After chaos ensued when hundreds of kids stormed a Bronx mall in February, local officials are looking to put an end to the viral “teen takeover” trend, and want social media companies to help curb how word of the events gets spread on their platforms.<\/p>\n
Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark released a letter in which she and other officials requested platforms TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram and YouTube “take proactive measures to prevent the spread of content that encourages riots and other unsafe mass gatherings,” as well as content that promotes the trend to teenagers.<\/p>\n
The officials asked for companies to “monitor and remove posts that actively encourage or organize mall takeovers or similar gatherings.” They also requested the platforms work with local law enforcement and community groups to identify potential “youth-driven” events that could pose a threat to public safety, while also educating younger users \u2014 particularly minors \u2014 on dangers and legal consequences of participating in the mass takeovers.<\/p>\n
The letter suggested the sites “suspend social media privileges for those who incite such incidents.\u201d<\/p>\n
The letter was signed by Clark, Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson, State Sen. Jamaal T. Bailey, State Assembly Member Michael Benedetto, two New York City councilmembers and others.<\/p>\n
It comes after the incident in February at the Bay Plaza Mall in Baychester that resulted in property damage and dozens of arrests.<\/p>\n
Clark knows firsthand the danger that this trend poses to her community.<\/p>\n
“I was there\u00a0shopping, picking up food, and I saw it all unfolding in front of my eyes,” said Clark.<\/p>\n
According to Clark, kids were recording TikTok videos while storming the place. She decided to reach out to her government colleagues, as well as the social media platforms where these meetups are organized.<\/p>\n
Her office released the letter on April 1, ahead of spring break for NYC public schools, which runs from April 2 through April 10. However, officials anticipate the measures will be needed for the summer break as well.<\/p>\n
“We need to work on preventive measures showing these young people that there are alternatives to violence and alternatives to these disruptions,” said Clark.<\/p>\n
Social media seems to be listening. TikTok met with Bronx officials on April 7, according to a post<\/a> by D.A. Clark.<\/p>\n A source familiar with TikTok’s community guidelines says that while TikTok cannot prohibit teens from organizing in the platform, any content that promotes dangerous behavior is a direct violation of their guidelines.<\/p>\n Meta, Snapchat, and YouTube have not responded to the letter, nor to a request for comment from NBC New York.<\/p>\n “If they’re good corporate partners and community partners, I think that the other platforms will also come to us,” said Clark.<\/p>\n Teenagers have carried out takeovers in different parts of the tri-state area and the country, including in Chicago<\/a> and North Texas<\/a>.<\/p>\n