Teen Spirit: Youth Bans Continue Across the Five Boroughs
New York City teens have been pegged for causing chaos in local stores.
If you have noticed extra security when you’re shopping or that stores seem much quieter (or louder), you’re not alone. Across Brooklyn, stores have been working hard to ensure a pleasant shopping experience for their customers by making one small change: banning teenagers.
Teens hanging out in a mall for fun isn’t new. With teens having few options for spaces to hang out, it’s no surprise that they turn to public spaces. With many community centers focusing on older populations, teens can have a difficult time trying to find a space where they can have fun and be safe, without feeling like they are being harassed or watched by adults.
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In fact, more often than not, you would walk into a Target or Kings Plaza mall and see groups of teens and young adults alike lounging on the public seating, roaming the aisles looking for the latest Tiktok trending item (we’re looking at you, Stanley cups), or gathered around waiting for a Starbucks order. Usually, it’s harmless, albeit noticeably louder and more crowded than you’d prefer, but it’s never been so disruptive that it poses a risk to the public or the store. However, that calm sentiment has begun to shift.
In March, the Target store at the Flatbush and Nostrand Avenue junction in Brooklyn made a controversial decision. In bright, bold letters, on the clear glass that greets customers as they open the door, it reads a controversial but firm message: All guests under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult at this Target store.
“I think that it is unfortunate that it’s come to this, but I understand why some locations have had to implement an age-restrictive policy,” says Amber Adler, mother of two, award-winning activist, and former Democratic nominee for NYC council. “I have personally seen teens running wild in stores, breaking merchandise, making it tough for employees and customers.”
Teenagers are teenagers, but the recent behavior witnessed in stores has sparked concern from adults all around. Just a couple of weeks ago, the New York Police Department was called to Bay Plaza Mall in the Bronx, where teenagers were causing an uproar. According to CBS News New York, a phone video captured teenagers running up and down the food court, throwing chairs into the air, and causing chaos and disruption.
The recent bans come as a shock to teenagers, who often turn to retail chains for a designated hangout space. If we’re using teenager logic, while they may be loud, central restaurants and shopping plazas serve as indoor spaces where they can hang out with their friends, and grab a bite to eat, which comes in specifically handy during the rainy and chilly season of the city. However, shoppers who favor the stores say they’re not surprised by the recent bans.
“I think the adult required rule being implemented is a shame, but it’s really one of the most straightforward ways these businesses can protect their staff and property,” says Tyler L., a Brooklyn resident who has witnessed teenagers misbehaving in local stores. “Employees typically don’t have much liberty to handle a rowdy kid, nor should they be expected to have to do so regularly. While I’m not a parent myself, I can say that what my parents did worked for my sister and me, as neither of us would ever dare cause the uproar that some kids today are causing.”
In a bold move, the McDonald’s restaurant, favored by students from nearby Midwood High School near the aforementioned Target at 2154 Nostrand Avenue, banned teen patrons without an adult.
“As a Brooklyn-born military veteran and local business owner for over 30 years, I have deep respect for this community. This measure to ID customers is another way we’re prioritizing the safety and security of our people within our lobby,” the franchise owner told ABC 7 News in a statement.
The McDonald’s is often loud and packed with teenagers cruising through the lobby, chatting their school days away, using vulgar and inappropriate language, and creating an uncomfortable dining experience for the average restaurant-goer. However, this was not the first time the restaurant chain instituted a ban; in 2015, a McDonald’s on Flatbush Avenue near Erasmus High School was the scene of a vicious fight that led to the arrest of six teenagers, all between the ages of 15 and 19.
“I think banning teenagers from getting to the store alone is definitely necessary in order to provide a safer and more peaceful shopping experience for the other customers,” says Kevin L., a Brooklyn resident.
While it’s hard to pinpoint the exact cause of the behavior, many believe it is due to a lack of stimulation and safe spaces for teenagers to hang out and express themselves. However, some parents believe banning teens will not solve the problem; it will only make it hard for those who obey the rules.
“I think it’s a bad policy since it keeps out people based on age rather than keeping out those who are disruptive, regardless of age. I suspect stores are using signs to keep groups of teens out [exclusively] without stopping solo teens,” says Katy R., parent and volunteer with youth organizations. “I don’t think this policy is going to solve the issue since it’s not addressing the actual problem. A store has to actually address disruptive behavior at the moment if they want to make a difference.”
Teen behavior can be tricky to navigate, though the behavior could be due to the recent circumstances of the world. Many teenagers lost social interaction and critical portions of their social lives and high school years during the COVID-19 pandemic, while in 2024, the NYPD reported an uptick in youth shootings and crimes. This, compounded by the socio-economic struggles faced by teenagers – 1 in 8 public school students experienced homelessness during the 2023-24 school year, while 1 in 5 children experience food insecurity – can lead to complex emotions that can cause them to act out.
Adler believes the solution, while not quite obvious, could be effective, and the answer to many issues is love.
“No matter what, parents should give their teen unconditional love. Every teen is going through a whirlwind of emotions, whether they openly show it by acting out or they manage to process it silently,” the mom of two says. “Remind them that you are on the same team. Remind them that even as an adult, you are growing too, and tell them why it matters so much that they make good decisions.”
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