Paramus, New Jersey - Previously, Jennifer Sepulveda used to drop off her 14-year-old son, Jorden, at the local mall on Friday or Saturday nights. He would watch a movie with his friends and then spend time hanging out at the food court or elsewhere.

However, things have changed. As of April 18, Garden State Plaza in Paramus, New Jersey—the state's second largest mall—has implemented a new policy requiring individuals under 18 years old to be accompanied by a chaperone aged 21 or older on Fridays and Saturdays after 5 p.m. The mall states that this decision is a response to an increase in disruptive behavior by a small minority of younger visitors, which included a reported brawl in the food court last year and a fight in March that initially seemed more serious than it turned out to be.

Jennifer, a resident of Passaic, New Jersey, expressed her acceptance of the new policy. However, Jorden, while acknowledging the incidents of violence, expressed his disappointment, saying, "It was the main place to go and roam around and hang out with my friends, and I am sad."

While the requirement of adult chaperones at malls, particularly during specific times of the day, is not a new concept, Garden State Plaza now joins a growing number of shopping centers, amusement parks, and even some restaurants that have recently implemented similar policies ahead of the summer season. These establishments point to an increase in instances of misconduct among teenagers, some of which are influenced by platforms like TikTok. Mall of America, the largest shopping mall in the country, introduced a chaperone policy as far back as 1996 and has progressively tightened it, with a recent mandate in 2020 that requires teens to be accompanied by adults after 3 p.m. daily.

A Chik-fil-A franchise located in southeast Pennsylvania caused a stir earlier this year with a social media post announcing its policy of prohibiting unaccompanied kids under 16, citing unruly behavior. Surprisingly, federal data indicates that arrests for violent crimes among youth had been decreasing for several years and reached a new low in 2020.

However, the report also revealed a 30% increase in youth homicide victims from 2019 to 2020, marking the largest one-year rise since at least 1980. In the years following 2020, some areas such as New York, Washington, D.C., and Colorado have witnessed an increase in youth-related crimes.

Many individuals applaud chaperone policies as a means to reduce disruptions to businesses and establish a safer shopping environment. Nevertheless, critics argue that these new parental controls further limit teens' independence and impede their social development, which has already been affected by lockdowns prompted by the pandemic.

Engaging in activities like visiting shopping malls, amusement parks, grabbing food at fast-food joints, and watching movies with friends at local theaters have long been considered rites of passage to adulthood, even as many teenagers increasingly shift their focus to online games and social media. This raises the question: Where else can teenagers gather to escape their tablets, phones, and even their parents?

According to Jake Bjorseth, the founder of trndsttrs, an agency that assists retailers and brands in understanding and connecting with the Gen Z population, it is crucial to provide spaces where young people can be independent and socially develop beyond the confines of the virtual digital world. Bjorseth emphasized that the pandemic has further hindered the social development of Gen Zers. He believes that the newly implemented chaperone measures are excessively restrictive and could have unintended consequences, potentially hastening the shift to online platforms that parents were originally trying to avoid in the first place.

Jorden expressed that he spends only half of his free time with friends at Garden State Plaza and other shopping centers, while the rest of his time is devoted to playing online games. He believes that the new policy at the mall will likely drive him to visit another mall without a chaperone requirement or spend even more time online.

Marshal Cohen, the chief industry adviser at market research firm Circana, pointed out that these policies are not only aimed at enhancing safety but also adjusting to the post-pandemic era, where teens have significantly reduced their purchases compared to other age groups. According to data from Circana, adults aged 55 and older increased their spending by 5% in 2022 compared to the previous year, while the combined spending of other age groups decreased by 2%. In contrast, the 18- to 24-year-old category experienced an 8% decline in spending.

Cohen stated that the restrictions would likely boost spending among adults who now have to accompany kids, but they may also reduce the number of trips made by teenagers, making the overall financial impact uncertain.

During a recent Friday night at Garden State Plaza, the chaperone policy was clearly enforced, with security guards stationed at each entrance checking the IDs of young shoppers suspected to be under 18 and unaccompanied by an adult chaperone. Some individuals were turned away, and a group of policemen was also present.

Furthermore, several amusement parks with chaperone policies generally require teenagers aged 15 and younger to be accompanied by adult chaperones after 3 p.m. or 4 p.m. daily. One of the largest operators, Cedar Fair Entertainment Co., implemented adult chaperone policies in at least eight of its 13 parks, including Worlds of Fun in Kansas City, Missouri, and King Dominion in Doswell, Virginia.

Gary Rhodes, a spokesman for Cedar Fair, stated, "Over the past two years, we have seen increasing incidents of unruly and inappropriate behavior across our industry and at other major entertainment venues. We believe these changes will help ensure that our parks continue to provide a safe and positive environment." For example, Worlds of Fun experienced a fight involving over 100 teenagers during its opening weekend in early April.

While some businesses claim that the new rules have been effective, there are mixed opinions. The Mall in Columbia, Maryland, implemented a chaperone policy in late March due to a rise in disruptive teen behavior over the past eight months. According to senior general manager Mary Williams, the weekend atmosphere has transformed into a pleasant family environment as a result.

Noah Peters, the district manager at three Capital 8 Theater locations in Missouri and Illinois, mentioned that the chaperone policy implemented in Missouri in October 2021, requiring teens under 17 to be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian after 6 p.m., has been a "huge success." Despite some initial resistance, there has been a significant reduction of 80% to 90% in disruptive incidents.

Peters explained, "The reality is that the amount of money we lose turning those without a chaperone away pales in comparison to the amount we were losing by providing refunds night after night to frustrated guests whose movie going experience was disrupted by noise and disturbances."