About

The Universal Language trend, sometimes called Divided By Language, United by 67, refers to a participatory social media trend and catchphrase originating on TikTok in which tourists and travelers overcome language barriers in foreign countries by employing the 67 meme gesture, where someone moves their hands up and down in an alternating motion with their palms facing up.

The trend, often accompanied by the song "Mystery of Love" by Sufjan Stevens from the 2017 film Call Me By Your Name, began spreading on TikTok 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 in a viral video.

Origin

The trend involves doing the "67 gesture," a viral meme popular with members of Gen Alpha and Gen Z. The gesture, popularized by basketball player Taylen Kinney and 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^[1] 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 over 34.3 million views and 5.5 million likes in less than six months.

Spread

While the initial video had gone viral, it would not become a widespread participatory trend until the spring of 2026.

On March 29th, 2026, TikTok^[2] 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 over 2.6 million views and 524,600 likes in less than two months.

On April 12th, 2026, TikTok^[3] @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 over 3.6 million views and 744,700 likes in a bit over one month.

On April 20th, 2026, TikTok^[4] 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 over 30 million views and 4.7 million likes in less than one month.

The same day, TikTok^[5] 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 over 4.7 million views and 860,200 likes in less than one month.

On April 23rd, 2026, TikTok^[6] user @m0n4m4r14y used the song for her rendition of the trend, with the song and caption template becoming more solidified. The video received over 6.3 million views and 1.2 million likes in less than one month.

The same day, TikTok^[7] user @franco_magliano posted a video in accordance with the trend and its template, which received over 3.5 million views and 740,300 likes in less than one month.

Pope Leo

On May 16th, 2026, TikTok^[8] 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 over 24.9 million views and 3 million likes in just two days.

Various Examples

Search Interest

External References