How do you convey that you’re in danger without actually saying that you’re in danger? That is something that some people are trying to figure out because this could help people, like those who might be victims of domestic abuse and who are trying to call for help without being obvious.
In the case of a 16-year old teen who went missing in North Carolina, it seems that thanks to her learning a special hand gesture from TikTok and making that gesture to a vehicle behind the car she was in, she was rescued by the authorities.
According to a statement made by the Laurel County Sheriff’s Office, “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 ‘Tik Tok’ to represent violence at home — I need help — domestic violence.”
The person who noticed and recognized the gesture stayed behind the vehicle for the next seven miles where they continuously relayed information to the police, who eventually managed to locate them and pull the car over and rescue her.
Speaking to WYMT, Laurel County Sheriff’s Deputy Gilbert Acciardo said, “We don’t know how long coming down the interstate from Ohio that she had been doing this to other motorists hoping that they would notice that she was in distress, but finally someone did recognize.”