Not only TikTok, but even Google trends have been consumed by the latest viral existence of something called the ‘Group 7.’ Standing a world apart from the intergovernmental political and economic forum we all know as the Group of Seven (G7) countries, this internet fad consuming your algorithm has everything to do with musician Sophia James.

The so-called “exclusive” club or “immaculate marketing strategy,” as many TikTok users have been calling it, kicked off when musician Sophia James found a fresh way to amplify the promotions for her song “So Unfair.” In an attempt to settle her beef with social media rules working against her for once and for all, she declared in a video last week, “It always has been me versus the algorithm and today I’ve decided that I am winning.”

What followed was a series of such video posts–all done to try her luck in hitting TikTok-worthy fame by acquiring massive traction to turn the focus onto her brand-new musical release. She then went on to “group” viewers watching a particular post (Group 1, Group 2 and so on). With several such videos following suit, the she didn’t luck out with the algorithm until several posts down.

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What is the Group 7 TikTok trend?

Finally, she hit the jackpot with one such post. It was the seventh video of her hit-and-trial experiment that ultimately brought her millions of views, spurring her to club the users finding this video as member of ‘Group 7.’ And so, she explains in the video, “If you’re watching this video, you’re in Group 7. I’ve posted seven videos tonight and this is the seventh one. Just a little science experiment to see what video gets the most reach out of the seven. I don’t know what that says about you but you’re in group 7, welcome!”

In simple words, Sophia’s experiment seeking to beat out social media’s convoluted and ever-elusive algorithm rules proved that there was no guaranteed luck when it comes to cracking hopes of attaining viral fame on the Internet nowadays. James continued to spread the very-same message across several repetitive TikTok videos, only to finally gain a massive audience for her SNS updates with the seventh such post. While she finally got what she was looking for–the ultimate marketing opportunity for her new song–with the seventh, there’s no sure-shot confirmation that the same may work for everyone.

Nonetheless, Sophia’s very-dear ‘Group 7’ has now become an “inside joke” suggesting that if you’re a part of this pack of people, you belong to an “elite” group of “baddies.” What emerged as a smart marketing stunt for the indie artist has now assumed a position of “pride” among social media users by taking on a new meaning altogether.

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Netflix jumps on the Group 7 trend bandwagon

Capitalising on the viral TikTok trend, Netflix Tudum got to typing out an article titled “These Netflix Characters Are Definitely in Group 7” on Tuesday. Regardless of whether people were actually belonged to James’ ‘Group 7’ or not, the global streamer is hopped on the bandwagon, claiming to be a part of the exclusive gathering like any other chronically online internet user.

Much like James’ slew of tries to push her song agenda on social media, Netflix has relied on this trend to work out keyword magic in its favour to promote its own shows. Presenting an essential watchlist for the streamer’s subscribers, the platform wrote, “here are the characters in Netflix shows that are definitely ready to join the party.”

Those listed were Nobody Want This, Outer Banks, Never Have I Ever, Dept Q, and Derry Girls.