Not many years ago, families used to have one telephone and one TV in the living room, and there was no such thing as a home computer. Nowadays, all those items can be found in most teenagers’ bedrooms. Behind closed doors, teens can have private conversations, and they can turn the TV on to any channel they like. If they are curious, they will use the Internet to explore places they never imagined existed, get a lot of information, and talk to people far away. Having this equipment in their own rooms means an increase in privacy for the kids.
As a result, many parents complain that teenagers are becoming too individualistic and too isolated from the family. On the other hand
teenagers think that parents should respect their privacy. Psychologists say that if the teens lock their bedroom door, parents should just keep on knocking. Parents have the right to know who their sons and daughters are with and what they are doing. But parents must be flexible, too. Some parents are very strict and try to keep control of their kids. But in the end, that doesn’t work, because it makes teens rebellious and unhappy. The more unhappy teenagers are, the more they want to be left alone. Some may even turn to the Internet and give up all social encounters with family members and live in cyberspace.
Today’s teenagers may be “click and go,” but they are also the most educated, and the most globally aware, generation. They realize the importance of studying and getting a job. If you ask teenagers today about the future, most of them will tell you that they are optimistic. But teenagers will be teenagers. One expert asked a teenager why he questioned everything his parents said and why he was behaving like such an idiot. His answer was,” It’s my job. I’m a teenager.”