If you’ve been scrolling TikTok recently and discovered your “For You” page is suddenly in the Group 7 algorithm, you’re not alone. But you also might have no idea what it means.
The short version is this: it means that you have been pre-sorted into the 7th group of an “experiment” conducted by singer Sophia James. Why are you in this group? There’s no clear reason, beyond the algorithm deciding that that’s the video you would most want to see. It doesn’t actually mean anything, so don’t freak out.
But the thing is, a lot of people are now in Group 7. So, if you want the longer version, here’s what we know.
When did this trend start?
It appears Group 7 was officially created on Friday, Oct. 17, when James began her test. It’s not really scientific at all; she simply created seven different TikToks with her music playing over each one, and wanted to see which one got the furthest via the algorithm.
How did I get sorted?
Even James herself doesn’t know. In her 7th video, where she declared Group 7’s existence, she admitted that “I don’t know what that says about you.”
Her first videos were all about different topics, ranging from a parking ticket she got to her declaring that she was going to beat the algorithm and rack up views on her account. So, it’s possible that if you’re in one of those earlier groups, you’ve viewed content that would lead TikTok to think you are interested in someone talking about those things.
Groups only started getting established on her fourth video.
@sophiajamesmusic Group 7 who are you
♬ So Unfair – Sophia James
So how did this become a trend?
Viewers of the seventh video quickly banded together in the comments, celebrating their new group. Since TikTok tends to reward videos with high engagement, that video presumably was helped along by those comments, thus making it go viral.
From there, it simply became a meme, with users taking pride in the fake status that Group 7 gave them. Major brands and organizations quickly started getting in on the joke, which only pushed it further.
Can I get into Group 7?
If the unwritten laws of TikTok are to be believed and followed, you simply have to wait and hope that this video crosses your feed organically. We’re not sure it counts if you go and seek it out yourself.
This writer happened to be an early initiate to the group. So, if you’re here, hello fellow sevens.
