Teen are running out of places to hang out. A WHO report found global loneliness rates are higher among teens than any other age group, with over 40% saying they don’t get the social support they need. Yet the spaces where they could connect are disappearing: businesses from Target to malls to movie theaters are increasingly banning unaccompanied minors. Meanwhile, cities like D.C., Cincinnati, and Chicago have enacted youth curfews in recent years, despite their justifications (shoplifting, “disruption”) often not holding up with evidence. Research shows curfews don’t reduce crime, and studies suggest the more teens roam their communities, the happier and more socially connected they are. Banning young people from third spaces then blaming them for too much screen time sends a clear message: teens aren’t neighbors, they’re nuisances. (The Atlantic)
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