Blame the Covid pandemic for today’s ‘teen takeovers,’ experts say

Teenagers behaving badly in groups is hardly a new thing, experts said. But social media has made it easier to rapidly mobilize this generation of teenagers, who may be craving social interaction and looking for an outlet after having spent their formative years isolated during the Covid pandemic.

The mayhem over Memorial Day weekend in Chicago erupted without warning.

Subscribe to read this story ad-free

Get unlimited access to ad-free articles and exclusive content.

On Sunday, hundreds of teenagers descended on a housing project on the West Side. Five Chicago officers trying to disperse the crowd sustained minor injuries when they were hit by a car.

On Monday, hundreds more teenagers showed up at a beach on the South Side, and clashes erupted when police tried to get them to leave, resulting in 53 arrests and nine weapons’ being confiscated, WGN-TV reported.