In high school, going to the mall with friends is a great way to pass time. Picking out cute clothes and giving your friends a fashion show in the dressing room is the ultimate teenage experience. It’s a way to connect with friends unplugged, as many connections nowadays are fostered strictly online. 

However, mall runs are less available to teens across the nation, as many malls have implemented a rule that anyone under eighteen must be accompanied by an adult during certain hours, typically weekends or during the evening. 

Mall owners defend the new rules by explaining that the bans are vital to improve safety, as teens can be reckless. According to ABC News, some customers even report feeling safer entering a mall after the new rule was set in place. 

According to New Jersey 101.5, the Deptford Mall in New Jersey is one of the malls to adopt these new rules, their specific rules implicating that anyone under 18 must be accompanied by someone 25 or older during certain times. 

Supporters of the bans argue that while teen independence is important, the wellbeing and safety of the mall wins in value. Backed by trending videos showcasing fights in crowded malls, supporters claim that malls have the right to create rules that protect employees and customers. 

However, many people fight against these new mall bans. Opponents argue that a minority of teens should not lead to the discrimination of all, and claim that most teens utilize the mall to socialize, shop, and just hangout with friends. Some claim that the restrictions unjustly target young people, and others worry about an increase of social isolation subsequent to the bans. 

Senior Abby Khamvongsa argues, “I understand where they’re coming from, but also I think it’s unfair since the vast majority of teenagers who go to the mall are responsible.”

Zoey Carlson, a senior and varsity tennis player at Wilsonville High School, thinks that, “Minors shouldn’t be banned from the mall because it’s a fun place to go and hangout with friends, and it’s not that common for kids to vandalize the mall.”

So, what do you think? Do you think that it is just for mall owners to implement these bans, or are they taking it too far?