Viral TikTok Meetup Spirals Into Mayhem at Menlo Park Mall—7 Teens Arrested
What began as a TikTok-fueled meetup turned into pandemonium Saturday night as more than 300 teens swarmed Menlo Park Mall in Edison, New Jersey, overwhelming security and forcing police to call for reinforcements.
According to officials, a TikTok post promoting a “Menlo Mall Linkup” sparked a surge of young people arriving at the shopping center around 7 p.m. The gathering, initially expected to draw around 100 attendees, quickly ballooned as teens from all over the state descended on the location—many arriving in response to viral posts on both TikTok and Instagram.
By shortly after 8 p.m., the scene had escalated. Edison Mayor Sam Joshi described it as “over 300 youth” converging on the mall via Instagram. Edison police, overwhelmed by the crowd, had to summon backup from nearby departments to restore order.
Authorities confirmed that seven minors were arrested, four of whom were not from Edison. No injuries were reported among the teens, and authorities confirmed that no weapons were found at the scene. Among those taken into custody, one faces charges for aggravated assault on an officer, while six others were charged with disorderly conduct. One individual was also hit with a resisting arrest charge.
Edison Police Chief Thomas Bryan confirmed the social media link, noting TikTok played a significant role in mobilizing the crowd. A post from earlier in the week teasing the meetup racked up over 156,000 views and nearly 10,000 likes at the time—evidence of how quickly these gatherings can spiral out of control.
Videos from the chaotic night show teens running through the mall, shouting, and attempting to evade police. The footage quickly went viral on TikTok, generating even more attention.
The incident echoes similar teen-led disturbances in other parts of the country, including an October uproar at Virginia’s Kings Dominion theme park, also traced back to a social media invite. While no arrests were made in that case, the event drew a heavy law enforcement presence after things turned chaotic.
Officials are urging parents to monitor their children’s online activity, as the line between viral content and real-world consequences continues to blur.
The New Jersey Digest is a new jersey magazine that has chronicled daily life in the Garden State for over 10 years.