Teen Takeovers Spread Across U.S. as Cities Weigh Crackdowns and Youth Programs
Cities are balancing crackdowns with youth programs as online-organized gatherings have led to shootings, theft and vandalism, officials said.
- Over the July 4 holiday weekend, several thousand young people converged in two spots in Raleigh, North Carolina, resulting in nine people shot and wounded. The cultural trend of teen takeovers has emerged across the U.S. in recent years, often hyped on social media and leading to vandalism and violence.
- Damarion Spann, 18, said these events offer freedom and connection, describing the gatherings as a response to feeling excluded elsewhere. Teens cite school closures and restricted access to malls as key drivers of the phenomenon.
- Law enforcement has faced volatile scenes, including a fatal shooting in Pensacola, Florida. In Newport Beach, California, police arrested more than 400 people after the police chief said teens launched "explosive mortars and other projectiles" at officers ordering them to disperse.
- Detroit officials thwarted 19 gatherings this year by monitoring social media, said Teferi Brent, director of the Mayor's Office of Neighborhood and Community Safety. Chicago awarded Spann an $11,000 grant to host safe summer programming for his peers.
- Psychologist Jeffrey Bernstein notes the allure stems from a need for peer connection, acting as a "second family." Melissa Milchman, executive director for the Coalition for Juvenile Justice, cautioned that mass arrests may not prevent risky adolescent behavior.
37 Articles
37 Articles
Teen takeovers: How the lighthearted social media trend is taking a serious turn
When Damarion Spann, 18, saw an Instagram flier calling for a massive gathering on a beach near downtown Chicago, he immediately wanted to go. Thousands of others joined him that night on the sand, blasting music and dancing.The cultural trend of so-called teen takeovers has popped up across the U.S. in recent years, influencing local policing and national politics. The events, often hyped online and captured in videos on social media, have led …
The Toronto Star
How the lighthearted social media trend of ‘teen takeovers’ took a serious turn
When Damarion Spann, 18, saw an Instagram flier calling for a massive gathering on a beach near downtown Chicago, he immediately wanted to go. Thousands of others joined him that night on the sand, blasting music and dancing.
Associated Press News
How the lighthearted social media trend of 'teen takeovers' took a serious turn
A growing trend called “teen takeovers” where scores of young people converge on small areas have raised safety concerns in cities across the United States, and prompted officials to develop strategies to control the trend.
How lighthearted social media trend of 'teen takeovers' took a serious turn | #childpredator | #onlinepredator | #sextrafficing - National Cyber Security Consulting
When Damarion Spann, 18, saw an Instagram flier calling for a massive gathering on a beach near downtown Chicago, he immediately wanted to go. Thousands of others joined him that night on the sand, blasting music and dancing. The cultural trend of so-called teen takeovers has popped up across the U.S. in recent years, influencing […] Thank you for subscribing to our RSS feed! The post How lighthearted social media trend of 'teen takeovers' took …
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