What is Group 7 TikTok trend and why it’s taking over social media

A new TikTok phenomenon called “Group 7” has gone viral, drawing attention from users, brands, and even celebrities. The trend began with 26-year-old singer Sophia James, who previously appeared on American Idol Season 18 under her birth name, Sophia Wackerman.

James started posting a series of TikTok videos on October 17, featuring clips of her singing and promoting her new song “So Unfair.” In a playful attempt to “beat the algorithm,” she labeled each upload as a different “group” to see which video would gain the most views. In one video, she explained, “It always has been and always will be me versus the algorithm, and today, I have decided that I am winning.”

Her seventh upload unexpectedly went viral. In that clip, James told viewers, “If you’re watching this video, you are in Group 7. I have posted seven videos tonight and this is the seventh one… Welcome.” The post quickly gained traction, with users proudly identifying themselves as “Group 7 members.”

What began as a simple social media experiment evolved into a full-fledged internet meme. Comments flooded in declaring Group 7 the “elite” or “hot girl” group, while others joked about “having beef” with Groups 1–6. The original video has since surpassed 35 million views, per USA TODAY.

The viral status of Group 7 has spread beyond individual users. Brands and public figures, including Oreo, Hyundai, Slim Jim, Aveeno, ESPN’s Katie Feeney, investor Barbara Corcoran, and sports teams like the San Francisco 49ers, have joined the trend by claiming their Group 7 membership.

In an interview with The New York Times, James said the concept began simply as a promotional experiment for her music but unexpectedly turned into a massive online moment. “It became this hilarious, unexpected internet moment,” she said.