Video of Woman Waving at Jail Every Night Goes Viral

A video of prison inmates allegedly "waving" at a resident in a building nearby from inside their jail cell has gone viral on TikTok, where it received 1.3 million views.

The clip, posted by TikToker @lexxiekennedyy, was shared with a message overlaid on it that read: "When you realize you live next to a jail and realize the inmates are waving at you."

The video was posted with a caption saying, "Our nightly source of entertainment."

A March 2020 study, published in the peer-reviewed journal Applied Psychology: Health and Well-Being, said that "social factors boost well-being behind bars."

The study stated that "prisoners often suffer from social isolation and higher levels of ill-health and ill-being," and research has shown "the positive health consequences that stem from social interaction" among non-prison populations.

The study's findings showed that "positive prisoner interactions are associated with greater prisoner well-being, due to the feelings of autonomy that these interactions provide" and "prisoners who reported being members of multiple groups had higher well-being..."

A September 2016 study published in the Lancet Psychiatry said that "research has consistently shown that prisoners have high rates of psychiatric disorders" and "prisoners are also at increased risk of all-cause mortality, suicide, self-harm, violence, and victimization."

The study said: "Despite the high level of need, these disorders are frequently underdiagnosed and poorly treated."

Several TikTokers were amused by the viral video, while others wrote with concern for the original poster's safety.

In a comment that received 9,455 likes, TikToker A wrote: "Wait till release day," while abbe posted: "when they get released they be knocking on your door."

Some TikTokers wrote that they would leave the property, such as user nesssssss___, who commented: "absolutely not. I would move out."

Danella Welsh posted: "Wow, I would rather live next to a motorway, stay safe sis."

Receiving 2,043 likes, _homeless_hotmess___ wrote: "why does this scare me so bad?! I could never!!! I would keep my blinds shut and or move."

Lanolin commented: "From a person who works at a jail...I do not approve of this."

User [bear emoji] wrote: "That's terrifying, I would move out asap, never know why they are there and if they get released they might find you."

Newsweek has contacted the original poster for comment. The latest video has not been independently verified.