have sparked as much viral attention as her accidental meme.
Reflecting on the trend's unexpected success, she told The New York Times: “In some ways I feel like I've learned some things, and in other ways, I’m more lost than when I started.”
Long live "Group 7"!