Chicago to police social media to flag illegal public gatherings (kids)

During Covid the Chicago Police were prohibited from doing their job. They didn't disperse crowds effectively and didn't arrest offenders. Now their trying to blame and fine social media platforms?

Chicago's murder rate is almost 5 times higher than New York's (21.5 vs 4.6 per 100,000 residents). In the 1990s the Big Apple's murder rate was double Chicago's. Our mayor has gutted the Chicago Police Dept and tied their hands behind their back.

Social media apps and public safety

Axios News

Dec 3, 2025

Chicago lawmakers are working, yet again, to end "teen takeovers" by pursuing a revived curfew and policies to hold social media platforms accountable.

Why it matters: These takeovers have become an ongoing issue in recent years, often resulting in property destruction, violence and deaths.

Driving the news: Ald. William E. Hall (6th) plans to introduce a proposal that would require online platforms (such as TikTok, Instagram and Snapchat) to flag when teens are planning disorderly gatherings.

Ald. Brian Hopkins (2nd) is revisiting his "snap curfew," which Mayor Brandon Johnson vetoed this year. The proposal would subject minors to a curfew put in place by police with as little as 30 minutes' notice.

Catch up quick: Following this year's tree lighting ceremony at Millennium Park, several people were injured and one 14-year-old was shot and killed after large crowds of teens gathered along State Street.

Before the event, social media posts circulated promoting a "teen takeover" at the ceremony.

How it works: Once the Chicago Police Department receives a possible threat and notifies a social media platform with the information, the online platform would have six hours to comply with their safety guidelines by removing any account that is circulating the threat.

If they choose not to remove or restrict the content, the platform would need to provide the city with a written justification explaining why the content does not promote a reasonably foreseeable danger to public safety.

If platform officials do not remove or otherwise disable public visibility of the threat — or provide justification for not doing so — they would be fined $50,000 with possible additional fines.

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