Most of us will go our entire lives without being kidnapped or otherwise taken against our will.
That said, it’s the reality for some of us, and until it happens to you there’s no way to know which side of the line you’re on – and that’s why having a plan, being prepared, is always the smartest and safest course of action.
This girl and her family are actually thanking their lucky stars that she watched TikTok, of all things, because it taught her how to silently signal the authorities that she was in trouble and needed help.
Image Credit: Canadian Women’s Foundation
The signal, which involves tucking your thumb into your palm and then closing your other four fingers over it, was developed to let victims of domestic violence silently ask for help.
The signal was initially developed by the Canadian Women’s Foundation in partnership with media agency Juniper Park in April 2020 as a way for domestic violence victims to silently ask for help on a video call.
A driver spotted a teenage girl making the signal as she rode in a car driven by an older man down I-75 in Kentucky. She’d been missing for a few days.
A statement from Laurel County Sheriff John Root informed the public about how she was recovered.
“The complainant was behind the vehicle and noticed a female passenger in the vehicle making hand gestures that are known on the social media platform TikTok to represent violence at home – I need help – domestic violence.”
The driver called 911 and the police arrested a 61-year-old man who has since been charged with unlawful imprisonment and possession of material that showed sexual content to a minor.
The girl is safe, physically well, and is home with her family.
@blueskyseye Ein kleines Zeichen kann leben retten!#thecrewlove #kirschcrew #unitedtiktokerz #teammelody #hilfezeichen #international #gemeinsamsindwirstark
The TikToks that the girl likely saw show actors role-playing scenarios where women use the signal to call for help, and feature an audio track called “Elevator” by @fwtdvadim. They also give advice to bystanders who have seen the gesture as far as what to do afterward.
There are two other cases recently that involve this hand signal being used to ask for help. One was popular YouTuber Om Sayf who used the signal in a video saying that she was quitting her channel.
https://twitter.com/ur1dupdater/status/1349234115174920197?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1349234115174920197%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.buzzfeednews.com%2Farticle%2Fnicolefallert%2Ftiktok-domestic-violence-hand-signal
Another instance was a young person using the signal in a Zoom call, which led to authorities addressing family violence in the home.
Now that we all know, keep your eye out, ok?
People can’t always ask for help in so many words, but they’re asking all the same.
