Safety First, Avoid the Worst with Ms. Johnson

You may have heard of the unfortunate death of two teenage girls recently on the J train. The girls were riding atop the train when they fell.  Subway surfing is not a new thing!  As long as there have been trains, young people have been seeking a thrill by climbing on top for a ride. But subway surfing has risen in recent years, with the NYPD reporting 5 deaths in 2025 alone and over 128 arrests!  This has become so common that the NYPD has a drone division dedicated to identifying surfers and coordinating with the MTA to stop the train. So why are more teens subway surfing now than they were years ago? Social media! TikTok, Instagram, and X (Twitter) are filled with subway surfing videos that get many views and likes. Subway surfing is also part of the urban explorer obsession of many teens. Urban explorers are people who explore abandoned, hidden, or restricted urban locations, such as old factories, abandoned subway tunnels, and rooftops.  Our kids have become so addicted to social media and the need to be accepted by their peers through social media that they have become reckless and endanger themselves. Mayor Adams, the MTA president, and other officials have asked all these social media platforms to crack down on subway surfing and delete videos of anyone riding illegally throughout the train system. So what can we do as parents? Social media is not going anywhere, but I think it is essential to discuss with our kids what they are watching and how it affects their feelings. We need to reinforce kids’ self-worth in who they are, rather than how many views they get. If we can do this, we will not only prevent more subway surfing deaths but we will also prevent depression and anxiety, which have been on the rise among teens for too many years now. 

 

Check out this short video that the MTA made along with NYC High School students to show the dangers of subway surfing.

Good luck, Parents! We need it!

Theresa Johnson, Assistant Principal