Today's Youth: #Trending Downwards

In 2011, a poll conducted by Gallup found that more than half of Americans believe that today’s youth will not have a better life than their parents. This may be a shock, especially with all of the advancements of today’s society. However, that may be just the problem. In fact, technology has changed some of the most significant traditional experiences in one’s life, such as dating. Teenagers are also growing up way too quickly, seeing as they always wish to be older than they are. It’s apparent that I am pessimistic about the youth of today.

 

A heartbreak representing Facebook's relationships

In my parent’s generation, a date involved a boy finding the courage to ring a girl’s doorbell to ask parents for permission to take her out. Evidently, this traditional way of dating is ideal. People didn’t wonder when was the appropriate time to send a text message, or worry about who the other is going to match on Tinder the following day. Galena Rhoades, clinical psychologist at the University of Denver, says “I’ve been surprised at what a real impact Facebook has on romantic relationships, and I do think Facebook is playing a bigger role in relationship disillusions.” This is because nowadays, teenagers base the other partner’s interest in them on how many of their Instagram pictures they “like.” Not to mention, when you meet somebody through a social networking site, they’re behind a screen at all times. For example, I could believe that I am falling in love with the most perfect guy that I met online. However, when it comes time to meet face-to-face, he could in reality be the total opposite of what I ever imagined. This could be very deceiving because unfortunately, people are not always honest about who they are. With all the forms of social media that now exist, the youth of today have a whole different ballgame ahead of themselves.

Also, today’s youth are growing up way too quickly. In Heather O’Neill’s novel Lullabies for Little Criminals, the protagonist Baby is exposed to sex and prostitution in her early teen years. She says, “’You have to lose your virginity when you turn twelve,’ [Marika] told me" (15). In fact, I think it’s absolutely ridiculous that twelve year olds are feeling pressured to start having sex. For this reason, I pity the youth of this generation. Not to mention, another example of this can be seen through the standard Halloween costumes that are surfaced across stores each year. The “slutty” police officer, nurse, and sailor are only three amongst hundreds of risqué costumes that are marketed to teenagers. Moreover, there are also TV shows dealing with sex that are being marketed directly to kids. For example, 16 and Pregnant is a documentary series that presents the many challenges that pregnant teenagers face while still coming of age. Bearing all of this is mind, how can one possibly be optimistic about the future of today’s youth?

A young girl in a provocative Halloween costume