Denver, Colorado – The Denver Zoo made the decision to close early on Saturday after a planned teen “takeover” went viral on TikTok, sparking concerns about potential disruptions and violence.
The zoo staff acted swiftly to prevent the event from taking place, though the exact nature of the planned disruption remained unclear.
What We Know About the Takeover Trend
Zoo spokesperson Jake Kubie explained that while they did not know exactly what the event would entail, similar incidents across the country had caused significant disturbances in public spaces, leading to property damage, fights, and general chaos.
The zoo opted for caution in this situation, deciding to close before any potential disruptions could occur.
“We don’t know the exact nature of the event, but we know previous events organized in a similar fashion have led to some disruption to local businesses, damage, vandalism, things like that,” Kubie said. “We don’t believe we’re a target of anything. We haven’t received any information that suggests that there is gonna be any impact to us. We’re always leaning towards caution over everything else.”
A Growing National Concern
This is not an isolated incident. Last weekend, another event of similar nature occurred at Denver’s Northfield Mall, where over 300 teenagers showed up after being called by a TikTok post.
The scene quickly escalated into fights and disturbances. Despite this, no incidents occurred at the zoo after the closure, but staff and police remained vigilant.
Across the country, similar “takeovers” fueled by TikTok have caused concern. In New Jersey, two separate events just a week apart led to chaos.
The first occurred at Menlo Park Mall, where more than 300 teens caused fights and forced shoppers to shelter inside stores. A week later, another large group of teens took over a carnival, breaking into the event after an 18-and-up rule had been set.
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Why the Trend is Causing Alarm
These events highlight a growing trend where teenagers, organized through social media platforms like TikTok, are creating chaos in public spaces.
The so-called “takeovers” have raised concerns about the safety of other patrons, the damage to public property, and the strain on local law enforcement. Authorities and community advocates are left scrambling to prevent these flash mobs from causing harm.
While some teenagers may view these events as a way to have fun and gain attention, they are having an unintended negative impact on local businesses and communities.
What do you think about the growing trend of teen “takeovers”? How should local authorities respond to these events? Share your thoughts in the comments below. For more updates, visit ridgecrestpact.org.
