Lappeenranta youths may seek social media attention through disruption

Young people in Lappeenranta may be acting out to attract attention on social media, child welfare workers told Yle after police operations drew more than 100 youths in the city centre.

Riikka Telanto, a senior social worker, and Pasi Hänninen, a social worker on the child welfare assessment team, said similar behaviour had been seen in other towns. They said local gatherings are a normal part of youth, but can bring problems such as substance use. Some young people also commit vandalism or crimes and put themselves at risk through substance use.

Police carried out two enforcement operations in central Lappeenranta on Friday and Saturday nights. Between 100 and 150 young people were present. Four were detained and fined for offences including possessing fireworks or alcohol. Child welfare notifications were made about them.

Telanto and Hänninen said young people who film social media challenges may be seeking to create a particular kind of content. Hänninen said young people are trying to find their identities and gain acceptance from friends, and need support to make choices that will not cause problems later.

Families may be involved

After the weekend, South Karelia’s wellbeing services county reviewed child welfare notifications related to underage substance use and fireworks. Anyone concerned about a child’s wellbeing, development or safety can make a notification to social services.

When a young person has tried substances once, the workers said, the response may be a single discussion with the family. Some notifications lead to ongoing child welfare support, while other young people are referred to different services. Telanto said a child’s substance use can come as a surprise, or even a shock, to parents.

The workers encouraged parents to take an interest in their children’s lives and spend time with them. Telanto stressed that most young people behave well and know how to make the right choices.

Notifications have increased

The number of child welfare notifications in Finland has tripled since 2010. Last year, notifications were made concerning 117,000 children nationwide, nearly 11 per cent of all children. The total was up 7 per cent on the previous year.

In South Karelia, notifications rose 15 per cent last year to almost 4,800, concerning more than 1,900 children. The region had an average of 2.5 notifications per child, the highest figure in Finland.

Police Commissioner Ilari Saarikivi told Yle that two forceful interventions over the weekend had calmed the situation. Police and the city are monitoring developments. The city has said it will add surveillance cameras and increase security patrols on weekday evenings in the Kimpinen area. Schools have discussed the situation with pupils and reminded them to behave appropriately.