Today’s Teens

LIS 722-99
Thomas Hill
Jamie Mohapp
Meghan O’Keefe
Family

Families are evolving, but remain central to teen’s lives.

Marriage rates are lowering. 72% of American adults were married in 1960.
52% were married in 2008. This rate alters significantly depending on
education levels, racial backgrounds, and socioeconomic class.

87% of children lived with two married parents in 1960.

64% of children lived with two married parents in 2008.

76% of Americans say their family is the most important element of their lives.
85% of adults say their families are closer or as close as those they grew up in.
Family

Family dynamics have shifted in other ways as well.

Family sizes have gotten smaller. Average number per household declined from 3.1
to 2.6 from 1970 to 2012 and households with 5 or more decreased by half.

Family gender dynamics are shifting. The percentage of working mothers has risen.

More children and teens are being raised by gay and lesbian parents.

One constant is that daily family dinners are still a regular tradition for most.
Teen Friendships

Wealthier teens tend to spend time together at each other’s houses while those
from lower income families tend to spend time together in their neighborhood.

Text messaging is the most common way friends keep in touch. 95% spend
time with friends outside of school but only 25% do so daily. 88% text their
friends at least occasionally and 55% do so daily. Other digital methods used
regularly including messaging apps, social media, video chat, and gaming.
Teen Friendships

Influence of the internet and social media:

● 57% of teens have made a new friend online

● 83% of teens report social media connects them better to their friends
● 30% of teens feel image and popularity pressure from social media
● 68% report experiencing drama through social media
● 26% have fought with a friend over something that happened online
● 42% of all teen boys play video games with friends on a daily or near-daily
basis in person and 55% do so online
Teen Romantic Relationships

35% of teens have some dating experience.

78% of teens still feel breaking up in person is the most

socially acceptable method and most report practicing this.
However, phone calls and text messages are also common.
“Ghosting” or breaking off contact with no explanation is also on the rise.

Potentially controlling or abusive behavior is relatively low for teen daters, but
approximately ⅓ have experienced this in some form.
Teen Romantic Relationships
85% of teens in romantic relationships expect to hear
from their partner at least once a day.

Most romantic relationships start in person, but digital

flirting is common.

59% say social media better connects them to romantic partners. 47% say it
allows them to express caring better. 27% say it often makes them feel jealous.

Girls are more likely to be targets of uncomfortable flirting tactics.

Health and Safety

Juvenile arrest rates and teen pregnancy rates are down.

Anxiety disorders and depression are either on the rise or being reported more.

Teen drug use has been declining, especially amongst young teens.

Bullying and obesity are still prevalent.

Rates of sexual violence are very high in this age group.

Teens now face the threat of mass violence.

College

Of the 2.9 million 2009 high school graduates, 70% were enrolled in college in
October 2009. This represents an all-time high. Despite the changing career
landscape, students continue to choose “traditional” majors that have been
popular for years. A 2014 article reported that History, English Literature,
Psychology, Accounting, Nursing, and Education were among the top ten
college majors. Business Administration was number one.
 College

Jobs in the tech field such as software developers,

database administrators, and analysts are all expected
to continue to grow through the year 2020.

Nine of the top ten highest paying college majors are in

various engineering careers, so there is a definite
contrast between the most common majors, the
fastest growing fields, and the highest paying fields.
College

Working through college: College students today are less likely to be working
than students in the 1980s and 1990s.

1989: 40% of students aged 16 to 19 worked.

2015: 23.7% of students aged 16 to 19 worked.

2000: 61.6% of students aged 19 to 24 worked.

2015: 47.8% of students aged 19 to 24 worked.

College

College Tuition Costs: Tuition costs continue to rise. In

1986, the average cost of tuition at a 4-year public
university was $3,100 a year. As of 2016, the cost had
risen to $20,090. It costs nearly seven times as much to
attend college today as it did thirty years ago. The high
cost of tuition corresponds with the high percentage of
students taking out loans. In 2013, 70% of college
students graduated with student loan debt. The average
student loan debt is $30,000.
Teen Summer Jobs

Employment of 16 to 19-year-olds has declined over the last two decades.

In 1999, slightly more than 52 % of teens 16 to 19 worked a summer job.

This summer, 32.25 % worked in June and July. Or three out of ten teens actually worked
a summer job.

According to Pew, researchers have a few explanations why teenage employment is

decreasing: less jobs are available for teens, teens have summer school or summer
activities, and teen volunteering and internships are not counted as jobs.
Teen Summer Jobs
Technology: 80’s, 90’s, and Today

Today’s Technology

GPS, Digital Cameras (affordable), Video Chat on phones and computers, Digital Television, iPad, 3D printers.

90’s Technology

The Internet, Pagers, Discman, Smaller Cell phones, Car Phones, Game Boy, DVDs, MP3 format, BlackBerry,
Bluetooth.

80’s Technology

Walkman, VCR, Cellphone, Cable TV, Video-Game Console: Nintendo in the late '80s, Home Desktop
Computers.
Teens and Technology

Today’s technology includes anything from digital television, computers, phones, to video
games. Technology platforms can be used interchangeably, going on a phone or computer to
play a game or using a video game platform to go on the computer or watch a movie.
Smartphones have greatly changed how teens are able to access the internet and
communicate, anywhere and anytime. How often teens go online, or the amount of daily
“screen time”, teens reported are:

92% of teens report going online daily.

And 24% say they go online “almost constantly,” according to the Pew Research Center.
Teens and Technology: Digital Transition

"The average teen spends nine hours per day using electronic devices,
much of which is social media," said Tom Kersting, a psychotherapist,
school counselor, and the author of Disconnected: How To Reconnect
Our Digitally Distracted Kids. "It has become more than just a part of
life; it's now a way of life."
Teens and Technology

A survey by the Pew Research Center in 2015, asked teens about their access
to technology and uses, specifically: smartphones, basic cell phones, desktop
or laptop computers, tablets and game consoles. The survey found:
73% of American teens (ages 13 to 17) have smartphones, and 88% of teens have or have access to a mobile
phone of some kind.

87% have or have access to a desktop or laptop computer, and 58% of teens have or have access to a tablet
computer.

91% of teens go online from a mobile device (at least occasionally).

Teens and Technology

● 91% of teens who own a cell phone

send text messages on their phone or
through an app or a website.
● 81% of teens have or have access to a
game console such as a Playstation,
Xbox or Wii.
● 72% of teens play video games online
or on their phone — 84% of boys and
59% of girls.
Teens and Social Media

89% of all teens reported they used at least one social media site.

Facebook is by far the most popular social media site for teens; with half of teens using
Instagram, followed by Snapchat then Twitter.

71% of all teens said they use Facebook. Boys and girls are equally likely to have a
Facebook.

Teen girls use social media more than boys and spend 40 more minutes a day on social
media.
Teen Entrepreneurs

Teens entrepreneurs are creating their own apps, in some cases with substantial
success, like Robert Nay who in 2010 created the app “Bubble Ball”. He said he
learned how to build the app through books from library. The app was released on
Apple and was downloaded by over one million people, beating Angry Birds as “the
most downloaded free game from Apple”, according to businessnewsdaily.com.
Another teen, Nick D'Aloisio, was 15 when he created “Summly”, an app that
generates short summaries of news articles through algorithms for iPhones. Yahoo
bought D'Aloisio's company for $30 million.
What can the library do?
What can the library do, with less teens having summer jobs and spending more time online, to help
develop the skills of teens (and even create teen entrepreneurs)?

Libraries can consider providing job finding resources for teens, and have teen summer volunteer
programs for those who could not find summer jobs but could stand to gain skills and experience for
a job or college application. While the statistics show that the majority of teens have access to cell
phones, computers, tablets, and game consoles, and spent time on them a day, libraries can continue
to provide access to up-to-date technology for all teens, and have games for popular systems. The
library can also provide specific instruction and encourage the development of useful computer skills
in library programming. Opportunities to learn coding and creating websites, allow teens to gain
technology skills for college, a future career, and can lead to individual entrepreneurship. A program
on internet, social media, and gaming safety would not be a bad idea either.
Social Media Safety Resources

Facebook’s site itself has pointers for parents and teens on

Facebook safety.

Parents: https://www.facebook.com/safety/groups/parents/

Teens: https://www.facebook.com/safety/groups/teens/

Lifewire has ten great tips for usernames and privacy settings.
https://www.lifewire.com/facebook-safety-and-security-tips-for-tee
ns-2487768
Diversity

By 2055, the US will not have one single racial majority. Today’s adolescents
and young adults are members of the most diverse American generation ever.
Most of this diversity is a result of an increasing number of Hispanic and Asian
immigrants. 43% of Millennials (those born since 1980, including today’s teens)
are non-white. This diversity is one of several factors which makes today’s
teen’s experience unique, with more exposure to different ethnic and cultural
traditions.
Diversity
Discussion Questions

● How much time do you spend online each day?

● Have you ever felt the need to take a break from social media? Why?
● What connection might there be between tuition cost, student loan debt,
and students working? As a student, is it worth it to work if you have to
take out student loans anyway? What steps can a library take to guide
students through this complicated issue?
● What are the positive and negative ways technology has impacted your
relationships?
● Do you think the evolution of families has been for the better? How so?
Works Cited (Teen Summer Jobs, Technology, Teen Entrepreneurs)
Ahmed, Tanaz. Pew study: Teen employment rate falling. USA Today College, 29 June 2015,
http://college.usatoday.com/2015/06/29/teen-employment-falling/. Accessed 12 June 2017.

Goel, Tarun. Technological Advances of the 90’s. Brighthub, 26 Oct. 2012, http://www.brighthub.com/education/homework-tips/articles/123405.aspx. Accessed
12 June 2017.

Gould, Wendy Rose. 10 Greatest Technological Inventions, Chron, http://smallbusiness.chron.com/10-greatest-technological-inventions 40511.html#page4.

Accessed 12 June 2017.

Hall, Kevin G. Teen employment hits record lows, suggesting lost generation. McClatchy Washington Bureau, 29 AUGUST 2013,
http://www.mcclatchydc.com/news/nationworld/national/economy/article24755047.html. Accessed 12 June 2017.

Jones, Heather and Luscombe, Belinda. 5 Myths About How Teens Use Technology. Time Living, 2 Nov 2015,
http://time.com/4096797/teens-media-phone-use-myths-truths/. Accessed 12 June 2017.

Kiger, Patrick J. The '90s: Science and Technology. National Geographic, 8 June 2014,
http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/the-90s-the-last-great-decade/articles/the-90s science-and-technology/. Accessed 12 June 2017.
Works Cited (Teen Summer Jobs, Technology, Teen Entrepreneurs)
Lenhart, Amanda. Teens, Social Media & Technology Overview 2015. Pew Research Center Internet and technology, 9 April 2015,
http://www.pewinternet.org/2015/04/09/teens social-media-technology-2015/. Accessed 12 June 2017.

Moseman, Andrew. How '80s Technology Made the Modern World. Popular Mechanics, 12 Apr. 2013,
http://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/gadgets/g1137/how-80s technology made-the modern-world/. Accessed 12 June 2017.

Peters, Lucia. 10 Pieces Of '90s Technology That Seemed So High Tech Back Then. Bustle, 9 Sept. 2015,
https://www.bustle.com/articles/109251-10-pieces-of-90s-technology-that seemed-so-high tech-back-then-but-are-postively-ancient. Accessed
12 June 2017.

Post, Jennifer. 9 Companies Founded by Amazing Young Entrepreneurs. Business News Daily, 29 Dec. 2016,
http://www.businessnewsdaily.com/5051-young-entrepreneurs.html. Accessed 12 June 2017.

Spector, Nicole. Just One Hour a Day on Social Media Makes Teens Miserable. 29 DEC 2016,
http://www.nbcnews.com/business/consumer/just-one-hour-day-social-media-makes-teens-miserable-n700786. Accessed 20 June 2017.
Works Cited (College, Diversity)
Bidwell, Allie. "Average Student Loan Debt Approaches $30,000.” U.S. News & World Report, 13 Nov. 2014.
https://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2014/11/13/average-student-loan-debt-hits-30-000. Accessed 10 June 2017.

Cohn, D’Vera, and Andrea Caumont. "10 demographic trends that are shaping the U.S. and the world."Pew Research Center. 31 Mar.
2016http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2016/03/31/10-demographic-trends-that-are-shaping-the-u-s-and-the-world/. Accessed 8 June
2017.

"College enrollment up among 2009 high school grads: The Economics Daily." U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics,
https://www.bls.gov/opub/ted/2010/ted_20100428.htm . Accessed 10 June 2017.

Fox, Emily Jane. "Top 10 highest paying college majors." CNN Money, 7 May 2015.
http://money.cnn.com/2015/05/07/pf/college/highest-paying-college-majors/index.html. Accessed 17 June 2017.
Works Cited (College, Diversity)
"Same as it ever was: Top 10 most popular college majors." USA Today, 26 Oct. 2014.
http://college.usatoday.com/2014/10/26/same-as-it-ever-was-top-10-most-popular-college-majors/. Accessed 11 June 2017.

"Students less likely to work in October 2015 than in the 1980s and 1990s : The Economics Daily.” U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
https://www.bls.gov/opub/ted/2016/students-less-likely-to-work-in-october-2015-than-in-the-1980s-and-1990s.htm . Accessed 9 June 2017.

Thibodeau, Patrick. "IT jobs will grow 22% through 2020, says U.S." Computerworld, 29 Mar. 2012.
http://www.computerworld.com/article/2502348/it-management/it-jobs-will-grow-22--through-2020--says-u-s-.html. Accessed 8 June 2017.

"Tuition and Fees and Room and Board over Time, 1976-77 to 2016-17, Selected Years." The College Board.
https://trends.collegeboard.org/college-pricing/figures-tables/tuition-and-fees-and-room-and-board-over-time-1976-77_2016-17-selected-years.
Accessed 19 June 2017.
Works Cited (Family, Friends, Dating, Health and Safety)
“The Decline of Marriage and Rise of New Families.” Pew Research Center, November 18, 2010.
http://www.pewsocialtrends.org/2010/11/18/the-decline-of-marriage-and-rise-of-new-families/ Accessed June 3, 2017.

Desilver, Drew. “Dangers That Teens and Kids Face: A Look at the Data.” Pew Research Center, January 14, 2016.
http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2016/01/14/dangers-that-young-people-face-a-look-at-the-data/ Accessed June 5, 2017.

Lenhart, Amanda. “Teens, Technology and Friendships.” Pew Research Center, August 6, 2015.
http://www.pewinternet.org/2015/08/06/teens-technology-and-friendships/ Accessed June 3, 2017.

Lenhart, Amanda, Monica Anderson, and Aaron Smith. “Teens, Technology and Romantic Relationships.” Pew Research Center, October 1,
2015. http://www.pewinternet.org/2015/10/01/teens-technology-and-romantic-relationships/ Accessed June 3, 2017.

National Institute on Drug Abuse. “Teen Substance Use Shows Promising Decline.” National Institutes of Health, December 13, 2016.
https://www.drugabuse.gov/news-events/news-releases/2016/12/teen-substance-use-shows-promising-decline Accessed June 4, 2017
Works Cited (Family, Friends, Dating, Health and Safety)
“Obesity Epidemic and United States Students.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
https://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/data/yrbs/pdf/2015/2015_US_Obesity.pdf Accessed June 10, 2017.

Office of Adolescent Health. “Facts and Stats.” U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
https://www.hhs.gov/ash/oah/facts-and-stats/index.html Accessed June 4, 2017.

“Substance Use and Sexual Risk Behaviors Among Teens.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, April 14, 2017.
https://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/substance-use/pdf/dash-substance-use-fact-sheet.pdf Accessed June 10, 2017.

“U.S. Teen Demographics.” ACT for Youth. http://www.actforyouth.net/adolescence/demographics/ Accessed June 1, 2017.

Vespa, Jonathan, Jamie M. Lewis, and Rose M. Kreider. “America’s Families and Living Arrangements: 2012.” United States Census Bureau,
August 2013. https://www.census.gov/prod/2013pubs/p20-570.pdf Accessed June 17, 2017.