Get access to exclusive content and articles that are ad-free. On Sunday, hundreds gathered at a West Side housing project. On Monday, more than 300 teenagers gathered at a South Side beach, and clashes broke out when the police tried to rouse them. 53 arrests were made and nine weons confiscated.

These two incidents are examples of what law enforcement officials refer to as teen takeovers, a phenomenon which has been spreading across the country since months. The Chicago incidents attracted the attention of Donald Trump who launched a broadside in

on the mayor of Chicago, and the governor of Illinois.

‘Teen takeover Chicago. Five officers were seriously injured. The Mayor and the Governor are horrible. “Should call for help!” wrote he. But takeovers aren’t just a Chicago issue. In recent weeks, there have been reports of takeovers in Milwaukee, Tampa, Orlando and Atlanta. This year, New York City has seen hundreds of youths Five Chicago officers trying to disperse the crowd sustained minor injuries when they were hit by a car.

the Bronx. In Washington, D.C., teen takeovers are a major problem, especially on the waterfront near the Navy Yard. Experts say that bad behavior by teenagers in groups is nothing new. Social media, however, has made it possible to quickly mobilize this new generation of teens who are looking for social interaction after spending their formative years in isolation during the Covid epidemic. Samuel Abrams is a senior fellow and teacher at the American Enterprise Institute. He said that if you’re a teenager today, you probably grew up or came of age during Covid when you were locked in. WGN-TV reported Your social space is your screen. You’re lonely. You’re probably a little bit depressed, he said. “You’re not as active as you should be and you crave human interaction and social connection.” Abrams explained that teens are drawn to the chance to join together and become part of a larger group. Abrams stated that these “teen takeovers” are what they really represent. They’re not random acts of violence. It’s not out of control youth.

He said, “More than anything else, it’s a desperate desire for connection.” Abrams added that teens takeovers grow quickly because they have nowhere else to go. In the past, there were more “third places” — non-school or home — where kids could socialize. Abrams says that spaces for teenagers, which are both affordable and friendly, are becoming harder to come by. He suggested that libraries are a great example. Abrams: “We see plenty of space for seniors, adults and adult programming.” We see plenty of room for the little ones. “We don’t see much space for 11-, 12-13-year olds or 16 year-olds.” Ford added that many teenagers have also experienced a halt in development as a result of the pandemic. They missed important milestones during their childhood. It may take another 10 to 20 year before the full effects of this pandemic are fully understood. Ford says that many teenagers want to be validated by their peers and viral moments on social media. She said that it only takes a few members of the group who “want to initiate the disturbance” to take the event out-of-control. Ford stated that the question is not whether or not there should be accountability, but if accountability alone will make a difference in the long run. Because this isn’t our first conversation. The authorities have been playing whack-a mole with the teens. As soon as they have one situation under control, another pears. Parents are widely agreed to be the group that needs to take action to deal with this crisis. This week, the City Council in Chicago started drafting a law that allows police to accuse parents of teens arrested of contributing to their delinquency.

Parents who allow their children to commit crimes are in this category. “The laws are already in place.” They must be enforced. Truth Social Jeanine Pirro is the U.S. Attorney for District of Columbia. She agrees with Jeanine that parents need to take responsibility and be more active at home. Pirro, who spoke at a press conference last month, said that law-abiding tax payers shouldn’t have to pay any more for parental neglect. Parents: Do your jobs. Law enforcement experts tell NBC News, however, that it’s not as easy to do as you might think.

I believe parents should be held responsible for their child’s actions, particularly if it is a young child who is committing a crime, said Brian Higgins. He was a former Bergen County Police Chief in New Jersey and a lecturer of the John Jay College of Criminal Justice.

He added, “But in practice, we’ll need to wait and see what hpens, as there will be legal challenges.” It will also depend on the age of the child who is arrested. Darrin porcher, former New York City Police lieutenant said charging the parents of older teens, who are still minors, but were charged as adults, is “a good first step.”

The onus remains on the police, however, to prevent the teen takeover in the beginning. “We need a proactive police proach,” stormed a mall They should monitor social media in order to determine where the meetups will be taking place and place officers accordingly. Alcazar, who is also an adjunct professor at John Jay, said that these situations escalate quickly because all the teenagers have to do is DM each other.