Who are the Maranza, a phenomenon born on Tik Tok that spreads throughout Italy

They harass and attack passers-by, tourists and peers on the streets of cities. They are the "maranza": groups of adolescents who are increasingly widespread throughout Italy and who become protagonists of extortion, threats and attacks. But also, as demonstrated by the most recent news events, urban warfare, looting and resistance to the police. This is a social phenomenon born from social media, in particular from the TikTok platform, which began to make itself known at the beginning of the summer of 2022. The first time that Italy gave relevance to their actions was June 2022: a huge brawl between thousands of young people on the beach of Castelnuovo del Garda forced the police to intervene in riot gear. The boys had arranged to meet via TikTok for what was supposed to be a trap music gathering which then resulted in a chaotic argument.

Throughout the summer months of 2022 the Maranza became increasingly known and their actions involved different areas of the country. The case of Riccione is famous: the city on the Adriatic coast was invaded by these groups of young people who for weeks caused havoc by annoying citizens, tourists and especially targeting young minors. There were also many entertainment personalities who, passing through Riccione, criticized the level of security in the Romagna town during that period of the Maranza explosion. However, the phenomenon has not stopped. Despite the appeals of frightened citizens and tourists, opinion on social media is divided regarding the Maranza: on the one hand the negative opinion of those who see the actions of these groups as acts of vandalism, on the other the mockery of those who make fun of their appearance and ways of doing things.

A few years after the first episodes that made the Maranza phenomenon a phenomenon known throughout Italy, the cases of violence linked to these groups of young people have not stopped. Indeed, they have increased to the point of becoming increasingly aggressive. From fights in the streets of cities, to tensions inside and outside stadiums during football matches, Maranza continue to create problems and inspire fear among citizens. A noteworthy example is what happened in Milan on the weekend of 17-18 October: a real urban guerrilla war that caused devastation and damage in the city center.

On Saturday 17 October Italy was called to take to the streets against the high cost of living, the cost of petrol and the tax burden. The demonstrations, however, turned into urban guerrilla warfare. In Milan, Piazza Duomo was besieged by hundreds of very young people dressed in black who forced the police to retreat under the throwing of paper bombs, barriers and bottles, until they occupied the square. The same tensions were replicated the following day, when groups of violent youths targeted several shops and supermarkets in the city center, destroying the windows and stealing the products on display.

The term "maranza" is nothing new. The word has always existed as part of Milanese youth slang: it is attributed to the classic street kids who go around in large groups, come from the city outskirts and pose as bullies. Their vandalistic actions are intended to create confusion in a chaotic and vulgar way. They are easily identifiable by their rough, "tamarro" style: disheveled hair, branded acetate tracksuit (usually counterfeit), shoulder bag and football team jerseys. Look completed by eye-catching necklaces and watches. This questionable style of theirs leads Maranza to be made fun of on social media but the line from bullies to a group of criminals is short.