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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Nomad7 · 22-25, M

I'm a teenager and I don't agree with this. When you abuse the Internet, it damages you like anything else will. Teens these days are a lot more sensitive, a lot more shallow and compare themselves to others a lot more than what you probably did. It's not their fault, but it's a problem they have to deal with

What they do have is access to a whole lot more opportunities than the generations before them ever did. Cyber bullying is an issue, but that's why social media websites come with the flag, report and block options. If someone bullies you, you need to do whatever it takes to stop it from happening. Stand up to them, or get help from your parents, teachers, peers.

Teens these days are soft, entitled and complain a lot more
relative to the problems they face. They need to cut the crap and get down to business

skip2mylou · 31-35, M

@Nomad7 I agree in that teens these days do abuse the internet and are more sensitive. Mainly because they want to fit in and or want to be popular. I see that many of them want to emulate what they see on social media. But they have to understand that it's all smoke and mirrors. Most of these instagram models/influencers don't live the life they portray online. They sell us a lifestyle they know we can't afford just to boost their followers and ego. We just have to figure out who we truly are and not let people change us. We shouldn't be afraid to be individuals and not follow the crowd.

Nomad7 · 22-25, M

@skip2mylou I had all these issues, that's why I use Instagram once a week. I have a good life, but I don't care about portraying it on social media. I also don't want to compare my "behind the scenes" with someone else's "centre stage". People only post about the best moments of their lives.

It makes you feel like you don't have friends or access to the resources they do. That's not true at all. I also find all of this to be a big distraction, so I only selectively use social media in general.

I also don't watch porn and I'm slowly but surely quitting video games and TV shows. It may sound extreme, but I'm a lot happier, more productive and fulfilled than I ever was. Teens need to get this

Zonuss · 41-45, M

@Nomad7 I agree

skip2mylou · 31-35, M

@Nomad7 That's well said and agree with everything you said. "People only post about the best moments of their lives." that is spot on and very true. I agree videos games are a waste of time, unless you're a twitch streamer or youtuber making money from it. I try to play them once in a while. I also feel a lot more productive.

Magenta · F

@Nomad7 This! Best comment.

Nomad7 · 22-25, M

@skip2mylou Tbh, if I ever have kids, I want to teach them all the stuff I learnt the hard way. Being a teenager is hard because you're not young enough to act like a kid, but not old enough for people to treat you like an adult. You're impressionable and as you rightly said, you want to fit in and be liked, by the others your age and the gender you're attracted to. Well, so does everyone else your age. So, they're as afraid of things as you are. But you need to get the basics right and start controlling your own life, or someone else will do it for you

skip2mylou · 31-35, M

@Nomad7 Well Said. 👍👍