I don’t think negatively of them. I think the obsession with social media isn’t good, it’s awkward enough to be a teenager without having to look cool on IG or Tik Tok. There are like three pictures of me in existence from 13-18, lmao, I think most of us were pretty camera-shy. But really, I think social media is a pretty universal problem for most people. It’s not the social media in a vacuum, I just think humans are too dumb and too easily influenced to be so readily exposed to one another in an unregulated forum. Idiotic ideas become widespread “truths” on social media to some people, just because of peer pressure/influence and stupidity. So I weep for all of us on that front.
Other than that…. your clothes are goofy, your music isn’t as good as mine, and you have some dumb slang terms (“fuckboy” means a clown who gets no respect, it’s not a prettyboy guy who plays a lot of women…. don’t know how that even became a thing🤦♂️)…. but that’s what they said about my generation too, lmao. The experience of being a teenager is the same as it ever was, my little cousins are around your age, I see it. It’s all a replay of everything I and everyone else did, just certain details change that make it just a little different.
One thing that has me laughing though…you guys are generally open-minded and accepting of people and cultures and lifestyles…and that’s a good thing. But an unfortunate result of that can be overzealousness in word-policing. The intentions are good, but it can just be a little “extra” sometimes. But what makes me laugh is that some of the terms that were once my generation’s new euphemisms are now hate-speech lmfao. Like WE were the ones who said “stop calling them mentally retarded, they’re just mentally challenged! How dare you!” And now, I think mentally challenged isn’t cool anymore, I don’t even know what you’re supposed to say anymore….”differently abled?” That might even be wrong now, I can’t keep up. Wish we’d just sit down and decide what’s fair and what’s foul, and then just stick with it forever, I certainly want to be respectful, but I simply can’t be having to consciously change my vocabulary every 10-15 years when people who weren’t alive 15 years ago don’t like our words, that’s insane, haha. Some kid who isn’t born yet is going to be shredding you in your 30s or 40s because you said something that their generation decided was out of bounds. Trust me. Didn’t think it would happen to me either, but here we are😂😂😂
But yeah, you guys are cool. Your auto-tune rap isn’t very good compared to 90s rap, and Griselda (who are more my age) are the only ones doing it right, and the whole mom jeans and dad sneakers thing is ridiculous, but…. so was me wearing size 36 jeans when I was a size 32 at your age, lmao. Same, same😝
I'm not too far from them given that I'm only 24, but I keep stressing about how new blood is necessary to bring about the social, political and cultural changes we want, and so I encourage them in every way to join local and national institutions - I myself favor them as new cadres in my own civil list - I don't want old men and women who dreg the mistakes of the past in our harmonic project for a cultural revolution.
I started my involvement in social work at 14 and ended up town mayor as 24 - I want young girls and boys to do the same, so by the time they are in their 20s they'll be in key positions and able to bring change. My country is too old, too much of a gerontocracy - we need to refresh it and bring forth the happiness of the people and everyone who comes to us looking for work, peace and happiness. They are the future, and must understand it! I encourage and promote teens however I can - one of my council members is ''just'' 20 years old, and the girl who took my place as chairman of the cultural club is 18.
It's not so much an assumption as it is true that teens are on their devices a lot. Going to hangout means half the time someone in that group is on their phone, and the worst thing you can do to a teen is take away their phone.
But here is the thing about the rebellious nature of youth--everyone older and younger assumes that their generation was better or worse than the one before it or after it, but let's be clear...every single young generation does and did dumb stuff and a lot of it. You either like to imagine you are so much better or you like to forget that you're so much worse, but this is the nature of youth. You feel invincible like nothing can touch you so you do more reckless things. Of course, of course, this is not everyone by any stretch, but it's just in general par for the course of being young and we should really stop trying to quantify it as or good or bad thing---it just is what it is as that time period in your life allows you the most freedom without responsibility.
They are doing good for all the shit thrown at them let alone Covid. Mental health is something that we talk about often and it’s less stigmatized now so that alone is a big step. I had one kid tell me that they were in therapy proudly….. that’s awesome. Take care of yourself!!!
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They lack context in their conversations, jumping straight to accusations instead.
Yes, "attached to devices" seems to be prevalent, but it's not just teens.
I would say the larger concern is inability to interact on a deeper or more intimate level. I find the attachment to phones goes hand in hand with a decreasing ability to handle personal interaction, confrontational interactions, stress, criticism (even positive feedback), etc.
I have on more than one occasion witnessed people who spend most of their time on their phone who then are in a situation where they have to speak with a stranger or even a coworker for an extended period of time or in a low-conflict situation, but they appear to be extremely stressed out, awkward, blundering, and generally incompetent.
This kind of disability causes misunderstandings and distance, which leads to alienation and toxic relationships where healthy ones could and should be developing.
I don't think teens or anyone else is to blame for this development, it is a natural byproduct of predominately interacting with others through electronic devices. It's crippling.
I love teens. I recently got done raising a couple of them, meaning they made it through to adulthood, and I have been a part of a couple of ministries dedicating to teens and I enjoyed it so much. Teens are so full of life, vigor, hope. You haven't yet been crushed by the gruesome reality of life and contrary to what most people seem to think, teens are very curious and humble.
I made it a point, a mission statement of my own, never to lie to the teens under my tutelage. Whether my kids or in the ministry, I told them the unfiltered truth and that apparently made me very popular with them. Even with 'uncomfortable' questions, I wouldn't lie. If I couldn't tell them something, I would tell them, "Yes, there is a reason but I cannot tell you what that reason is at the moment." And in most cases those reasons had to do with someone else's confidential information or a complex set of circumstances even I didn't fully understand.
When I was a teen, nothing irked me more when adults would lie to me. And they seemingly did it all the time. Whether about drugs or sex or life in general, 'shut up and study' was the message I got. I resented that shit. And naturally, I set out as a mission to try everything I was lied to about, so it's not a good policy to lie to teens. Lying to teens can bring a lifetime of resentment. Treating them like they're dumb is another good way to to breed resentment. Teens are people too, so treat them with the same dignity and respect as any other person.
My opinion of today's teenagers is bad. They are what they were raised for. we can't blame them for what they are. They are the children of what I consider the scum generation, that is, generation X and they grew up in their image. They are battery chickens. They are all the same and extremely conformists. They appear as if they lacked an individual will and were one and only people who move according to the dictates of the market. They seem like a generation of handicapped people so if the electricity goes out their life ends. I think they will have huge mental problems in the future that will weigh on others, like various B-cluster disturbances.
Like many millennials before them, they grew up in a world where you no longer feel ashamed of many things. From a certain point of view it could also be a good thing, however it has created generations of fools who are proud of it and who want others to be idiots. People who are not ashamed of being rough and braggart. People who are not ashamed of anything, so the whole world revolves around them as if they were eternal children of 3-5 years.
i think most adults hate on teens these days is because they smoke, they spend too much time on their phones, they dress 'inappropriate', etc... but honestly kids who smoke aren't bad they just enjoy doing something that makes them feel cool, its not their faults that they have all these devices... i mean are you guys saying that if you had all the technology that you have today back when you were a teen you would just ignore it and go play outside? no i dont think so, and the reason girls wear crop tops or ripped jeans doesn't always mean they are looking for attention from boys, sometimes its just what makes them feel confident and beautiful.
I think teens today have to be prepared for a world that will have more problems, dangers, and stupidity than ever before.
You guys will have to be the smartest, most resourceful, most brilliant generation ever produced.
Or Humankind will not make it.
I think the majority of teens are morons.
But not specific to this generation. It's all generations of teenagers. They are just naturally more stupid and unapologetically annoying then other age groups.
I was really stupid as a teen as well. Hell, I was an idiot in my early 20's.
I do think that in every generation there are a specific handful that just make the whole generation stand out and look particularly terrible tho.
If you think about it though, it's only because we are so stupid and danger prone in are early years that the world isn't overpopulated to shit. We off ourselves on accident all the time. It's nature's way of keeping things balanced.
But that's just my opinion, I'm just a stranger online whose opinion really shouldn't matter. Also, I'm still kinda an idiot.
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They get too much homework. Teachers make them go on a computer to do much of the learning instead of allowing them to exercise their own creativity and make fun games relating to the subject. They have more knowledge than previous generations, but are expected to have a larger quantity of knowledge rather than the quality of the knowledge put into practice and concept. There is more bullying, clicks and peer pressure than previous generations. Their friends sometimes degrade others through Social media, instagram and other outlets.
What do you think?
I'm not an adult but I am a teenager. I would like to say the adults that not all teenagers are same and generation difference and high technology isn't our fault. Not our fault that we have so cool gadgets in our time so I know that the negative opinions will kind of trigger the teenagers (because they are sensitive) so I want you to give answer wisely. Sorry for interruption. I just want to don't spread hate on teenagers nowdays. If it is something negative then say it with a reason and we will understand and some may change too. It was just my tip. Ignore it if you don't like it.
Although much criticized, the teens of today are much better informed than I was back in the 70's. The are so many news resources now and communication is so easy that they can discuss issues with young people in other countries in real-time. Photos? Film had to be developed, printed and sent by mail, while today you can watch live video of what your friends are doing this instant.
Communication is power- which is why the totalitarian states shut down the internet. Your generation understands communication. Use that power wisely.
I don't generalize or have any preconceptions about teens. Some are amazing and some are dumb asses. Or more like, they are a combination of the two, like I was, because teens are smart and perceptive, but they don't have the knowledge or experience of older people.
The problem with most teens since the beginning of time is, they think they know everything. They think they are bitchen and cool and like they are inventing something new. They are more guided by peer pressure than common sense and wisdom.
So I don't have issues with teens "these days". Teens are just teens. They grow up and see the real world eventually. And some have more issues than others, just like everybody else. It's not like all older people are smart, wise or informed, either.
I treat teens like individuals and have great admiration for some of them.
Teens are exactly what they're parents reflect , otherwise if the parental reflection isn't good then the teens generally reflect all the bad of society. Some teens remarkably do well in vocational and societal settings which is nothing short of great inspirations and they end up graciously doing well through out life. The thing about so many teens is the knowledge of hurdles in life. Hurdles are meant to go over , under , through or around in life. Those who hesitate to approach , are just loosers.
my assumptions from what i observe in the media landscape and considering i know how impressionable teens are, i have a few assumptions:
1:they have more issues with gender and sex than ever before cause they've been blasted about sexuality nonsense from the media.
2: they have no real concept of what's a healthy body anymore, cause media tells them they must accept all bodies and can't shame anyone for how outragously fat or underweight they are.
3: this is not only true for teens but also for adults: the constant influx of information makes them resistent to information, makes them learn and know less and have a shorter attention span and more short lived motivation to do shit.
Its honestly hard to imagine what life for me would be like as a kid growing up with social media like Facebook and smartphones and 24 hour internet access. Growing up as a kid i played a lot outside and also had a Nintendo so i played a lot of games and i also watched a lot of movies at home. But i also got picked on physical a lot at school and for some reason that never changed through the 10 different schools i went to. Ig if i had internet access i could have had access to advice on how to stop bullying or how to stop being shy around girls and it may have improved my life but i also hear online bullying is a thing so not sure if that would have affected me or not since i was already physically bullyed at school 🤷
Some people think that we're indecent, have no shame, spend too much time on our phones, smoke too much weed, listen to terrible music and dress like prostitutes. Basically the same things their parents thought of them when they were kids
As a 20 year old I'm too mature for y'all now😂😂😂
Eventhough i was one of y'all like 2 months ago🥴
Naw jkjk, they just like any other age group some got it together (you)
Some don't, some just a waste of air.
I like them. Like someone said below, they've been abused the most during covid.
However yeah, no attention span, tiktok. Not their fault, product of their conditioning. Society screwing them over in every regard, for example indebtedness housing etc.
u none, I never assume... as a tutor, coach, trainer and also an uncle and older cousin I have to be responsible, so I see them as individuals and instead of assuming, I listen, I communicate... and work with them instead
Us millennials feel for you. We got so much shit that they are even calling you millennials now as an insult. The boomers are the absolute worse generation, and pay them no mind. They are all about themselves, beating children, hating people, and being greedy. Contrary to their projection your generation has the most help in making a better world and I am very excited to have you on board.
I think every teenager should have to pay for their own phone using their own money from their own job before they're allowed to have one. And not any younger than at 16.
All the problems kids have with being spoiled with their $1000 devices before they know the value of a dollar is entirely the fault of their parents, but it's a huge pet peeve of mine.
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