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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
National
Safiyah Riddle and Corey Williams

‘Teen takeovers’ started as a social media trend. But now the phenomenon has taken a sinister turn

Chicago police officers attempt to disperse hundreds of young people near the Griffin Museum of Science and Industry in the Hyde Park neighborhood - (Chicago Sun-Times 2026)

"Teen takeovers," large, spontaneous gatherings often orchestrated via social media, are sparking growing concern across the United States as they increasingly lead to violence and disorder.

What begins as an online invitation, like the Instagram flier that drew 18-year-old Damarion Spann and thousands to a Chicago beach for music and dancing, can quickly escalate.

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