HOUSTON — Teens. They’re hard enough to understand as it is, but society isn’t making it any easier.
You’ve had to have thought this by now: Things were different when you were young, but that’s because they absolutely were.
And because it’s happening slowly, it’s hard to see how teens have evolved over time -- but they have.
Two college professors took a look at teens ages 13 to 19 across four generations from 1976 to 2016. They found fewer teens today are engaging in adult activities, such as having sex, dating and drinking, which sounds good to any parent.
However, the next ones may bring concern.
Fewer teens are getting jobs, going out without their parents and driving. All of this, the professors say, suggests a slow life strategy.
They note the decline in these activities were relatively recent yet considerable, primarily appearing about 20 years ago.
For example, seniors in 2010 went out less often than 8th graders did in the early 1990s.
And having sex went from being the majority experience for high school students to the minority.
And there’s no exact cause, but it may be a few things. The internet has its role, of course, but also, it’s just the fact teens are growing up slower. They’re having longer educations, putting off having kids and living longer lives.
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