Parents say its harder to be a teen today, research poll shows

Nearly 70 percent of U.S. parents agree it’s harder to be a teenager today than 20 years ago, according to a recent Pew Research poll. About two-thirds of respondents blamed some form of technology, with over 40 percent specifically blaming social media. Teens are constantly bombarded by social media content that makes them feel insecure, putting them under unescapable pressure, one father told researchers. A smaller number of parents cited more pressures and expectations, the state of the world, and uninterrupted online connectivity as reasons why teens have it harder now than in the past.

Conversely, only about 45 percent of U.S. teenagers say being a teen is harder, with a quarter of those respondents blaming social media for the heightened difficulty. About 30 percent of teens who find modern adolescence harder cited generally higher pressure and expectations, which social media can exacerbate. Teens are always being looked at by everyone and just can’t escape it, one girl told researchers. Parents didn’t have to “curate” themselves to be a certain way on social media in order to fit in like teens do today, another girl said. A smaller percentage of teen respondents also blame bullying, drugs, and the state of the world for why modern teens have it harder.

Did respondents mention any advantages to being a modern teen? Just over 45 percent of both parents and teens who feel life has improved for today's teenagers cite technology as a primary reason, though not necessarily social media. Nowadays, teenagers have all the answers in the palm of their hand, one parent told researchers. Past generations didn’t have nearly as many resources available to them anytime anywhere as kids today do, one boy said. Both parents and students also cited fewer pressures and expectations and having more information and resources available to them as other reasons modern adolescence is easier.

Dig deeper: Read my report on the U.S. surgeon general calling for warning labels on social media platforms earlier this year.