A growing trend of “urban exploring,” or urbex, is seeing young people, primarily Gen Z, engage in increasingly dangerous activities, including scaling skyscrapers and trespassing into abandoned buildings, often resulting in severe injuries or death. This pursuit, amplified by social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram, has created a culture where online validation drives extreme risk-taking.
The dangerous hobby has gained significant attention following a publicity stunt where a daredevil couple scaled the Empire State Building to get engaged. This pair, known for their risky stunts in illegal settings for social media content, have inspired a wave of followers to engage in similar activities.
In New York City and across the country, teens and young adults are breaking into abandoned subway cars, theaters, and scaling buildings and bridges. Chris F., a 20-year-old urban explorer from Long Island, described the allure as a feeling of freedom and limitlessness within forgotten spaces. "It triggers this thing in your brain where you’re like, ‘Holy s–t, I could do anything,’" he said.
Interest in urban exploring has surged since the pandemic. Thousands of videos featuring mostly teens engaged in these activities are shared weekly on platforms like TikTok and Instagram. The dedicated Reddit forum for urban exploring attracts over a hundred thousand viewers weekly.
Chris F., who balances a night shift job at McDonald's with a mass communication degree, began exploring at 17 after seeing posts about local abandoned sites like Kings Park Psychiatric Center. He described the activity as an addiction, consuming time between school and work. "It just became addicting, the TikTok views, the Instagram views, meeting people, the insane stuff that would happen," he stated, acknowledging the cyclical nature driven by social media engagement.
However, the pursuit of online clout often leads to severe consequences. Chris recounted a harrowing experience at the former military base Camp Hero in Montauk, where a friend fell three stories after a staircase collapsed, sustaining critical injuries. "He fell three stories and almost died," Chris said, detailing how he had to help his injured friend.
Tragic incidents underscore the peril of this trend. Trevon Anderson, 20, died in March after falling from a ladder while exiting underground water tunnels in Lincoln, Nebraska. His mother, Alissa Anderson, expressed her distress, noting her son's innocent framing of these expeditions as mere exploration due to boredom. "I never thought anything of it," she said. "I don’t think that he thought [something tragic] would ever happen."
Other young individuals have also fallen victim. In December, 19-year-old Leah Palmirotto died after falling six stories from a derelict hospital building on Emory University's campus. Earlier in the year, a 16-year-old boy survived catastrophic injuries after falling 50 feet into a maintenance shaft of the Queensboro Bridge while climbing it with friends. Another 16-year-old died after falling from a metal tower in Bushwick while taking photos.
New York State Police have warned of legal repercussions and inherent dangers in abandoned structures, citing risks such as structural compromise, hazardous materials, open shafts, and exposed wiring. In 2018, Rebecca Bunting, 30, drowned in a storm drain in Philadelphia while taking photos for her urban exploring social media account.
Some participants actively try to mitigate risks. Jamie D., a 25-year-old urban explorer from Connecticut, shared an instance where a friend fell but only sustained bruises. "I’ve definitely missed out on some cool spots because I just don’t want to risk my life," she said.
Ben Mitchell, 19, views urban exploring as an art form but acknowledges the presence of "bad actors," particularly with its rise on social media. Many young explorers initially feel less concerned about legal consequences, as juvenile trespassing cases are often handled confidentially in family court without creating criminal records. Chris noted that the understanding that minors face less severe penalties encourages some to push boundaries until they turn 18, and often beyond.
Despite the documented dangers and legal ambiguities, participants like Chris F. and even Rebecca Bunting’s mother, Tina Fluharty, express that the endeavor can be worthwhile, continuing to seek the thrill and unique experiences urban exploration offers.