Are Children Today Growing Up More Slowly than Previous Generations?
Author Jean Twenge suggests that technology is shaping the childhood and adolescence of each generation, leading to slower life trajectories and increased individualism.
Technology's Impact on Childhood
Twenge's analysis, drawing on data from 39 million people over a century, reveals that technology plays a major role in shaping each generation's characteristics. This impact goes beyond major events experienced and instead focuses on how technology shapes childhood and adolescence. As a result, each generation becomes more individualistic than the previous one with a slower life trajectory.
Indications of Increasing Individualism
One of the key indicators of increasing individualism is the fact that each generation tends to have a smaller social network than the previous one. This means that today, people have fewer close friends on average compared to 30 or 50 years ago. This change is not due to a lack of value placed on friendship but stems from the freedom and control technology provides, resulting in less time spent on shared activities.
Slower Life Trajectories
Twenge's findings also highlight slower life trajectories among each generation. Young people today tend to live longer with their parents, start working later, and postpone marriage and having children. Additionally, the current generation, Gen Z (born 1995-2012), drives less, drinks less alcohol, and has less sex than previous generations did at the same age. Twenge claims that 18-year-olds today resemble 14-year-olds in earlier generations.
Impact on Mental Health
The slower pace of growing up today may contribute to the higher rates of depression, anxiety, and stress experienced by teenagers. Studies have shown that mental health is negatively affected by excessive use of electronic devices, particularly when spending long hours on social media. Twenge suggests that this effect is due to the opportunity cost, as children miss out on valuable interactions and experiences in the real world.
The Importance of Responsibility
Maturity is not solely determined by age but earned through experience. Growing up requires facing difficulties, overcoming challenges, and learning important life skills. As society becomes more prosperous and technologically advanced, parents have the means to provide a safe and content childhood for their children. However, it is crucial not to overlook the need for children to take responsibility and learn from it.
Changing Childhood Experiences
In past generations, children had more daily responsibilities, such as cooking, cleaning, and looking after younger siblings. However, as time progressed, the focus shifted from essential chores to more playtime. Today, children spend a significant amount of time in front of screens for entertainment, suggesting a lack of essential responsibilities. Growing up in such a context without responsibilities can hinder personal growth.
The Need for Responsibility
While every parent wants their children's needs to be met, it is essential to acknowledge that learning responsibility is a vital need as well. Children must understand that they depend on others but also that others depend on them. To grow up well, children need to have responsibilities and learn the valuable lessons that come with being accountable.
In summary, technology's influence on childhood and adolescence has led to slower life trajectories and increased individualism among each generation. This impact is seen through smaller social networks, later milestones in adulthood, and changing behaviors. However, the importance of responsibility should not be overlooked, as it plays a crucial role in personal growth and development.
Analyst comment
As an analyst, the market impact of this news is neutral. The analysis suggests that each generation is growing up more slowly due to the impact of technology on childhood and adolescence. This can have implications for various industries such as social media, technology, and entertainment. However, without specific data on market trends and consumer behavior, it is difficult to make a concrete prediction on the market.
