Posted on 06/10/2026 5:57:25 PM PDT by Libloather
The world seems intent on locking Gen Z down.
As children, they were given smartphones and iPads which taught them to see the world through a screen, rather than with their own eyes. As tweens and teens, their schools were shut down, sending them into the solitude of Zoom classes in their bedrooms.
And now they’re being shut out of communal spaces.
In Albany, unaccompanied teens are getting categorically banned from bowling alleys, roller skating rinks, and even grocery stores — sending them onto the streets or back to their screens for entertainment.
“Our culture keeps complaining about kids addicted to their phones,” Lenore Skenazy, president of kid-focused non-profit Let Grow and author of “Free Range Kids: Giving Our Children the Freedom We Had Without Going Nuts with Worry” told The Post.
“But when they are not allowed any place where they can meet up in real life, old-school, they turn to the escape hatch provided by [ex Apple CEO] Steve Jobs.”
She’s right.
It’s hard to imagine more wholesome settings than bowling alleys and roller skating rinks. But the Times Union reported that business owners think teens are disruptive and noisy, and say they’re more likely to get into fights or shoplift.
According to the paper, “signs are going up at many stores” saying no teens allowed without parents.
(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...
Dear FRiends,
We need your continuing support to keep FR funded. Your donations are our sole source of funding. No sugar daddies, no advertisers, no paid memberships, no commercial sales, no gimmicks, no tax subsidies. No spam, no pop-ups, no ad trackers.
If you enjoy using FR and agree it's a worthwhile endeavor, please consider making a contribution today:
Click here: to donate by Credit Card
Or here: to donate by PayPal
Or by mail to: Free Republic, LLC - PO Box 9771 - Fresno, CA 93794
Thank you very much and God bless you,
Jim
Back in the day we did not act like a jackass at the skating rink, mall, movie theater, theme park, or swimming pool.
These kids have no manners and that is the least of their problems.
“But when they are not allowed any place where they can meet up in real life, old-school, they turn to the escape hatch provided by [ex Apple CEO] Steve Jobs.”
We behaved ourselves.
And sometimes kinetic activity...
Regards,
Some socialize neither.
They destroy all the “wholesome” places and events...
that’s it exactly.
they punish everyone b/c they cannot just punish the bad bkids.
The negros ruined our skate rink back in the 80’s.
Luckily they didn’t like bowling.
Did ruin the public pool though.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.