Gwinnett Police: Mall of Georgia protest rumors are false

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Mall of Georgia (FOX 5 Atlanta)

GWINNETT COUNTY, Ga. - Gwinnett County police have identified an out-of-state child as the source of a viral social media post that falsely claimed a protest was being planned at the Mall of Georgia.

What we know:

Gwinnett County detectives traced a social media post regarding mall hours and unaccompanied teenager policies back to a juvenile who does not live in Georgia. Investigators confirmed the individual had no plans to visit the state or attend any event. A follow-up post has since been shared stating the protest is canceled.

Gwinnett County police identified an out-of-state juvenile who admitted to creating a viral social media hoax regarding a false protest at the Mall of Georgia in Buford to incite chaos. (Gwinnett County Police Deaprtment)

The juvenile told detectives he created the post because he thought "inciting chaos would be funny." Simon Property Group, Inc. told police they have not changed hours of operation and have not authorized any protests on the premises.

What we don't know:

Police have not released the specific age or exact location of the juvenile involved. It is also unclear if the individual will face specific charges related to the incident or if the investigation has been closed following the interview.

Local perspective:

The Mall of Georgia remains private property despite being open to the public. Management maintains the legal authority to deny any requests for organized events or protests on the grounds.

Police are using this incident to encourage Atlanta-area parents to discuss the consequences of digital actions with their children. Officials noted that false information posted online spreads quickly and can lead to unnecessary panic or resource deployment.