Do teens these days have it harder than the previous generation?

I was talking to an 18 yr old, and he was telling me teens these days have it a lot harder and go through more things than teens from my generation, I am 31. He was telling me they go through anxiety, depression, cyber bullying and other things. I told him my generation went through all those things as well. I am sorry, but I feel these days people are a lot more sensitive, things that people wouldn't get offended by in my days people are easily offended by today. Honestly I feel teens today do go through many things. However I feel they have way more opportunities than my generation had. Most things are giving to them, while my generation had to really work everything.

What I mean by that is, when it comes to school, sports, work and other things, they have so many programs and opportunities that we could only dream of. I feel if I had these opportunities and resources when I was young, I would be in a much better place. I told him the game is still the same, there's just new players.

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PepsiColaP

According to research they are more prone to mental ilness indeed. When you were a teenager technology hadn't developed to the point where it was a nessecity to every day connecting nor did the circumstances made it that. There is a lot more pressure from outside influences at the same time,especially for females. They are also more sensitive to societal issues ie enviromental/political,because the decline in both affects their day to day quality of life and everyones really. See for example the current pandemic. Even teenagers of today have a much harder time than teenagers of my generation had and I am only 23. I truly feel for them and we need to start listening ,and I mean truly listening,to our children if we ever want to see some positive change rather than trying to compete in experiences.

skip2mylou · 31-35, M

@PepsiColaP I understand what you're saying. But we are not trying to compete with them. We had technology in our day as well, there are just a lot more variations today. When I was teen, we had Facebook, Myspace, Sconex, Hi5 and much more. People these days are just a lot more sensentive when it comes to certain things.

PepsiColaP

@skip2mylou it sounds like you are trying to invalidate their experiences because sympathising means you also have a feeling of responsibility and taking action as they are experiencing the world as older generations left it. And it is pathetic. Also do no compare having five different social media to having all of your schooling/work/social interactions depending on having access to a laptop and the internet. And how much the quality of connection is compromised

skip2mylou · 31-35, M

@PepsiColaP Really? just because they have to go to school online things are tough? At least they have that option. If this happened when we were young we would have no school.

Elessar · 26-30, M

@PepsiColaP Bear in mind that some generations had to go through 5 *years* of world war, with brothers and fathers willingly or unwillingly dispatched to the front. This world has seen much worse days than today, tbh.

With that, I don't mean to deny there aren't people rightfully sufferings these days, I just disagree on saying they're doing worse than previous generations.

skip2mylou · 31-35, M

@Elessar Agreed

PepsiColaP

@Elessar @skip2mylou read
https://www.theguardian.com/society/2016/sep/24/teenagers-generation-in-crisis
https://www.forbes.com/sites/cherryreynard/2018/02/26/bad-news-boomers-the-snowflakes-really-do-have-it-tougher/
https://www.jonathanlea.net/2014/why-generation-y-and-the-young-continue-to-have-it-worse-than-their-parents/
https://discoverymood.com/blog/todays-teens-depressed-ever/

Elessar · 26-30, M

@PepsiColaP I know of the existence of those. But I can assure you no one assessed the psychological situation of my grandma, for instance, during 1940-45. We don't really have the means to draw an objective comparison.

PepsiColaP

@Elessar then you dont really know of the existence of those because this data is mostly financial based. Which means they look at pricing of things and standards of living of older generations to younger ones. I suggest you do read before commenting . If you think however that younger generations and our generation do have it better then I see no point in you being so heavily involved in enforcing change on others on a daily basis here. Since you live comfortably and all

Elessar · 26-30, M

@PepsiColaP No, as I said you have a point there. People born after the 50s in particular and until like the 70s had it much better than me and you, and that's the scope of that research. People born before the 40s, I can assure you, not.

I don't know you but I'm living the current pandemic with continuous access to food, running water, internet/entertainment, heating; sure the healthcare service is under heavy load and social isolation isn't fun (and I've been meticulous with it so far, not even in summer I relaxed too much), but we can cope.

Both situations suck, but the covid pandemic is objectively nowhere as bad as WW2. And so its psychological consequences.

skip2mylou · 31-35, M

@Elessar I agree, we have experienced worst things than the covid pandemic. The younger generation do have it better during this pandemic. Had this happened during the 90's things would have been a lot worst. Mainly because we didn't have the resources available to us as we do now. Financially were are more prepared now for tragedies than previous generations. During this pandemic unemployed people were getting payed around $600 a week plus a $1,200 stimulus check.

Elessar · 26-30, M

@skip2mylou Don't forget that thankfully the pathogen also seems to be quite forgiving for younger generations. Thankfully, because even with older people being the worst hit, boomers are probably the ones who don't give a f*ck the most about it. Imagine if they were even the ones that were being spared...

skip2mylou · 31-35, M

@Elessar Very true, during this pandemic boomers were the hardest hit. Mainly because the younger generation felt like since their immune system can fight it off, they can live their life recklessly. The thing that hurt the most is people would live carelessly and never get it, while others would live safely and still get it.

Elessar · 26-30, M

@skip2mylou What I meant is that, at least in my region, it's boomers the one who falls for the craziest conspiracy and have been living their lives the most recklessly throughout the year. And that with them being the hardest hit, imagine if it was otherwise.