{"id":185853,"date":"2024-08-27T12:05:38","date_gmt":"2024-08-27T16:05:38","guid":{"rendered":""},"modified":"2025-10-28T12:23:56","modified_gmt":"2025-10-28T16:23:56","slug":"why-many-parents-and-teens-think-its-harder-being-a-teen-today","status":"publish","type":"feature","link":"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/internet\/feature\/why-many-parents-and-teens-think-its-harder-being-a-teen-today\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Many Parents and Teens Think It\u2019s Harder Being a Teen Today"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Why Many Parents and Teens Think It\u2019s Harder Being a Teen Today<\/strong><\/h1>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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By<\/span> Michelle Faverio<\/a>, <\/span>Jeffrey Gottfried<\/a>, <\/span>Kaitlyn Radde<\/a>, <\/span>Chris Baronavski<\/a> and<\/span> Sara Atske<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Is it harder these days to be a teen? Or do today’s teenagers have it easier than those of past generations?

We asked the following question of 1,453 U.S. parents and teens: Compared with 20 years ago, do you think being a teenager today is harder, easier or about the same?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Parents and teens most often say it\u2019s harder<\/em> to be a teen today. Though parents are far more likely to say this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Far fewer say it\u2019s easier now \u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2026 or that it\u2019s about the same.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Teens, though, are more likely than parents to say they are unsure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But why? We asked those who say teen life has gotten harder or easier to explain in their own words why they think so.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Why parents say it\u2019s harder<\/mark> being a teen today<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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There are big debates about how teenagers are faring these days. And technology\u2019s impact is often at the center of these conversations. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Prominent figures, including the U.S. Surgeon General, have been vocal about the harmful effects<\/a> technology may be having on young people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These concerns ring true for the parents in our survey. A majority blame technology \u2013 and especially social media \u2013 for making teen life more difficult.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Among parents who say it\u2019s harder being a teen today, about two-thirds cite technology in some way. This includes 41% who specifically name social media. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

While some mention social media in broad terms, others bring up specific experiences that teens may have on these platforms, such as feeling pressure to act or look a certain way or having negative interactions there. Parents also call out the downsides of being constantly connected through social media.<\/p>\n\n\n

How we did this<\/div>