Think back to when you were around 12 years old. Did you look forward to being an adult, or would you have preferred to remain your age? When we asked some version of this question to our most recent focus group, the participants — 12 tweens and teens between the ages of 11 and 14 — roundly said they'd prefer to be kids. |
"Being an adult, you have to go to a job every day and work. And then you have to spend the money on the rent and food and all that stuff," said Nate, 14. Sophie, 13, said, "I'm going to be my current age, because then the amount of responsibilities I have doesn't change." Only one participant, Roshini, 14, had a positive thing to say about adulthood. She'd rather be an adult, she said, "just because there's more flexibility and freedom." |
Do these answers suggest a generational shift in the way that youths view adulthood? Put another way: In the cost-benefit analysis of becoming an adult (more or total freedom, with more or total responsibility) versus staying a kid (less or no freedom, with less or no real responsibility,) has the freedom and independence to make choices become less valuable than freedom and independence from responsibility? |
Obviously, childhood for many people wasn't — or isn't — responsibility free. It's not clear to me that if you'd asked children in the '40s, '50s or the [your preferred decade here,] they'd have looked forward to adulthood, either. But even so, these kids' seemingly pessimistic attitude about adulthood, and the reasons they may feel that way, are worth thinking about. I hope you'll agree, and that you enjoy hearing what all the participants have to say about social media, screen time, in-person schooling and more in our latest focus group, the 33rd in our America in Focus series. |
We're conducting a survey of Opinion readers. If you listen to podcasts, from The New York Times or elsewhere, we hope you'll take a moment to share your views. Your opinions are important to us and your responses will be strictly confidential. Please click here to participate. |
Here's what we're focusing on today: |
| Exclusive for Subscribers | | |
Forward this newsletter to friends to share ideas and perspectives that will help inform their lives. They can sign up here. Do you have feedback? Email us at opiniontoday@nytimes.com. |
|
No comments:
Post a Comment