Would you say this younger generation is growing up too fast?

I was talking with my neighbor earlier (he's 36) and we were reminiscing about the past and he was going on how my generation is growing up too fast compared to his gen.

I've noticed it too, a lot of younger kids are smoking and getting into drinking/sexual activities at the age of 13/14 and its not just a certain group of kids its literally every teen in my city! When I was 13 I didn't even think about laying a hand on cigarettes or drugs, let alone a can of beer.
I didn't have my first beer until I was in 10th grade on my 16th birthday.
I've even heard about kids younger than 13 getting into that kind of stuff, what's the big rush to go up now? I'd do anything to go back to 5th grade and be with my friends in my old apartment complex

Is it just me or am I the only one realizing this?

I don't know, I hope not. Personally I don't know any 13/14 year olds now. There will always be the ones who get into trouble. When I was 13 a big rush to date hit some of them, but that mostly amounted to holding hands walking.  ::) The kids you describe must not be raised right.

People have been saying this type of thing for decades.  I remember people saying it when I was 13/14 years old too, saying kids were too exposed to sex in the media, were wearing revealing clothing at too early an age, etc.  The more things change, the more they stay the same. 

That actually pretty obvious. I notice this in Europe aswell. It is amazing how innocent my sister's earlier teenage years in the early 90s were in comparison. I am not sure about my youth though - I don't think it was much different from today

Teenage pregnancy and sexual intercourse has actually declined for more than 2 decades now, this "belief" that the younger generation is somehow "worse off" and more wild is pure nonsense and factually untrue, but hey sensationalism sales.

Teens today are much more well behaved and less engaged in sex, drug usage, smoking, and youth crime than teens in the 1970s, 1980s, or early 1990s.

If you add all the coddling and over-protection children receive today then I would say it's taking longer for kids to "grow up".

People are so gullible to think MTV's Teen Moms or any of the other sensational media nonsense is an accurate reflection on teenage girls as a whole, not only is teen pregnancy down but more teens say they want to wait until they have sex.

Would you say this younger generation is growing up too fast?

I think this generation is growing up at their own pace.

They aren't growing up too fast, they are adapting to the landscape that society at the time provides.

Someone further up said people have been saying this for decades; I agree. They said my generation (X) was the most jaded generation, lazy, coffee drinking, flannel wearing won't-get-a-job generation. A bitter and uncaring generation, even. Not true. That is generalizing.

The youngsters coming up might be more aware or less aware of certain things compared to mine; but they are not growing up any faster.

In 2001, when I was 13 (until the last quarter of the year) there were plenty of kids who did drugs and other things. I tried pot twice that year (I had no interest in anything else), but I got panicky. I didn't do it again until I was 16. I've been an occasional user since then with no problems.

The point is, it's nothing new.

Teenage pregnancy and sexual intercourse has actually declined for more than 2 decades now, this "belief" that the younger generation is somehow "worse off" and more wild is pure nonsense and factually untrue, but hey sensationalism sales.

Teens today are much more well behaved and less engaged in sex, drug usage, smoking, and youth crime than teens in the 1970s, 1980s, or early 1990s.

If you add all the coddling and over-protection children receive today then I would say it's taking longer for kids to "grow up".

People are so gullible to think MTV's Teen Moms or any of the other sensational media nonsense is an accurate reflection on teenage girls as a whole, not only is teen pregnancy down but more teens say they want to wait until they have sex.


Yep, all true.

I was going to say, if anything kids seem to be growing up slower nowadays.

18 year olds in 1965 kind of feel like 30 year olds today.

I have a (very nearly) 16 year old and a 12 year old.

Thinking back to myself at their age and I think they have not grown up as much as I had at the same age.  Certainly when thinking about what my 16 year old self was doing I'm glad my daughter isn't doing the same thing!  She does know of some friends who drink but this holds little interest for her (except an occasional glass of wine with a meal when out with us).  I don't think any of her friends smoke.  Amongst her close friends there's little sign of any serious boyfriends that I'm aware of (though I know there is some Facebook chatter)

I think it really depends on how children and teenagers today are brought up. I have three nephews, they are 15, 9, and 6. They are little gentlemen. They go to school, do their homework, watch cartoons, participate in sports. They are being children, and certainly not growing up fast at all. So I don't think it is the entire younger generation.

18 year olds in 1965 kind of feel like 30 year olds today.

But they should really feel 50 years old.

I think each generation has their views of how fast they grew up.

How do you grow up fast when you never leave your lap top? Sure, you might come across certain things that you may never have encountered before, but whether you handle them more maturely is debatable.

How do you grow up fast when you never leave your lap top? Sure, you might come across certain things that you may never have encountered before, but whether you handle them more maturely is debatable.

If they're that attatched to their iPads and phones you may be right. They'll be aware of things, but if they're not hanging around certain people and places, there's no real trouble to be gotten into. Unless of course they're meeting these people online.

I think they grow up in a slower way regarding starting drinking; they will smoke less
They have however more access to all kind of information and they often seem older by the way they dress (12 year old girls wearing make up, as if they are 20).
When I was 12 in 2004 I had my first alcoholic drink; that was not uncommon back then.

How do you grow up fast when you never leave your lap top? Sure, you might come across certain things that you may never have encountered before, but whether you handle them more maturely is debatable.


That's why more kids should be busy more instead of sitting by the laptop.

If they're that attatched to their iPads and phones you may be right. They'll be aware of things, but if they're not hanging around certain people and places, there's no real trouble to be gotten into. Unless of course they're meeting these people online.


I see it happen every single day.

I'm addicted too to the phone and I only have such a thing since last christmas..

When I was 12 in 2004 I had my first alcoholic drink; that was not uncommon back then.


I think I had a drink (sparkling wine) at New Years 2000 when I was 13 and a half. I also tried a Schnaps in my grandfather's basement bar when I was 14. I started to have a beer once in a while in 2002 when I was 16. This is the legal drinking age for light alcoholic beverages in Germany and most European countries.

My first taste of beer was probably when I was 6 or 7, but my parents were present and it was only a taste. I knew what straight up alcohol smelled like to not be interested in the slightest. Plus the group of friends I had in high school weren't getting into anything like that anyway.

Hehe, yeah, I am pretty sure that I have tasted beer when I was in my single digits, too. I just don't think I had a full glass  ;D

I was 9 when I first tasted wine. Let's just say I liked it a bit too much!

Young children today are already watching adult films, and probably know more than their parents about sex.

For me, beer, cider, wine drinking , along with watching 'X" films started when I was at 15 years old.

I think I had a drink (sparkling wine) at New Years 2000 when I was 13 and a half. I also tried a Schnaps in my grandfather's basement bar when I was 14. I started to have a beer once in a while in 2002 when I was 16. This is the legal drinking age for light alcoholic beverages in Germany and most European countries.


Yes,  at 16 I was allowed to buy too. Now the Dutch law changed it to 18; and I hate that they're obliged to ask for legitimation while I'm allowed to buy it for 6 years now and I certainly don't look younger than 18.

Yes,  at 16 I was allowed to buy too. Now the Dutch law changed it to 18; and I hate that they're obliged to ask for legitimation while I'm allowed to buy it for 6 years now and I certainly don't look younger than 18.


I think it's good that shops and bars ask younger people for an ID. There are still a lot of minors and sometimes it's really hard to tell if someone is over or under 16/18. Unforntunately, in Germany that's very often not the case. I have seen young people buying strong alcoholic beverages without being asked. That's actually against the law, but a lot of cashiers don't care about it - especially at the end of a long working day.

In the US or Canada however, they still ask me for an ID at the age of 28 - and I am 9 or 7 years above the drinking age in those countries ;)

I'm addicted too to the phone and I only have such a thing since last christmas..


I too are addicted to the phone.

My first taste of beer was probably when I was 6 or 7, but my parents were present and it was only a taste. I knew what straight up alcohol smelled like to not be interested in the slightest. Plus the group of friends I had in high school weren't getting into anything like that anyway.


I tried beer growing up, later on my alcoholic drink was Rum & Coke.

I was 9 when I first tasted wine. Let's just say I liked it a bit too much!


I drank wine in my late teens early 20's.

n the US or Canada however, they still ask me for an ID at the age of 28 - and I am 9 or 7 years above the drinking age in those countries

So you're saying you don't look your age?

Young children today are already watching adult films, and probably know more than their parents about sex.

For me, beer, cider, wine drinking , along with watching 'X" films started when I was at 15 years old.
BTW, my first 'X' film was The Exorcist, viewed at a cinema. Being tall for my age came in handy.

So you're saying you don't your age?


What do you mean?

What do you mean?


you look younger than 28 or older?

BTW, my first 'X' film was The Exorcist, viewed at a cinema. Being tall for my age came in handy.

X films are porn. The Exorcist was R.

X films are porn. The Exorcist was R.
Back in 1975 in the UK all adult films shown in cinemas were 'X', which meant over 18s only.

Would you say this younger generation is growing up too fast?

I was talking with my neighbor earlier (he's 36) and we were reminiscing about the past and he was going on how my generation is growing up too fast compared to his gen.

I've noticed it too, a lot of younger kids are smoking and getting into drinking/sexual activities at the age of 13/14 and its not just a certain group of kids its literally every teen in my city! When I was 13 I didn't even think about laying a hand on cigarettes or drugs, let alone a can of beer.
I didn't have my first beer until I was in 10th grade on my 16th birthday.
I've even heard about kids younger than 13 getting into that kind of stuff, what's the big rush to go up now? I'd do anything to go back to 5th grade and be with my friends in my old apartment complex

Is it just me or am I the only one realizing this?


In some ways yes.  Kids today generally drink, smoke, and have sex at younger ages than previous generations.  In other ways, millennials are enjoying an extended adolescence far into their twenties, delaying things like careers, marriage, family, or even moving out of their childhood homes.

you look younger than 28 or older?


Hard to say. But I look definitely way older than 21.

BTW, my first 'X' film was The Exorcist, viewed at a cinema. Being tall for my age came in handy.


My first XXX film was probably after age 18, I didn't know anything about those films before 18. But mine was a mild R rated film.

X films are porn. The Exorcist was R.


My first porn film was a mild R rated one. As of this day I don't remember how I could sit there and watch the whole thing without getting aroused.

Hard to say. But I look definitely way older than 21.


You can look at my picture and would say I don't look 40.

When I was 12 in 2004 I had my first alcoholic drink; that was not uncommon back then.



I think I had a drink (sparkling wine) at New Years 2000 when I was 13 and a half. I also tried a Schnaps in my grandfather's basement bar when I was 14. I started to have a beer once in a while in 2002 when I was 16. This is the legal drinking age for light alcoholic beverages in Germany and most European countries.



My first taste of beer was probably when I was 6 or 7, but my parents were present and it was only a taste. I knew what straight up alcohol smelled like to not be interested in the slightest. Plus the group of friends I had in high school weren't getting into anything like that anyway.


In this thread, we learn that access to harmless quantities of alcohol under parental supervision at an early age demystifies it, and reduces the probability that your kids will harm themselves when they get unsupervised access to alcohol. 


I was 9 when I first tasted wine. Let's just say I liked it a bit too much!


...apart from this potential combo-breaker, that is.  :)

I count myself as a drinker today, but like the first three posters I've quoted, thanks to parentally-supervised early consumption of beer, wine, and even a half-shot of hard liquor, I was almost always the designated driver during all my unsupervised teenage/college outings.  When alcohol is no longer a mysterious forbidden fruit, its allure goes away.  It was just something my silly Silent/Boomer relatives used to drink in order to make themselves laugh at things that weren't all that funny in the first place. 

I think we'll see the same thing happen within 20 years when cannabis prohibition ends in the United States.  What was once cool (in the 60s/70s), and then forbidden (during the "Just Say No!" era of the War On Some Drugs) will become as boring as having a beer after work.  Perhaps its ultimate fate is to be regarded as the less-addictive thing that silly old Boomers/Xers used to smoke/vape/eat in order to make themselves laugh at things that weren't all that funny in the first place.

I drank wine in my late teens early 20's.


Coool!  :o :o

DId you like your first taste of alcohol?

In this thread, we learn that access to harmless quantities of alcohol under parental supervision at an early age demystifies it, and reduces the probability that your kids will harm themselves when they get unsupervised access to alcohol. 

...apart from this potential combo-breaker, that is.  :)

I count myself as a drinker today, but like the first three posters I've quoted, thanks to parentally-supervised early consumption of beer, wine, and even a half-shot of hard liquor, I was almost always the designated driver during all my unsupervised teenage/college outings.  When alcohol is no longer a mysterious forbidden fruit, its allure goes away.  It was just something my silly Silent/Boomer relatives used to drink in order to make themselves laugh at things that weren't all that funny in the first place. 

I think we'll see the same thing happen within 20 years when cannabis prohibition ends in the United States.  What was once cool (in the 60s/70s), and then forbidden (during the "Just Say No!" era of the War On Some Drugs) will become as boring as having a beer after work.  Perhaps its ultimate fate is to be regarded as the less-addictive thing that silly old Boomers/Xers used to smoke/vape/eat in order to make themselves laugh at things that weren't all that funny in the first place.


I drank about about seven or eight glasses of wine. My mother was too busy serving food and cooking it!  ;D ;D

Coool!  :o :o

DId you like your first taste of alcohol?


It was ok, after that I got used to drinking Rum & Coke.