In the last two decades, the landscape of adolescents has dramatically changed.
A Pew Research Center study found that 69% of parents think it is more difficult to be an adolescent today than in 2004.
It is interesting to note that 44% teenagers agree with this statement, even though their motivations differ from their parents.
What each group considers to be the most important stressors is where they differ.
Teenagers often blame “pressures” and “expectations” for their stress, while parents usually point the finger at social media.
The different viewpoints illustrate the complexity of influences on modern adolescents, from economic problems to digital technology.
Increased anxiety, isolation and social media use linked with social media
Pew Research reports that 41% of parents blame social media as making the teen years more challenging today.
These digital platforms, they claim, have changed social interaction, leading to feelings of anxiety and loneliness.
Jonathan Haidt is a NYU social psychologist and the author of “The Anxious Generation.” He believes that smartphones and social media are major factors in the mental decline among teens.
The author suggests that exposure to social media during puberty and other critical periods of development can exacerbate anxiety, fear, and self-consciousness.
Haidt’s research shows that social media interactions rarely result in meaningful face-to-face connections. This is an important contrast with older technologies, such as flip phones, used primarily to arrange meetings.
The shift to digital communications is having a significant impact on the well-being of adolescents, since they are replacing deeper social ties in person.
High expectations and economic pressures
Parents tend to be more focused on the social media. However, for 31% of teenagers it is economic pressures or expectations of success that are their biggest challenges.
Today’s teenagers are more aware than previous generations of economic challenges ahead. For example, the rising cost of living and housing, making financial independence increasingly challenging to achieve.
In her book, “Never Enough – When Achievement Culture Becomes Toxic – and What Can We Do about It”, Jennifer Breheny Wallace discusses “the encore effect”, where teenagers feel under pressure to equal or surpass their parents’ economic success.
Real-world data confirms this pressure: In 2023, the median house price in the US will be $408,806.
A median income per year of under $80k would require a person to spend 41.4% on housing expenses each month.
The figures show the growing gap between youth aspirations, and their economic reality.
Modern adolescence
Parents and teenagers have different perspectives, which highlights the complexity of adolescence today.
Social media’s impact on mental health may be undeniable but it’s only one piece of the puzzle.
The economic challenges of today, such as inflation, rising housing costs and competition, are also a major influence on the youth’s experience.
Many teens find it increasingly difficult to achieve financial stability comparable with their parents.
It is important to understand these dynamics in order to find solutions.
Parents, educators and policymakers who recognize that digital pressures and economic pressures are contributing factors to stress in teens can address these root causes better and help the next generation navigate an increasingly complicated world.
The content of this post, which explains why 69% parents believe that teen life today is more difficult than it was two decades ago (and explains the reasons for their belief), may change as new information becomes available.
