Some countries are considering imposing curfews in which teenagers will not be allowed outdoors at night unless they are accompanied by an adult. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this policy?

Some governments are considering proposals to institute curfews for teenagers that would require them to be in the presence of an adult after certain hours. In my opinion, the marginal benefits of

such

a policy would be greatly outweighed by its social drawbacks. On one hand, requiring youngsters to remain at

home

at night could help curb juvenile delinquency. In certain cities, it is common for particular neighbourhoods to be full of criminal activity late at night. A teenager who is either engaging in

such

activity or simply passing through those areas is at significant risk. By staying

home

, youngsters would be forced to engage in more wholesome activities and the authorities would be better able to police the streets. In

this

way, governments could limit both crimes committed by and upon teenagers.

However

,

on the other hand

, the cases mentioned above affect a minority of teenagers while

this

reform would impair the social growth of the majority. Ensuring youth stay

home

essentially limits their social acquaintances within their family. In many situations, if the family is small or there are issues related to abuse,

this

could foster an unhealthy psychological and social dependence.

For instance

, people at present are forced to stay at

home

due to the covid pandemic, which leads to a 20% increase of child-abusing events being reported to the social authorities. When youth hang out with friends at concerts, malls, parks, and other public venues they begin to develop their identity and manage the demands of interpersonal relationships. Any reforms that hinder

such

growth are negative for the progress of society more generally. In conclusion, despite the positive effect a curfew would have on misbehaviour,

such

suggestions should be ignored in order to guarantee the healthy social development of adolescents. There are less restrictive methods of reducing juvenile delinquency that could

instead

be considered.