Social Issues Teens Struggle With Today

Technology Has Changed Or Amplified The Struggles Young People Face 

Here Top 10 Social Issues Related Teens Struggle With Today 

Advances in technology mean today's teens are facing issues that no previous generation has ever seen. While some issues are not exactly new, electronic media has changed or amplified some of the struggles young people face. For instance, teens today struggle more with their interpersonal relationships than any previous generation and a lot of this dysfunction can be linked to overuse of technology.

In fact, the average teen spends over nine hours each day using their electronic devices. Consequently, their social media habits and media consumption are changing the way they communicate, date, learn, sleep, exercise, and more. Here are the top 10 social problems teens struggle with every day life.

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1 - Bullying

According to the Department of Health and Human Services, about 20% of teens in the world now experienced bullying in 2018. One reason for this is the rise of social media use by teens, which has made bullying much more public and more pervasive. In fact, cyber bullying has replaced bullying as the common type of harassment that teens experience.

Talk to your teen about bullying regularly. Discuss what she can do when she witnesses bullying and talk about options if she becomes a target. Being proactive is key to helping your child deal with a bully. It's also important to talk to your child about when and how to get help from an adult. Remind them that asking for help is not a sign of weakness, but instead a show of courage. Talking about how someone has humiliated them is never an easy topic.

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2 - Sexual Activity

According to Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance Data on the year 2018, 39.5% of high school students reported being sexually active. That means sexual activity had declined slightly over the past decade.

Fortunately, the teen birth rate has declined over the past decade too. Births to teens ages 15 to 19 years old accounted for 5.0% of all births in 2018. The decline in pregnancy doesn't necessarily mean teens are using protection, however. 

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Of the 20 million new sexually transmitted diseases each year, more than half were among young people between the ages of 15 and 24.

Parents may not believe their children are sexually active, however. Talk to your teen about sex, even if you don't think your child is engaging in sexual activity.

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3 - Drug Use

In year 2018, about 7% of seniors reported using marijuana daily. Marijuana use exceeds cigarette use is in teens now. In fact, many teens believe marijuana is less harmful now than in years past. This new perception may be due to the changing laws surrounding marijuana.

Meanwhile, other illicit drug use has held steadily at the lowest levels according to a study published by the National Institute on Drug Abuse. For instance, teen use of illicit drugs in 2018 was the lowest since the study began in year 1975.

Make sure you have regular conversations about the dangers of drugs. And don't forget to mention the dangers of prescription drugs. Many teens do not recognize the dangers of taking a friend's prescription or popping a few pills that are not prescribed to them. Unfortunately, teens often underestimate how easy it is to develop an addiction. And they don't understand the risks associated with overdosing. Be sure you are talking about these risks on a consistent basis.

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4 - Alcohol Use

As of 2018, alcohol use and being drinking showed a significant decline among teenagers. Despite the decline, 33.0% of high school seniors still report drinking alcohol within the past month.

Talk to teens about the risks of underage drinking. Educate them about the dangers, including the fact that alcohol can take a serious toll on a teenager's developing brain. Also, do not shy away from expressing your disapproval of underage drinking. Saying you don't approve can make a big difference in whether your teen decides to drink.

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5 - Depression

According to The National Institute of Mental Health, an estimated 3.2 million adolescents in the world had at least one major depression episode in 2018. That means about 13 percent of teenagers may experience depression before reaching adulthood.

Depression rates grew among adolescents, especially in girls, over the previous decade when about 8% of teens reported being depressed. Some researchers blame technology for the rise in mental health problems. For instance, spending too much time on electronic devices may be preventing young people from engaging in sports or peer activities that help ward off depression. They also experience new conditions like "fear of missing out" or FOMO, which further leads to feelings of loneliness and isolation.

Depressive disorders are treatable, but it's important to seek professional help. If your teen seems withdrawn, experiences a change in his sleep patterns, or starts to perform badly in school, schedule an appointment with your teen's physician or contact a mental health professional. Do not delay getting help for your teen if you notice these symptoms.

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6 - Obesity

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 19 % of 12 - to 19 - year - olds were obese in 2018, with Hispanic and black children are more likely to be overweight or obese.

Aside from the fact that overweight children are often targeted by bullies, obese kids also are at a much greater risk of lifelong health problems, such as diabetes, arthritis, cancer, and heart disease. They also may struggle with body image issues or developing eating disorders as unhealthy way of changing their appearance. But parents are not always aware of these issues.

In fact, surveys show parents are bad at recognizing when their kids are overweight. They tend to  underestimate their child's size and the risks associated with being overweight.

Talk to your child's pediatrician about the weight and body mass are appropriate for your teen's height and age and inquire about the steps you can take to ensure your teen is healthy. Then, if your doctor does recommend a healthier eating plan or exercise, find ways to support and empower your teen.

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7 - Academic Problems

About 6% of high school students drop out of high school each year in the United States, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. A high school dropout is likely to earn USD200,000 less over his lifetime when compared to a high school graduate, which can have a significant impact on a young person's future.

But, it's no longer just the "troubled teens" who are dropping out of school. Some teens feel so much pressure to get into a good college that they're burning themselves out before they graduate from high school.

Stay involved in your teen's education. Provide support and guidance and be ready to assist your teen if he encounters problems.

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8 - Peer Pressure

While peer pressure isn't a new issue, social media brings it to a whole new level. Sexting, for example, is a major cause for concern as many teens do not understand the lifelong consequences that sharing explicit photos can have on their lives. But sharing inappropriate photos are not the only things kids are being pressured into doing. For instance, more and more kids are being pressured into having sex, doing drugs, and even bullying other kids.

To keep your kids from falling victim to peer pressure, give them skills to make healthy choices and to resist peer pressure. Also, talk to teens about what to do if they make a mistake. Sometimes, kids can make poor choices and may be too afraid to seek help. Make sure your kids are not afraid to come to you when the screw up. Demonstrate that you can listen without judging or overreacting and instead find healthy ways for them to make amends and move on.

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9 - On - Screen Violence

Teenagers are going to witness some violence media at one time or another. And it's not just TV, Music, and Movies that depict violence. Many of today's violent video games portray gory scenes and disturbing acts of aggression.

Over the past couple of decades, a multitude of studies linked watching violence to a lack of empathy. And studies show the number one factor in determining how kids relate to media is how their parents think and act.

According to Common Sense Media, the more violence parents watch, the more likely they are to think it's OK for their kids to view. Pay attention to your teen's media use. Don't allow teens to watch R-rated movies or to play M-rated video games. It's not healthy for them to consume that material.

Also, talk to your teen about the dangers of being exposed to violent images and monitor your teen's mental state. It's also important to talk about sexual situations and racial stereotypes that your teen might see. Teens need to learn how to identify what is good and what is bad about media. It helps them become a healthier consumer when they can think objectively about what they are seeing online, in the movie theater, or in a video game.

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10 - Social Media

Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter can be great ways for teens to connect with one another; but social media can be problematic for several reasons. For instance, social media can expose your teen to cyberbulling, slut shaming, and so much more. And, while there are some benefits to social media, there are a lot of risks as well. Social media can have a negative impact on friendships and is changing the way teens date. It can even impact their mental health.

But, no matter what precautions you take, teens are still likely to be exposed to unsavory people, unhealthy images, and sexual content online. While there are measures being put into place to reduce the risks kids face online, it's important for parents to get involved.

Help your teen learn how to navigate social media in a healthy way. Talk about ways to stay safe online. And most importantly, know what your teen is doing online. Educate yourself about the latest apps, websites, and social media pages teens are using and take steps to keep your teen safe. Your may even want to take steps to limit your teen's screen time. 

@ Jackie San