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The latest subway self-defense hack to emerge on social media calls for two things everyone has — a sock and a can of beans.
In a viral TikTok video, a commuter suggested using a can of Goya or a Master Lock inside a sock as a self-defense tool, emphasizing the importance of fighting for one’s life in a dangerous situation.
“Ladies, take note … this can really save your life,” he said.
“That move’s been working since the ‘80s,” one person commented.
Some viewers shared alternative ideas like utilizing rolls of quarters, D batteries, or billiard balls for self-defense purposes, showcasing ingenuity in protection methods.
There was a mixture of reactions from viewers, with one individual expressing frustration about the added weight of carrying a can of beans for protection and highlighting the lengths people go to in order to feel safe in uncertain circumstances.
Last year, an influencer urged NYC women to carry spray paint to defend themselves from attackers amid a string of unprovoked attacks.
In other videos, a TikToker carried a small fire extinguisher onto the train, referencing the horrific murder of Debrina Kawam, who was burned alive on the subway on Dec. 22.
“Who else is becoming increasingly paranoid while taking the MTA subway?” he wrote in one video. “Tired of carrying Goya beans and [Nike] Dri-FIT socks and fire extinguisher,” he said in another. “I need to hustle harder to buy a car.”
In the final three days of 2024 and first two of 2025, five people were stabbed or slashed underground and a 45-year-old rider was thrown onto the tracks in Chelsea.