School's almost over, and I can't go to the mall, boardwalk, or other spaces. Why? Because I'm 17. | Opinion
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Many issues surround young people in the city, and the wrong ones are being prioritized. I can’t stress this enough.

Places are starting to think minors are bad for business because they’re more likely to cause disturbances (and often hang around without spending money)

A lot of these businesses are creating curfews for unaccompanied teens after around 2/3pm on Fridays and weekends, banning them on Fridays/weekends altogether, and/or banning them in the afternoon every day of the week (although some of the bans, like at the boardwalk, are after around 8pm). Some are banning them outright.

Another article less Philly centered

"They're being unruly, violating code of conduct, which can include running through the property in large groups, fighting and putting it on TikTok, basically disrupting business and making it uncomfortable for our everyday customers”

Quote from the general manager of the oldest mall in New Jersey

  • UlyssesT [he/him]
    ·
    1 year ago

    I see this with my younger siblings. When I was in middle/high school, I would fuck off on my bike and be gone for most of the day almost every day of summer - and it's not like I'm a boomer, this was the 2000s. My siblings are that age now and they literally can't go anywhere outside our parents' gated community on their own - no meeting friends at a public pool or beach, no food court meetups that turn into long gamecube sessions around a portable TV plugged into one of the mall's outdoor outlets, no bopping around the touristy area of town hitting up arcades and shit, no "my parents left town" pizza parties, nothing.

    No wonder so many of them take refuge in pretend friends such as streamers and vicariously party by watching some I N F L U E N C E R's party.