Lauderhill Mall Fight: Teens Use Social Media To Act Out Violence

Social media outlets like Facebook and Twitter are great places to keep in touch with friends, but they have been criticized recently as also being potential havens for bullies and mean-girl behavior....
Lauderhill Mall Fight: Teens Use Social Media To Act Out Violence
Written by Amanda Crum

Social media outlets like Facebook and Twitter are great places to keep in touch with friends, but they have been criticized recently as also being potential havens for bullies and mean-girl behavior. This latest story probably won’t dispel those feelings.

Nearly 200 teenagers descended upon a Florida mall on Tuesday afternoon and engaged in an all-out riot after a beef between two girls–allegedly over something one of them said about the Trayvon Martin case–escalated and pulled a lot of others into its orbit. The fight began in a parking lot across from a Lauderhill mall, but when police showed up some of those involved ran into the shopping center, causing authorities to institute a lockdown. The teens allegedly used Facebook and Twitter to communicate about the event and build up hype.

“I just heard that anybody that had beef with each other is supposed to come over here and fight,” said witness Frank Francis.

There were no major injuries reported and police say no weapons were confiscated.

“I don’t know what the motive was for using the mall or why they would want to fight,” Lauderhill Lt. Michael Butkus said.

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