A study released by the Pew Research Center sheds new light on why American teenagers in 2024 believe they face greater challenges than previous teenage generations 20 years before them. 1,453 U.S. parents and teens were asked the question "Is it harder these days to be a teen? Or do today's teenagers have it easier than those of past generations?"
Social media paints a complex picture having dramatically reshaped the teenage experience in today's modern age. 44% of teens blamed social media making the teenage years harder than what it was 20 years ago. According to the Pew study "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."
Another 15% say the teenage years are 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."
According to the study "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."
Only 12% of teens in this study believe their lives are easier today than 20 years ago, but those who do largely say technology is a reason. According to the study, "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."
