I could not believe the headline myself. There is no way this has truth to it...

Oh, but it does.

Some of the best memories as a teen are your first trips alone: the movies, downtown Newburyport or Portsmouth, and of course...the mall.

EVERYONE went to the mall as a 15-17 year old as a place to "hang out." It was where you could spend the $20 you earned while mowing your neighbor's lawn.

It was the "safe" place your parents trusted you to go and gain some experience being on your own.

But is that experience being taken away?

Providence, Rhode Island Mall Bans Teens Without Adult Supervision

According to the Providence Journal article, the Providence Place mall is banning people under the age of 18 from entering the mall without adult supervision during school days...

That's not the issue.

They are also banning people under 18 from entering the mall EVERYDAY after 5 PM (without adult supervision).

I understand the attempt, kind of...but I don't necessarily think this is the right move.

The mall on a Friday night was the place I went to NOT drink when I was a teenager.

Specifically, there was one Thanksgiving evening when I was a teen when I went to the mall to avoid going to a high school party.

It was my "safe" space to go out and do something...without getting into trouble with drugs and alcohol.

The move was made to help make the mall "safe" after numerous events involving large groups of unsupervised teens. One leading to an assault.

I don't know the solution...But I do fear this may turn into a bigger issue (like kids sneaking around other areas when they could just be walking around the food court).

There is a clear divide on social media - half loving the idea, asking the move to be made to all malls in New England. Others are publicly protesting, frustrated with the tighter restrictions on teens trying to grow up and experience being on their own.

Keep scrolling to see the most famous celebrities born in Massachusetts:

Celebrities Born in Massachusetts

From actors, athletes, politicians, musicians, and more, these celebrities were born in Massachusetts. Do you see any that were born in your town or city?

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