Why the word ‘Verity’ and yellow smiley faces could become the new ‘6-7’

Teachers returning to school this month can't draw smiley faces in class now, because they make the kids erupt in laughter – all because of a new meme called "Verity."

Phillip Lindsay, a teacher in Arizona who goes by Mr. Lindsay on TikTok, recently shared a video, now with over 8 million views, joking about his middle school students' incessant references to "Verity" – which they shout whenever they see a smiley face.

Another TikToker, @chudmike, joked in a viral video: "Imagine being the elementary school teacher whose first year it is, and she decides to have a yellow smiley face design in her classroom after all the kids all summer just watched YouTube and learned who Verity was."

Times are changing. Last year, a teacher or parent would accidentally say "6-7" and unknowingly push the humor button. Smiley faces are the new trigger for Gen Alpha. Some older folks are struggling to understand why.

Verity is a yellow smiley face character who was created in May by a YouTuber named ThatMob, one of many creators who make short horror films set in the video game "Minecraft."

In his full "Verity" movie, uploaded on July 12, ThatMob's character stumbles upon…

Original source: https://www.usatoday.com/entertainment/