This generation of teens is doing quite well

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**Melissia**

http://www.cnn.com/2011/OPINION/03/31/stepp.kids.all.right/index.html?hpt=C1

The kids truly are all right
By Laura Sessions Stepp, Special to CNN
March 31, 2011 8:29 a.m. EDT

Editor's note: Laura Sessions Stepp is a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, formerly with The Washington Post, who specializes in the coverage of young people. She has written two books: "Unhooked: How Young Women Pursue Sex, Delay Love and Lose at Both," and "Our Last Best Shot: Guiding Our Children through Early Adolescence."

(CNN) -- Stop anyone on the street who looks, say, older than 40, and ask whether teenagers are doing better or worse than a decade or two ago. Odds are she or he will say worse -- and be wrong.

Hollywood writer and director Lisa Cholodenko was correct: The kids are all right. In fact, according to a massive study released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, teenagers are doing better on a bunch of important measures, even as they've increased in number and diversity.

Every time I talk to parents, I am moved by how few know this. Or, if they've read about it, how they don't believe it. Peter Benson, president of the Search Institute, a youth development think tank, also runs into this skepticism.

"If we did a poll of American parents," he says, "and asked, 'How many times have you seen research about adolescent pregnancy showing that kids are being more responsible?' the vast majority would say, 'I've never seen that.' But if you ask them how many times they've seen stories about kids sexting pornography, they'll say, 'I see something on that every day.' "

Few measures of teen well-being are as remarkable as the decline in teenage girls getting pregnant and giving birth. According to a newly released study by the National Center for Health Statistics, 39 of every 1,000 girls ages 15-19 gave birth in 2009, a historic low. Experts attribute this in large part to the wider availability of information about, and access to, reliable contraception as well as a small decline in the proportion of teens having sex.

Other positive markers are found in the CDC's 2010 report. Since 1990:

• The proportion of high school students who smoke has declined, and so has the proportion of those who drink.

• Fewer underage teenagers are driving. Fewer teenagers drive while drinking or ride with drivers who are drinking. More students report wearing seatbelts and significantly fewer are involved in fatal car crashes.

• Firearm-related deaths have declined. So has the percentage of high school students who fight or carry a weapon.

• The percent of high school students who have seriously considered suicide has declined. So has the proportion of suicides.

One serious problem, according to the CDC, is that more teens are getting fatter. A lot fatter. But aside from that, they appear to be taking better care of themselves than the generation that preceded them.

So why can't parents acknowledge this? Parenting experts will tell you that one of the most effective ways of raising a young child is to catch him or her "doing something right." Isn't it time we shifted our focus to what the older youth are doing right and encourage them to continue? As many teens lament, "Why is it that parents only pay attention to us when we get into trouble?"

A mother myself, I understand how easy it is to be discouraged by the almost daily news reports of youthful misbehavior. Journalists and TV hosts regularly interview social scientists on the problem du jour, and those experts reach back into their university training where they learned what amounts to a delinquency model of adolescence.

As Frank Furstenberg, a sociologist at the University of Pennsylvania, once said, successful adolescents are treated as "escape artists," who have managed to get away from the negative influences of their peers. So parents may think their kids are OK and still trash their kids' friends and classmates.

Parents also worry about other parents who, if you believe television, are either AWOL, morons, or, like the parents in Cholodenko's "Kids" movie, trapped in their own neuroses. Apparently a lot of grownups are worriers: A survey by Benson's Search Institute found that more than two out of three adults thought other parents were doing only a poor-to-fair job raising their children.

We've all heard that anti-parent litany: Other moms and dads don't spend time with their children; they don't set limits; they're friends, not parents, to their kids.

We may need to rethink that. If teens are doing better, and parents are, as the experts tell us, the biggest influence on their children, then many parents must be doing something right. Let's help parents understand this by reminding them that they are more influential than they think, that their influence has not been lost to peers and popular culture and almost any way you count it, the kids are all right and getting better.

The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Laura Stepp.

So, American teens are actually making great headways in many areas of responsibility, regardless of the news reports-- with the main problem of this day and age being that teens are increasingly overweight or obese. What's your opinion/reaction on this?

**KamikazeCanuck**

Kids these days: they're no good I tells yay.

**sillyboy**

We are better then our parent were and still they're complaining?

**Darkvoidof40k**

sillyboy wrote:We are better then our parent were and still they're complaining?

They're jealous because they'll be rotting in the ground before us. In most cases anyway - as for the exceptions; dang, somethin' gone wrong there.

**Lord Scythican**

Not smoking as much because their hands are busy texting.

Suicide is down because even the most depressed teens can make friends on World of Warcraft and DakkaDakka.

So they are doing better on a few things. What about all the stuff they are doing bad? Depression and suicide may have been greater in my day, but we didn't backtalk out mothers.

**biccat**

You'll be saying the same things in 20-30 years. Don't worry, your time will come.

Our youth now love luxury. They have bad manners, contempt for authority; they show disrespect for their elders and love chatter in place of exercise; they no longer rise when elders enter the room; they contradict their parents, chatter before company; gobble up their food and tyrannize their teachers.

**Asherian Command**

Lord Scythican wrote:Not smoking as much because their hands are busy texting.

Suicide is down because even the most depressed teens can make friends on World of Warcraft and DakkaDakka.

So they are doing better on a few things. What about all the stuff they are doing bad? Depression and suicide may have been greater in my day, but we didn't backtalk out mothers.

Hey I'll have you know I jump off roofs!
And yes my generation is better than most we are nicer. (Barely) And we respect eachother (barely even better than before), Its just bad times = rise of good people. Hell look what happened after the great depression the greatest generation of americans rise up. And fight in the world wars.
That might be it, alot of dramatic experiences have happened to my generation.

**Ma55ter_fett**

Personally I would like to see some studys about how good parents are these days.

**biccat**

Asherian Command wrote:Hell look what happened after the great depression the greatest generation of americans rise up. And fight in the world wars.

So you're saying today's teenagers are going to start WWIII?

Damn kids.

**Asherian Command**

biccat wrote:
Asherian Command wrote:Hell look what happened after the great depression the greatest generation of americans rise up. And fight in the world wars.

So you're saying today's teenagers are going to start WWIII?

Damn kids.

No just saying bad times are when good people arise. Good times = bad people.

**Lord Scythican**

Asherian Command wrote:
Lord Scythican wrote:Not smoking as much because their hands are busy texting.

Suicide is down because even the most depressed teens can make friends on World of Warcraft and DakkaDakka.

So they are doing better on a few things. What about all the stuff they are doing bad? Depression and suicide may have been greater in my day, but we didn't backtalk out mothers.

Hey I'll have you know I jump off roofs!
And yes my generation is better than most we are nicer. (Barely) And we respect eachother (barely even better than before), Its just bad times = rise of good people. Hell look what happened after the great depression the greatest generation of americans rise up. And fight in the world wars.
That might be it, alot of dramatic experiences have happened to my generation.

Did you know there is a bit of science that describes "The Good Ol' Days?" It turns out that positive information is retained better than negative information. Your brain actually creates better pathways to the good stuff. That is why people only remember the good ol' days.

Now it works in reverse too, especially if you are depressed. If you are depressed when something happens, you will remember the bad stuff more. So if you are trying to remember something, try and get your mood to match what you were feeling the day that it happened.

**Asherian Command**

Lord Scythican wrote:
Asherian Command wrote:
Lord Scythican wrote:Not smoking as much because their hands are busy texting.

Suicide is down because even the most depressed teens can make friends on World of Warcraft and DakkaDakka.

So they are doing better on a few things. What about all the stuff they are doing bad? Depression and suicide may have been greater in my day, but we didn't backtalk out mothers.

Hey I'll have you know I jump off roofs!
And yes my generation is better than most we are nicer. (Barely) And we respect eachother (barely even better than before), Its just bad times = rise of good people. Hell look what happened after the great depression the greatest generation of americans rise up. And fight in the world wars.
That might be it, alot of dramatic experiences have happened to my generation.

Did you know there is a bit of science that describes "The Good Ol' Days?" It turns out that positive information is retained better than negative information. Your brain actually creates better pathways to the good stuff. That is why people only remember the good ol' days.

Now it works in reverse too, especially if you are depressed. If you are depressed when something happens, you will remember the bad stuff more. So if you are trying to remember something, try and get your mood to match what you were feeling the day that it happened.

??? i am not depressed.

**Lord Scythican**

Asherian Command wrote:
Lord Scythican wrote:
Asherian Command wrote:
Lord Scythican wrote:Not smoking as much because their hands are busy texting.

Suicide is down because even the most depressed teens can make friends on World of Warcraft and DakkaDakka.

So they are doing better on a few things. What about all the stuff they are doing bad? Depression and suicide may have been greater in my day, but we didn't backtalk out mothers.

Hey I'll have you know I jump off roofs!
And yes my generation is better than most we are nicer. (Barely) And we respect eachother (barely even better than before), Its just bad times = rise of good people. Hell look what happened after the great depression the greatest generation of americans rise up. And fight in the world wars.
That might be it, alot of dramatic experiences have happened to my generation.

Did you know there is a bit of science that describes "The Good Ol' Days?" It turns out that positive information is retained better than negative information. Your brain actually creates better pathways to the good stuff. That is why people only remember the good ol' days.

Now it works in reverse too, especially if you are depressed. If you are depressed when something happens, you will remember the bad stuff more. So if you are trying to remember something, try and get your mood to match what you were feeling the day that it happened.

??? i am not depressed.

The first step is to admit you have a problem. It is the hardest though. I will help you through it.

**Asherian Command**

Lord Scythican wrote:
Asherian Command wrote:
Lord Scythican wrote:
Asherian Command wrote:
Lord Scythican wrote:Not smoking as much because their hands are busy texting.

Suicide is down because even the most depressed teens can make friends on World of Warcraft and DakkaDakka.

So they are doing better on a few things. What about all the stuff they are doing bad? Depression and suicide may have been greater in my day, but we didn't backtalk out mothers.

Hey I'll have you know I jump off roofs!
And yes my generation is better than most we are nicer. (Barely) And we respect eachother (barely even better than before), Its just bad times = rise of good people. Hell look what happened after the great depression the greatest generation of americans rise up. And fight in the world wars.
That might be it, alot of dramatic experiences have happened to my generation.

Did you know there is a bit of science that describes "The Good Ol' Days?" It turns out that positive information is retained better than negative information. Your brain actually creates better pathways to the good stuff. That is why people only remember the good ol' days.

Now it works in reverse too, especially if you are depressed. If you are depressed when something happens, you will remember the bad stuff more. So if you are trying to remember something, try and get your mood to match what you were feeling the day that it happened.

??? i am not depressed.

The first step is to admit you have a problem. It is the hardest though. I will help you through it.

Wtf?

Mate I don't have a problem, I have had a cold for the past few days, and I have had a fever for a few days as well, so my memory is like someone hitting me with a hammer.
And I am historian mate so that might be the reason why I believe great people come from bad times. Because right now is a

time to live.
But anyway teens are doing well because of the places they are growing up. And parents are learning.
Are you trolling me matE?

**Melissia**

Psst, it was a joke...

**Lord Scythican**

Asherian Command wrote:
Are you trolling me matE?

Just a little...

EDIT: Melissa got it.

**Guitardian**

Maybe they are more responsible about some things because there's stuff like MTV 'reality' giving role models of teen moms and such and it isn't a hush hush thing to hide any more.

My take on teens is that I notice how DUMB they are though. I don't mean dumb like innately stupid, but the overall level of what I guess you could consider a "knowledge base" just doesn't exist the way it did when I was in high school. An education is no longer for the sake of education, but for the sake of a piece of paper that can be the ticket through the door to different jobs. The concept of a classical education has given way to getting a certificate from your high school that you are a "Web-Master" because you know how to make a webpage, books are only read if they are assigned, and then, just the assigned chapter. Knowledge as a personal reservoir has been made obsolete because and Iphone can just look up information on the internet when you need it. I see this in the cellphone generation, and the basic level of broad topics just doesn't exist like it did to the pre-internet/internet revolution generation - its as if its just taken for granted. Damn. I'm 36 and I sound like a grandpa or something.

**Asherian Command**

Guitardian wrote:Maybe they are more responsible about some things because there's stuff like MTV 'reality' giving role models of teen moms and such and it isn't a hush hush thing to hide any more.

My take on teens is that I notice how DUMB they are though. I don't mean dumb like innately stupid, but the overall level of what I guess you could consider a "knowledge base" just doesn't exist the way it did when I was in high school. An education is no longer for the sake of education, but for the sake of a piece of paper that can be the ticket through the door to different jobs. The concept of a classical education has given way to getting a certificate from your high school that you are a "Web-Master" because you know how to make a webpage, books are only read if they are assigned, and then, just the assigned chapter. Knowledge as a personal reservoir has been made obsolete because and Iphone can just look up information on the internet when you need it. I see this in the cellphone generation, and the basic level of broad topics just doesn't exist like it did to the pre-internet/internet revolution generation - its as if its just taken for granted. Damn. I'm 36 and I sound like a grandpa or something.

I agree with this.
its okay. I don't have a cellphone, or a iphone for that matter. I only use my ipod to listen to music when I am on Runs. And I read on a daily basis, I am a rare breed

**Melissia**

Though I'm definitely no longer a teen, I was always a nerd, so I hardly fit in to the popular concept of teens...

**biccat**

Asherian Command wrote:
biccat wrote:
Asherian Command wrote:Hell look what happened after the great depression the greatest generation of americans rise up. And fight in the world wars.

So you're saying today's teenagers are going to start WWIII?

Damn kids.

No just saying bad times are when good people arise. Good times = bad people.

Every silver lining has it's grey cloud.

Mid-twentieth century totalitarianism was based on the depression as much as the freedom loving "greatest generation."

**ArtfcllyFlvrd**

Asherian Command wrote:Because right now is a time to live.

What? You have to back that one up. Things aren't what they were five years ago, but they could be, and have been, much worse.

And I agree challenging times CAN lead to people rising to the occassion. It can also lead to riots, rampant crime, societal collapse, mass fear, and horrible oppression.

This article takes five fairly superficial categories and simply says that teens have "improved", but doesn't say by how much or provide any meaninful historical data. It must have been a really slow news day. I wouldn't take it too seriously.

**Melissia**

Drug use, teen pregnancy, less violent deaths or deaths from stupid driving habits, and a lower rate of suicide are "superficial"?

While I understand your position on the article providing no historical basis for comparison, the assertion that these issues are "superficial" is nonsensical.

**VikingScott**

I would also like to see a report on % of good parents.

Also if this were done in England I bet the our teens would be worse with the fighting and stuff.
Damn Chavs.

**ArtfcllyFlvrd**

Melissia wrote:Drug use, teen pregnancy, less violent deaths or deaths from stupid driving habits, and a lower rate of suicide are "superficial"?

While I understand your position on the article providing no historical basis for comparison, the assertion that these issues are "superficial" is nonsensical.

Superficial has more to do with the notion that the decreases are meaningful in any sort of way.

Less driving deaths doesn't really speak to the quality of the teenagers so much as the safety of our vehicles. Less smoking and drinking is good but in reality not that big of a deal, especially if the ones that do are doing it more often and more vigorously than in the past. And a large segment that used to smoke may now be doing drugs instead.

Firearm related deaths could mean anything, and could be attributed to anything from gun safety to an increase in deaths from other weapons (when Boston cracked down on handguns stabbings in the city went up astronomically).

Seriously considered suicide, and teen pregnancy are all good, depending on how much they have really dropped. A drop from the early 90s isn't that great because a lot of these things, and crime in general, hit all time highs in the US at that time. They could still be significantly above 30, 40, and 50 year averages.

The article is a puff piece, don't take it seriously.

**Swiftblade**

I'm suprised that there is a topic about "Hey, this generation is doing alright!", most threads I see like this are full of "Teenagers are worse than ever!"

Then again, how well a generation is doing is pretty much impossible to measure as a whole. Remember: it only takes one crazy person to do something awful.

**KingCracker**

Ma55ter_fett wrote:Personally I would like to see some studys about how good parents are these days.

That would be bad. I cant stand the modern parenting method TBH. My parents raised us in the ol fashioned "you messed up Im kicking your ass" and all 3 of us turned out really good and well rounded. Its how I raise my children and my son is the student of the month at his school, and my daughter is tracking incredibly well, even though she finds fart jokes a little too funny

But to compare, my brothers, brother/sister in law. Neither of them discipline thier children and they are little gaks to put it mildly. They go through peoples bedrooms and dressers at get togethers, they steal things, they are brats and throw toys and COMPLETELY ignore their parents. My kids know that Ill let them goof off and ignore me once...but if I get the stern voice out, its time to cut it.

Modern parents are all about EVERYONE is equal and even if you fail, youll get a nice little ribbon for trying. I say, thats BS. There WILL be someone smarter and there CANNOT BE 15 1st place winners. Its ok to not be the best. As long as you showed up and showed everyone that you did the very best you can, thats what really matters. Not making sure the childrens feelings arnt hurt.

**Soladrin**

I think teens still lose because of the fat issue, I smoke and drink and have been suicidal when I was 14ish, but at least I'm not fat!

**Chibi Bodge-Battle**

sillyboy wrote:We are better then our parent were and still they're complaining?

In what way are you better than your parents?

Eductaionally I was a lot better than my parents.
But then Hitler wasn't dropping bombs on me during my time at school. And they wanted me to do well and better than they did.

Now my daughter is a teenager I want her to surpass my achievements, to live a good life and be happy.

In what way are we still complaining?

Of course I am dismayed by some of the behaviour I see. If someone is being anti social, sorry am not gonna say its only kids and they is all well mint.
The report fails to offer any explainations as to why some of these trends are reversing.
It samples only a snapshot in time, How do we know what the teenagers will be upto in a year or two?

**RustyKnight**

biccat wrote:
Our youth now love luxury.

Who doesn't? Why is this a bad thing?

biccat wrote:
They have bad manners,

Moreso than the general populace?

biccat wrote:
contempt for authority;

Moreso than the general populace?

biccat wrote:
they show disrespect for their elders and

Why do elders deserve more respect? For living longer?

biccat wrote:
love chatter in place of exercise;

Moreso than the general populace?

biccat wrote:
they no longer rise when elders enter the room;

See above.

biccat wrote:
they contradict their parents,

If a parents acts the fool, rectify their mistake. Parenthood is not immunity to rebuke.

biccat wrote:
chatter before company;

As opposed to silently staring at the company?

biccat wrote:
gobble up their food and

So?

biccat wrote:
tyrannize their teachers.

As much the teacher's fault as the student's. Controlling the class is a core part of being a teacher.

**daedalus**

So, what this study says is instead of going out and having fun (like we did in the good ol' days), kids are sitting around getting fat, and this is a good thing?

Pfft, I'd take being skinny and dead due to an overdose resulting in me shooting myself in the head while driving underaged due to my suicidal depression over being fat any day. Oh, to be young again.