[Argee]

Welcome @hdrider98ci ... you heard it right. It's a slide stop not a release...though it may release the eventually when the firearm wears in after a few hundred round. I have a Shield Plus that the slide would not release that way either. It's slowly wearing in with use.

 

[Argee]

In the bottom picture, it appears the shooter is holding the gun incorrectly. His left thumb is over his right, meaning it is pointed at the slide. I had my thumb almost taken off this way when the slide hit my left thumb. Always, always right over left, which ensures the thumb points away from the slide.

That's precisely how I hold my Micro 9 by trapping my strong hand thumb under my weak hand thumb so the strong hand thumb doesn't bump the safety on during recoil. As in the picture, the thumb is under the slide far enough to avoid any contact with the slide.