Teen takeovers — mass, pre-organized gatherings of young people at malls and parks coordinated via social media — have occurred in multiple U.S. cities and sometimes escalated into fights, gunshots, and robberies. The phenomenon has prompted mall curfews and police responses in cities including Houston, Detroit, Chicago, and Atlanta. Some community experts argue that restricting youth gathering spaces without offering alternatives may miss the underlying need for safe, supervised spaces where teens can congregate.