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Why
Many Parents And Teens Think It’s
Harder Being A Teen Today
 Is it harder these days to be a
teen? Or do today’s teenagers have it easier than those of past
generations?
We asked the following question of 1,453 U.S. parents and teens: Compared with 20 years ago, do you think
being a teenager today is harder, easier or about the same?
Parents and teens most often say
it’s harder to be a
teen today. Though parents are far more likely to say this.
Far fewer say it’s easier now …
… or that it’s about the same.
Teens, though, are more likely than
parents to say they are unsure.
But why? We asked those who say teen
life has gotten harder or easier to explain in their own words why they
think so.
Why parents say it’s harder being a
teen today
There are big debates about how teenagers
are faring these days. And technology’s impact is often at the center of
these conversations.
Prominent figures, including the
U.S. Surgeon General, have been vocal
about the harmful effects technology
may be having on young people.
These concerns ring true for the
parents in our survey. A majority blame technology – and especially social
media – for making teen life more difficult.
Among parents who
say it’s harder being a teen today, about two-thirds cite technology in
some way. This includes 41% who specifically name social media.
While some mention social media in
broad terms, others bring up specific experiences that teens may have on
these platforms, such as feeling pressure to act or look a certain way or
having negative interactions there. Parents also call out the downsides of
being constantly connected through social media.
How we did this
“Social media is a scourge for society, especially for teens. They
can’t escape social pressures and are constantly bombarded by images and
content that makes them feel insecure and less than perfect, which creates
undue stress that they can’t escape.”
FATHER, 40s
“Kids are being told what to think
and how to feel based on social media.”
MOTHER, 40s
Parents name other
forms of technology, but at much lower rates. Roughly one-in-ten parents
who think being a teen is harder today specifically say the internet (11%)
or smartphones (7%) contribute to this.
“Teens are online and they are going
to encounter everything offered – positive and negative. Unfortunately, the
negative can do major damage, as in cyberbullying, for example.”
MOTHER, 30s
Another 26% say
technology in general or some other specific type of technology (e.g.,
video games or television) makes teens’ lives harder today.
“Technology has changed the way
people communicate. I can see how kids feel very isolated.”
FATHER, 40s
Parents also raise a range of reasons
that do not specifically reference technology, with two that stand out:
more pressures placed on teens and the country or world being worse off
than in the past. Among parents who think it’s harder to be a teen today,
16% say it’s because of the pressures and expectations young people face.
These include teens feeling like they have to look or act a certain way or
perform at a certain level.
“The competition is more fierce in
sports and academics and the bar seems to be higher. Everything is more
over-the-top for social activities too. It’s not simple as it was.”
MOTHER, 50s
A similar share (15%) says teen life
is harder because the country or world has changed in a bad way, whether
due to political issues or to shifts in morals and values.
“Now it is more difficult to instill
values, principles, good customs and good behavior, since many bad vices
are seen in some schools and public places.”
MOTHER, 50s
Other reasons that do not mention
technology are less common. For example, roughly one-in-ten of these
parents or fewer mention violence and drugs, bullying, and exposure to bad
influences.
Why parents say it’s easier being a
teen today
Teens today have a seemingly endless
choice of technologies at their disposal, whether it be smartphones, video
games or generative
AI. And while relatively few parents
say teen’s lives are easier today, those who do largely point to
technology.
Among parents who say it is easier
being a teen today, roughly six-in-ten mention technology as a reason.
Some reference a specific type of
technology, like the internet (14%). Another 8% cite smartphones, and 3%
cite social media.
“Although the internet can be toxic,
it also opens up so many avenues for connection, learning and engagement.”
MOTHER, 50s
“We didn’t have smartphones when I
was a teenager. Nowadays, teenagers have all the answers in the palm of
their hand.”
FATHER, 40s
A fair portion (47%) mention
technology broadly or name another specific type of technology.
“Technology has improved
exponentially, giving access to the whole world at your fingertips.”
FATHER, 30s
Some other reasons that emerge do
not mention technology specifically. For instance, 18% of parents who say
it’s easier being a teen today think this is because there are fewer
pressures and expectations on teenagers than in the past.
“Teens today have been shown more
leniency; they barely hold themselves responsible.”
MOTHER, 40s
And one-in-ten say it’s easier
because teens have access to more resources and information.
“When I was a teen, I had to
carry so many books and binders everywhere while my daughter can just have
her school laptop. She can complete research easily with internet access on
her school device.”
MOTHER, 30s
Why teens say it’s harder being a
teen today
Most
teens use social media, and some do so
almost constantly. But they also see these sites as a reason teens’ lives
are harder today than 20 years ago.
In addition, teens point to the
pressures and expectations that are placed on them.
Among teens who say it’s harder to
be a teenager today than in the past, roughly four-in-ten mention
technology as a reason. This includes a quarter who specifically name
social media. Some mention these sites broadly; others link them to harmful
experiences like increased pressures to look a certain way or negative
interactions with others.
“Social media tells kids what to do and say. And if you aren’t up on
it, you look like the fool and become like an outcast from lots of people.”
TEEN GIRL
“Social media was not a part of my parents’ teenage lives and I feel
that they did not have to ‘curate’ themselves and be a certain way in order
to fit [in] as it is today.”
TEEN GIRL
Few specifically mention the internet (6%) or smartphones (3%) as
reasons. About one-in-ten (11%) cite technology broadly or another type of
technology.
“For one thing, my phone is a huge distraction. It takes up so much
of my time just looking at stuff that doesn’t even mean anything to me.”
TEEN GIRL
Teens name several reasons that do not specifically mention
technology – most prominently, the increased pressures and expectations
placed on them. Roughly three-in-ten of those who say teen life is harder
today (31%) say it’s because of these pressures and expectations.
“We have so much more homework and pressure from other kids. We are
always being looked at by everyone. We can’t escape.”
TEEN GIRL
“Adults expect too much from us. We need to get good grades, do
extracurricular activities, have a social life, and work part time – all at
the same time.”
TEEN BOY
Another 15% say it’s harder because the world is worse off today, due
to such things as political issues, values being different or the country
having declined in some way.
“Teenagers are less able to afford vehicles, rent, etc. and basic
living necessities, and are therefore not able to move out for years after
they graduate high school and even college.”
TEEN BOY
Other reasons that don’t mention technology – including violence and
drugs, bullying, and mental health problems – are named by 8% of these
teens or fewer.
Why teens say it’s easier being a
teen today
Teens also see ways that technology makes life better, whether that’s
helping them pursue
hobbies, express
their creativity or build
skills. Overall, few think teens’ lives
are easier today than 20 years ago, but those who do largely say technology
is a reason.
Six-in-ten teens who say teen life is easier today reference
technology in some way. This includes 14% who mention the internet and 12%
who mention phones. Just 3% name social media.
“[Teens 20 years ago] didn’t have internet available anywhere and
they also didn’t have smartphones to be able to use whenever needed.”
TEEN BOY
This also includes 46% who reference technology in general or some
other specific type of technology.
“Tech has made it easier to connect with friends.”
TEEN BOY
These teens also name reasons that don’t specifically mention
technology, including 14% who say life is easier because there are fewer
pressures and expectations for people their age.
“Twenty years ago there was probably more pressure to become an adult
sooner and get things like a job, a learner’s permit, etc.”
TEEN GIRL
And a same share says having more resources available to them has
made life easier.
“Nowadays, we have help to deal with
your physical and mental well-being, and we have specialists/therapists
that we can talk to about our feelings and emotions.”
TEEN GIRL
Smaller shares say it’s due to the
country and world being better off today (4%) or people being nicer to each
other (3%).
How parents and teens compare
Parents and teens are mostly in
agreement on what makes growing up today harder than in the past.
But the rate at which they cite
certain factors like social media or facing pressures differ.
Among those who say being a teen
today is harder, 65% of
parents believe it’s because of technology in some way. This drops to 39%
among teens.
This divide also stands out when it
comes to social media specifically (41% vs. 25%).
Teens, on the other hand, are more
likely than parents to describe issues related to overachieving or having
to look a certain way. Among those who say teen life is harder today, 31%
of teens cite pressures and expectations as a reason, compared with 16% of
parents.
Still, there are areas in which
parents and teens are in sync. For example, similar shares cite the country
or world being worse today (15% each) and violence and drugs (8% each) as
reasons life today for teens is harder.
And among those who say being a teen
today is easier, roughly
six-in-ten parents (59%) and teens (60%) mention technology in some way.
(PEW)
27 August, 2024
Source: https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/feature/why-many-parents-and-teens-think-its-harder-being-a-teen-today/
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