What does the increasingly obedient nature of teenagers mean?

[darklordoftech]

https://nytimes.com/2017/07/31/well/family/binge-drinking-drops-among-teenagers.html

http://www.vox.com/2014/5/25/5748178/todays-teenagers-are-the-best-behaved-generation-on-record

https://www.vox.com/a/teens

http://www.businessinsider.com/generation-z-sex-alcohol-driving-study-2017-9

http://theguardian.com/fashion/fashion-blog/2014/jul/28/real-reason-french-women-have-stopped-sunbathing-topless

Study after study shows that teenagers today are the most obedient in a long time. What's causing this? What might this suggest about their political views now and in the future?

[darklordoftech]

This isn't as good as it sounds-

https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2017/09/has-the-smartphone-destroyed-a-generation/534198/

Basically this, Have video games for boys then netflix and smartphones for both genders and you get a generation of kids who don't rebel as much as other generations growing up did.

Why would video games and smartphones make them rebel less?

Our society is less oppressive and covered up than it used to be (for the most part). There really isn't much for teens to be rebelling against in terms of social causes.

If anything, they see adults acting totally irresponsibly and their form of rebellion is by being mature and boring. 

Haven't age restrictions increased over time?

[darklordoftech]

This isn't as good as it sounds-

https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2017/09/has-the-smartphone-destroyed-a-generation/534198/

Also, the degree to which they and their parents obey authority gives me the creeps: https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/Dozens-of-Students-Ordered-to-Get-Blood-Test-Over-Can-of-Beer-442932733.html?ll

[darklordoftech]

One could probably attribute the decline in alcohol use among teens with the increased use of marijuana compared to previous generations, no?

Marijuana use doesn't seem to have increased that much since 2000.

https://d14rmgtrwzf5a.cloudfront.net/sites/default/files/mtf_students_pastyear_mj_use_2016.jpg

https://d14rmgtrwzf5a.cloudfront.net/sites/default/files/mtf_12thgraders_dailyuse_cig_mj_2016.jpg

This is terrible news. In my day, I wouldn't have put up with the crap that today's teens are forced to put up with.

Good for you. Civil disobedience is key to maintaining a liberal democracy.

[darklordoftech]

One could probably attribute the decline in alcohol use among teens with the increased use of marijuana compared to previous generations, no?

Marijuana use doesn't seem to have increased that much since 2000.

https://d14rmgtrwzf5a.cloudfront.net/sites/default/files/mtf_students_pastyear_mj_use_2016.jpg

https://d14rmgtrwzf5a.cloudfront.net/sites/default/files/mtf_12thgraders_dailyuse_cig_mj_2016.jpg

I can't help but notice that in the first half of the 1990s, teenager were disobeying authority in large numbers.

This is terrible news. In my day, I wouldn't have put up with the crap that today's teens are forced to put up with.

Good for you. Civil disobedience is key to maintaining a liberal democracy.

[darklordoftech]

I guess they are called Generation Z, and per the metric of the book Generations (the four generational types repeat themselves), they would be a repeat of the Silent Generation, which was supposedly obedient (and payed the price having skipped being rebellious as youths, by being unusually susceptible to a mid-life crisis). Your mileage may vary, but I thought I would mention it.

The Vietnam War was made the Boomers rebel under the leadership of the Silents. What will make Generation (whatever comes after Z) rebel under the leadership of the Zs?

[darklordoftech]

There is enormous contentness and complacency in American life for young people.  We're becoming the people on that spaceship in WALL-E --- I look around and 90% of people are glued to a screen, whether its a laptop, a desktop computer, a tablet, a smartphone.

Personally, I'm bored as hell.  I've spent most of my time on the Internet since 1999.  I'm getting tired of it.  And yet as I say this, I'm on the Internet.  You just can't pull yourself away.  You go outside for a walk and then about 10 minutes in, you have to go back online.

The youngest kids all have their tablets and a lot of the boys have their video games where they can fight in wars and express any anger they might have by blowing things up.  That's it.  They're satisfied.  Don't bother them.

I'd go outside if there were people outside to interact with. I also remember that my parents wouldn't let me outside and that I couldn't drive for much of my life.

[darklordoftech]

It sounds like schools have everyone cajoled into obedience. If schools back in my day did the things that schools today do, they'd be sued.

Are you just referring to the article I posted or also to other things that you've heard?

[darklordoftech]

This isn't as good as it sounds-

https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2017/09/has-the-smartphone-destroyed-a-generation/534198/

Basically this, Have video games for boys then netflix and smartphones for both genders and you get a generation of kids who don't rebel as much as other generations growing up did.

Why would video games and smartphones make them rebel less?

Because teens today spend most of their time holed-up in their rooms on smart phones rather than going out and being with friends "IRL".  Kids spend less time together, kids will get into less trouble.

This is largely a negative development though.  Kids shouldn't be so insulated and overprotected. 

I can't help but wonder if parents, hearing sensationalized stories about kidnapping, bullying, peer pressure, cigarettes, alcohol, drugs, sex, falling behind on schoolwork, etc., forbid their kids from spending time with friends "IRL", so their kids use their phones to compensate.

[darklordoftech]

It sounds like schools have everyone cajoled into obedience. If schools back in my day did the things that schools today do, they'd be sued.

Are you just referring to the article I posted or also to other things that you've heard?

Mostly other things.

What things do you have in mind?