For adults age 22 and older: Do you think being a child/teen is harder nowadays than it was for you? Or easier?

Question

Do you think in the 2020s, it's much harder to be between 10 and 17 years old? Or do you think it's much easier? As a teacher, I think it's both easier and harder for kids nowadays. Easier because you have the internet and can learn more things on your own, if you're dedicated enough. You have access to more information (and misinformation) and really can learn from people all over the world, as long as you can speak the same language. You can also get real-world opinions from adults, like some of the teenagers on GAG do.  However, I think it's also harder cause you got more shady people trying to indoctrinate, brainwash, and control you more than we ever did in the 90s and 2000s. From CRT and "white guilt" to "toxic masculinity" and "trans-acceptance" and all other BS inbetween.  I'm SO glad I didn't have to grow up with biological men competing in women's sports, and then having teachers tell me I'm supposed to clap and applaud this Clown World insanity. Or that I didn't have to grow up with proud p-dophiles trying to brainwash seven year olds with se-uality and LGBT crap and will protest against any Florida bills banning that from happening in schools. My students are Korean kids fluent in English who love Western pop culture and haven't grown jaded and bitter like Millennials are. But man, the world they're about to enter in eight or so years... No more role models or non-idiots left to look up to in our society. Yikes.  And I thought growing up in the 90s and 2000s kinda sucked...

SweedyPie · Accepted Answer

I believe that it's balanced. Each generation will have problems that arise because of the generations before them, and each generation will have solutions to problems previous generations had because the generation before them sought to change it. The problems I had as a child were a lot, but the children of today don't have those problems, they have what you could consider hybrid problems of those. Evolution, change is constantly occuring because the only thing we can depend on for sure is that time never stops. So the problems I had will not be my children's problems, but that fact doesn't lessen the new problems they have.

For example, when I was younger we were taught that if you don't get a proper education, you won't make it out there in the world. Getting more qualified meant better job prospects. Now the job market is severely oversaturated. Everyone has degrees so to be the one that gets a job you have to have something more and be different. Then you have youtubers and tiktokers and influencers who can start making money at very young ages. Parents can no longer claim school is the only way to land a higher income job. But these arguments have many more layers to them and I'm not trying to make this too long but I hope you get my point.

They have it equally as challenging, just in a different way than others before them did. And I believe it will always be like that in order for balance to be maintained. It's a good thing, out of hardships and having to manouvre through life we build character. Every person meeds to have some challenges to face otherwise the chances of growing up without an appreciation for your blessings greatly increases.

Lucy68 · Accepted Answer

I want to say the same difficulty but in different ways. Like when I was a teenager social media like Instagram, Twitter, etc., were still in a way fairly new to some and if I can recall not many people used that stuff except for Twitter and Facebook. Teens now from what I seen and what I have learned are going through "social media anxiety" due to more teens and kids having social media. Also back then we didn't have all these problems and issues, I mean we had our fair share at but it seems to be getting worse and worse by the day. I was a 2000s kid but I was a teenager at the start of 2010 so you can see what kind of generation I came from.

Fromdusktilldawn · Accepted Answer

Depends very much on the environment. Growing up in my hometown and school here would be very different than in the US. Also its different on the countryside than in a big city. I think here it didn't really change a lot.

I only think that kids are more dedicated to social media now than in 2009-2016 (my high school time). Back then facebook was trending, now it'd instagram and sadly tiktok. But now also stuff like sexual harassment is stricter ruled (between teachers and students). The view towards homosexuals slightly changed but its not so "glorified" like in the US.

But I also see that in our society (not really in school) they annoy us with that political correctness: no dark humor jokes, no racism hints (like here on Christmas Crampus was always played by a black guy, now thats racist), feminism quotes, immigrants get everything too easily here etc

Oigit · Accepted Answer

It can be easier for some and harder for others. I don't think we should make a broad statement one way or another. Simply because you really can't account for the personal life experiences for all of everyone in each group. Also I think a lot of the social and political debates taking place today tend to not factor that into the ideas and statements on both sides.

Brokenheartedx · Answer

I'd say harder for kids nowadays. Bullying is rife and worse and no escape from it for kids. Vapid social media influencers with the fakeness trying to con kids to believing the shit they post is real, it's infuriating for adults to see kids believe photoshopped and lies posted are real. Then the shit they are brainwashed with at school, brits are evil colonisers who must pay for the world of every countries fucking poverty. Wtf? Oh and whites are bad and racist and everyone else isn't.
Nah fuck that take me back to the safety of the 90s

Freyke · Answer

I think the social media leaves many people with doubts, because they look at posts of others where they only show the ideal world. Liking a post gets your girlfriend to doubt you, not liking something gets you an annoyed friend. And we are now at a place where everything is offensive. We argue about trivial things and forget what is important. It can be harder if you don't know better yet, as a teen you will have a lot of questions.

AviatorTom · Answer

Teens today have more pressure to succeed, yet have more technology to help them, so it balances out eith teens from the past.

exitseven · Answer

Most kids have it easier. They are connected 24/7 and have a lot more disposable income and a lot more options.

Prettygurl12 · Answer

I can only speak for me specifically. It seems harder and much less fun but I had an absolutely wonderful childhood.

moonpie89 · Answer

I'm watching my neices and nephew grow up. They have it so much easier

douride2 · Answer

It's not any harder being a teen now days then it was when I was young. In some ways I think kids have it better now.

Poseidonboi · Answer

Its easier in grade aspect but harder in social dynamics

joeldalton · Answer

much harder. we didn’t have social media.

LovingLoverReturned · Answer

🤣 you really not gonna let me answer?

JoyGirl · Answer

Am I not an adult? 🥺 I finally hit 20. 🥹

JesseJayNeak · Answer

Harder. Since society wants them to be gay

jimmy2 · Answer

Oh my yes

For adults age 22 and older: Do you think being a child/teen is harder nowadays than it was for you? Or easier?

Most Helpful Opinions

Most Helpful Opinions

What Girls & Guys Said

For adults age 22 and older: Do you think being a child/teen is harder nowadays than it was for you? Or easier?

Most Helpful Opinions

Most Helpful Opinions

What Girls & Guys Said

We're glad to see you liked this post.