We routinely put teenagers in an environment where the majority of their time is spent with other teenagers.
Where do they and their peers get their cues for social development? From a few aggressive industries with profit agendas - media (music/film/etc.), fashion and other products that provide little value, but help to extend childhood far past its natural end.
Where should they get their cues for social development? Not from other teenagers taking their cues from advertisers. Childhood is about becoming an adult. Sure, kids need time to play and “be children” (some of the best educational development comes from unfettered free time). But ultimately the younger years are spent preparing and learning how to survive the older years. Once they’ve past puberty, most teens have greater decision-making capabilities than society gives them credit for.
Teenagers won’t learn how to grow up by spending all their time together. They should be learning from the people they are about to become - adults. If we keep treating them like children, they’ll remain that way.
