"Society does not merely fear what some young people do; it fears their collective presence. Teenagers gathering on a high street are too quickly read as menace, excess or incipient criminality."
"Terms such as feral, swarm and gang do not neutrally describe behaviour. They help produce a belief in the young person as threat, as someone to be monitored and contained rather than understood socially."
"Once that framing takes hold, the political horizon narrows. Questions of youth provision, social space, inequality and abandonment are pushed aside by demands for tougher policing and faster punishment."
"Safer cities are not built by treating youth as a population to be managed out of sight. They are built by recognising young people as social subjects, entitled not only to boundaries, but also to space, dignity and a future."
The perception of young people in public spaces often leads to their portrayal as threats, contributing to societal fears and moral panic. Terms like 'feral' and 'gang' shape public opinion, framing youth as nuisances rather than individuals deserving of understanding. This narrative shifts focus from addressing social issues like inequality to demands for stricter policing. Effective solutions require recognizing young people as social subjects with rights to space and dignity, rather than merely managing them out of sight. A balanced approach is essential for building safer communities.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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