The narrator creates a video to discuss a case involving a girl named Alia Petterson who went missing on October 10. The case gained attention on TikTok when a user with the handle "sittingandschmilling" (later revealed to be inspired by YouTuber Benjamín Bennett's "sitting and smiling" challenge) uploaded videos that seemed to hint at her being kidnapped. The videos showed the girl sitting and smiling, with subtle hints of distress, such as a red shirt and orange eye shadow.
As the narrator investigates, they discover that Alia Petterson is a real person who had gone missing, but she was not kidnapped. Instead, she has schizophrenia and had been in a juvenile correctional facility. The videos were part of a challenge inspired by Benjamín Bennett, and the girl's behavior was a result of her mental health condition.
The narrator concludes that the case was a misunderstanding and that people should be careful not to jump to conclusions when investigating online cases. They emphasize the importance of verifying information and not spreading misinformation, while also encouraging people to continue believing in and helping those who may be in need.
Here are the key facts extracted from the text:
1. Alia Peterson, a girl, disappeared on October 10.
2. A TikTok account was created with the name "Sitting and Smiling" (same name as a YouTuber's section).
3. The account's videos showed a girl sitting and smiling, but with some red flags.
4. People began to worry and ask questions, including if the girl was kidnapped.
5. The girl responded to some comments, but not others.
6. A person suggested that if the girl needed help, she should wear a red shirt and do her makeup in red.
7. The girl wore a red shirt in her next video.
8. Another person suggested that if the girl needed help, she should put orange shadow on her eye.
9. The girl wore orange shadow on her eye in her next video.
10. The number 17 appeared in one of the girl's videos.
11. The number 17 is associated with dialing emergencies.
12. An arrow appeared on the man at the door in another video.
13. The girl's account was compared to a girl named Alia Peterson who disappeared on October 10.
14. The girl's relatives said she was a problematic girl who ran away often.
15. The girl was diagnosed with schizophrenia and had a tracking device on her ankle.
16. The girl's TikTok account was a challenge created by YouTuber Benjamín Bennett.
17. The girl's videos were inspired by Benjamín's "Sitting and Smiling" videos.