April 23, 2024
By Ava Gonzalez
Staff Writer
Malls are places for people of all ages to eat, gather and shop. However, Westfield Garden State Plaza in Paramus has placed limits on that, restricting unaccompanied minors on Friday and Saturday evenings after 5 p.m. This is an effective policy because it creates a safer environment, not just for other shoppers, but for underage individuals.
In group settings, children can face peer pressure to engage in activities they may not be comfortable with, and even more concerning, activities that may be inappropriate or legal. In these environments, unsupervised kids may feel the need to fit in to be accepted.
Another reason teens and tweens are being disruptive in public is due to recent social media trends. For instance, there was a TikTok trend in which pranksters asked unsuspecting shoppers to hold their camera and then screamed for the person to stop recording them or made up an elaborate lie to scare the recorder. Others started dancing and invading the recorder’s personal space.
YouTube is also responsible for many kids recording shoppers without their consent and carrying out pranks for likes.
At malls, older generations are spending more money than younger generations. According to the media company Circana, people 55 and older spent 5% more in 2022 compared to 2021. Therefore, disruptive children and teens in malls can deter adults who are inclined to spend money and contribute to store profits.
Furthermore, shoplifting statistics prove that leaving children in a mall unattended presents a risk of loss of products and, consequently, revenue.
Enforcing a minimum age requirement, even if only during Friday and Saturday evenings, is the safest option.
According to the company RecFaces, one-fourth of shoplifters are minors, with 55% of them beginning the illegal behavior when they were teenagers. The report reveals that 89% of children know peers who shoplifted. Of this group, 66% continue a relationship with those shoplifters.
The mall can be a dangerous place not just for children but also adults because of human trafficking schemes that lure shoppers.
According to the International Anti-Slavery Commission, traffickers see malls as an easy area to find their next victims. This makes it an especially dangerous environment. Kids who may not take this situation seriously and who are without the protection of a trusted adult are most at risk.
Other criminals may be looking to steal, and unsupervised minors are easy targets. These criminals can steal identification cards, personal information, wallets and items purchased by the minor.
Times are changing and age requirements at malls are now necessary.
Enforcing a minimum age requirement, even if only during Friday and Saturday evenings, is the safest option. It will undoubtedly lead to decreased irresponsible behavior, shoplifting and crime, making the dining, entertainment and shopping experience better and safer.
