> This type of group riding brings back real-world socialization, which is especially crucial right now.

> many teens haven’t yet learned the road rules,

There are few nations in the world that respect cycling as a mode of transportation enough to legislate that cyclists are permitted to ride two abreast (I am only aware of the Netherlands). Instead, in most nations two cyclists out for a "convivial" trip together are forced to ride single file while two seat wide vehicles operated typically by a single driver in a vehicle wider than two bicycles riding abreast speed merrily by.

Let the teens ride side by side.