New Midland Mall policy raises concerns about lack of teen social spots | Local [Video]

MIDLAND, Mich. (WJRT) – The Midland Mall will no longer allow visits from children under the age of 16 without parent supervision.

The Mall, and owner Jordan Dice, posted the announcement on Facebook this past weekend.

Dice says they had to introduce the policy after dealing with dozens of incidents involving unsupervised children, including everything from loud nuisance behavior to shoplifting and destruction of property.

Yet, some say the move points to a growing trend, where teens don’t have as many safe places to hangout.

“It started in the 80s, when you had this ‘Stranger Danger’ advertising where it became increasingly a sense of danger for children and so parents understandably started to protect them more and shelter them more,” said Amanda Smith.

Smith is a Lecturer in the Behavioral Sciences Department at UM-Flint. She says having unstructured and specifically unsupervised time for older children and teens is crucial to …