I went to All Points East last weekend and it was one of the most exhilarating experiences of my life; being a massive Tyler, the Creator fan. It was a long day of walking, standing and enjoying the musical talent that the festival had to offer.

The next morning I woke up to fried vocal chords, achy feet and a For You page full of videos saying that teenagers do not belong at festivals. Honestly, I was slightly confused, but not entirely surprised.

It has long been a tradition to attend festivals, most notably Reading Festival, after exam results. For many young people, festivals are a rite of passage into the music scene and adult life.

Some concerns are valid. Behaviour can cause issues that jeopardise the safety and enjoyment of other festival-goers. But I don't think that is an issue specific to teenagers. Certain groups of fans, regardless of age, act irresponsibly. Yet when teenagers do something wrong in a public space, their age seems to become the defining factor.

It raises a question: is there anywhere teens are wanted?

We are encouraged to become independent and live a life away from a screen, but the spaces we are allowed to do that freely are increasingly limited. We go outside into the world and are told we are too loud, or we're loitering or we're simply taking up too much space.

Between 2010 and 2023, 1,243 Council-run youth centres closed and I think that has been a contributing factor to the spaces teenagers spend their time in. But I don’t think that’s the only issue, the attitudes towards young people in public spaces have become increasingly hostile. 

Adults tend to complain about teenagers being in a lot of public spaces, generalising individual experiences they’ve had and turning them into assumptions about an entire generation. Too loud on public transport? Teenagers. Hanging around a shopping centre? Teenagers. Standing in a group outside a café? Teenagers.

We are constantly being shunned for existing in spaces that are supposed to be for everyone.

Of course, this doesn’t mean teenagers should have unlimited access to every space without rules. Festivals need to be safe, and everyone attending has a responsibility to respect the people around them. But there is a difference between holding young people accountable for their behaviour and suggesting that their presence itself is a problem.

Maybe, we need to stop treating young people as though public life is something they have to earn the right to participate in. Because if teenagers aren’t wanted at festivals, in shopping centres, on public transport or simply hanging around in public, where are we actually supposed to go?