The teens, all males 17 and 16, were charged with aggravated battery, criminal damage to property and mob action. Some allegedly took inspiration for the crimes from social media.

Summary

Eleven Illinois teens face felony charges after allegedly luring two men via dating apps and assaulting them last July.

Inspired by a viral social media trend, the teens attacked a 41-year-old and a 23-year-old in separate incidents, damaging vehicles and using slurs in one case, resulting in hate crime charges for one teen.

All suspects turned themselves in and were detained at a juvenile center.

Police urge parents to discuss the dangers of social media trends with their children to prevent such incidents.

  • Cypher@lemmy.world
    52·
    3 days ago

    Outrage over the headline lacking the word gay and none for gay men trying to have sex with 16-17 year olds?

      • Cypher@lemmy.world
        2·
        2 days ago

        I didn’t. I just happen to be aware of the tik tok trend that they refused to name in the article, because that could have been damaging to the victims.

        • Frost-752@lemmy.worldEnglish
          1·
          2 days ago

          Fair enough, this is the first I’m hearing of the trend myself but I also dont use tiktok