The World Has Been United By A Powerful Gesture: The United By 67 Meme Explained

About

The Universal Language trend, sometimes called Divided By Language United by 67 refers to a participatory social media trend and phrasal template originating on TikTok, in which tourists and travelers overcome language barriers in foreign countries by employing the 67 gesture.

The trend, often accompanied by the song "Mystery of Love," written by Sufjan Stevens for the 2017 film Call Me By Your Name, began spreading on the TikTok platform in late 2025. In May 2026, Pope Leo XIV was recorded doing the 67 gesture with children visiting the Vatican, further showcasing its universal nature and ability to transcend cultural differences.

Origin

The trend involves doing the "67 gesture," a viral meme popular with the Gen Alpha demographic. The gesture, popularized by the 67 Kid, involves placing both palms face up and moving them up and down alternately, pantomiming the act of weighing options on a scale.

On November 26th, 2025, TikTok user @emy111ia posted a video with the caption "universal language," depicting her performing the 67 gesture in a train station while a group of kids across the platform enthusiastically responded. The video received 34.3 million views and 5.5 million likes in less than six months.

@emy111ia

& its brainrot 67676767

♬ 蓝色多瑙河交响 F – Music Time

Spread

While the initial video had gone viral, it would not become a widespread participatory trend until Spring 2026. On March 29th, 2026, TikTok user @swanexoka posted a video taken in France, with the user and friends doing the 67 gesture as a boat passes on the river, zooming in to show that the boat passengers had returned the gesture. The video received 2.6 million views and 524,600 likes in less than two months.

@swanexoka #67 ♬ sonido original – Música_Clásica

On April 12th, 2026, TikTok @alishaenvy uploaded a similar video with a slight variation to the caption, reading: "divided by language, united by 67," which would also become frequently used in relation to the trend, though less commonly. The video received 3.6 million views and 744,700 likes in a bit over one month.

@alishaenvy #67 #paris #riverseine @max ♬ original sound – r

On April 20th, 2026, TikTok user @bartkroon_pl posted a video from his vacation in which he does the 67 gesture in front of a group of children on a field trip, which is instantaneously and excitedly recognized by the kids. The video received 30 million views and 4.7 million likes in less than one month.

@bartkroon_pl Another kind of content but too funny to not share share 😂 Teachers will know #67 #fyp #vacation #bologna #teacherlife ♬ origineel geluid – bartkroon_pl ✝︎

The same day, TikTok user @axelcrds posted a video participating in the trend, this time adding "Mystery of Love" by indie folk singer Sufjan Stevens, a tender, melancholic acoustic ballad written for the 2017 film Call Me by Your Name, which would increasingly become the audio of choice for the trend. The video received 4.7 million views and 860,200 likes in less than one month.

@axelcrds united by 67 #paris #hopecore ♬ Mystery of Love (From the Original Motion Picture “Call Me by Your Name”) – Sufjan Stevens

On April 23rd, 2026, TikTok user @m0n4m4r14y used the song for her rendition of the trend, with the song and caption template becoming more solidified. The video received 6.3 million views and 1.2 million likes in less than one month.

@m0n4m4r14y no google translate needed #67 #paris #seine #fyp ♬ Mystery of Love (From the Original Motion Picture “Call Me by Your Name”) – Sufjan Stevens

The same day, TikTok user @franco_magliano posted a video in accordance with the trend and its template, which received 3.5 million views and 740,300 likes in less than one month.

@franco_magliano #67 ♬ Mystery of Love (From the Original Motion Picture “Call Me by Your Name”) – Sufjan Stevens

Pope Leo

On May 16th, 2026, TikTok user @donrobertofiscer posted a video of the global leader of the Catholic Church, Pope Leo XIV, doing the 67 gesture with children visiting the Vatican, speaking to its universal appeal and uniting power. The video went viral, receiving 24.9 million views and 3 million likes in just two days.

@donrobertofiscer Papa Leone 67 🇻🇦#sixseven #67 #chiesa #prete #donroberto ♬ som original – 🦋Nicolly_Brito🦋

Various Examples

@pinterestofamalia kann’s eigentlich nicht mehr sehen #67 #universallanguage #paris #boat #6767 ♬ Mystery of Love (From the Original Motion Picture “Call Me by Your Name”) – Sufjan Stevens @mikeelsons Six seveeeen😌🫡 #viral #fyp #euroscola #EU #fyoup ♬ The Fifth Season – Carlos Carty @karim_loay My new favorite activity in Paris #67#universallanguage#fyp ♬ Mystery of Love (From the Original Motion Picture “Call Me by Your Name”) – Sufjan Stevens @uygar_pcl 67 Paris #67 #67meme #brainrot #paris #notredame ♬ original sound – Rylee @user008771557 #67 #4upage ♬ Mystery of Love (From the Original Motion Picture “Call Me by Your Name”) – Sufjan Stevens @summer_peach_ice92 #67 #prt #foryoupage❤️❤️ ♬ som original – thegoodvibesplaylist @sonusyaaa #paris #67 ♬ Mystery of Love (From the Original Motion Picture “Call Me by Your Name”) – Sufjan Stevens @lilianairwin #67 #brookfieldzoo #fyp #foryou #sixseven ♬ Mystery of Love (From the Original Motion Picture “Call Me by Your Name”) – Sufjan Stevens

Search Interest

External References