Sign language isn’t a trend, it's a language. Yet, on TikTok the rise of fake sign language is on the rise. While #deaftok has over half a billion views, 89% of people fluent in sign language have experienced fake sign language. A stat that is even more shocking given that 63% of Gen Z state they have used the platform to learn something new.

To help shine a light on the fake sign language being seen on TikTok, Signature, the UK’s leading awarding body for British Sign Language and a major charity for deaf communication and language qualification, has teamed up with Recipe and The Sweetshop to launch Re/Sign.

Re/Sign is a new campaign aimed at challenging fake sign language. To counter the rise of fake sign language, the campaign calls on BSL Consultant Cherie Gordon to help promote real BSL.

Three trending music tracks, ‘Hotter Now’ by Lu Kala, ‘This Is Me’ by Kullah featuring Jessy Covets and ‘Get A Load of Me’ by Kyla Krush have been turned into BSL TikTok dance challenges. The lyrics have been translated into BSL by Gordon and then turned into dance challenges choreographed by deaf performers Raffie Julien, Chris Fonseca and Sarah Adedeji.

Alongside the dances, three tutorials show viewers a step-by-step breakdown of the BSL incorporated into the dance.

“Sign language has become a pop culture trend in music and social media, but it is often overshadowed by incorrect teaching and cultural appropriation,” says Sam Arnold, Director at Re/Sign.

He continues: “The collaboration with Signature, Recipe, and The Sweetshop has been instrumental in bringing awareness to our mission: to provide an accurate platform for teaching BSL, educate TikTok users about cultural appropriation and incorrect or fake sign language being taught across social media, and reshape the representation of BSL in social media to respect our deaf culture and beautiful BSL. We also aim to spotlight the deserving talents of deaf dancers in the music industry, celebrating the richness of sign language.”

The campaign aims to spread awareness of the problem of fake sign language. As well as  encouraging young people to learn real BSL from authentic creators, such as the deaf creators involved in the campaign for qualified teachers at Signature.

Calling on authentic creators to help create a counter-trend which shines a light on the misinformation being spread on TikTok, Re/Sign tunes in to trends to promote real BSL and encourage audiences to think twice before engaging mindlessly.