April 23, 2024
By Sean Disbrow
Staff Writer
Westfield Garden State Plaza in Paramus is now enforcing a curfew barring anyone under 18 from entering the mall without adult supervision after 5 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. The curfew is meant to prevent trouble like fights and shoplifting, but the restriction is unfair to well-behaved minors.
When it comes to safe locations to hang out, teens have limited options. Malls tend to be safer than most places because of their security. Most malls have security guards patrolling the facility, parking garages and parking lots.
Malls are also larger than most places, so teens have many options for dining, entertainment and shopping. With these options, teens can spend hours there without feeling bored.
Going to the mall is supposed to be a fun experience, but age restrictions make it difficult to go with friends because they require adults who are willing to supervise. Adults have a lot of responsibilities, so it is hard for them to find time for a mall outing.
People of all ages are capable of acting irresponsibly, so it is both unfair and unjust to target teens. Malls would be better off increasing security or finding ways other than a curfew to prevent trouble from occurring.
For most teens, weekends are the only free time they have during the school year, so if teens cannot find an adult to accompany them, they may not be able to go to the mall at all.
Going to the mall can be a learning experience as it teaches kids how to shop for themselves without having parents or guardians by their sides. Shopping alone can also teach teens different ways of budgeting and provide them with a sense of independence.
Additionally, malls are good places for kids to improve their social skills and develop an appreciation for shopping in person instead of online, which, in the long run, would benefit in-person retail establishments.
Furthermore, according to the retail executive website chainstoreage.com, more than half of teens and young adults prefer shopping in person. Age limits would force teens who do not have a way of going to the mall to shop online, which may not be the type of shopping experience that they want.
Allowing people of any age to shop at the mall would be financially beneficial to those businesses. According to the business news channel CNBC, Gen Z’s spending at malls is approximately $143 billion per year.
Malls also have entertainment venues specifically for kids and teens. They are most frequented on weekends when these age groups have free time.
Westfield Garden State Plaza has a GameStop and Lego store, which are of special interest to kids and teens. These establishments rely on the business of young people, who may not be able to get to the mall because of the age restrictions.
People of all ages are capable of acting irresponsibly, so it is both unfair and unjust to target teens. Malls would be better off increasing security or finding ways other than a curfew to prevent trouble from occurring.
Malls have been a popular weekend hangout for teens for generations, and that is how they should remain.
