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How do the teenagers of the 1970s compare to today’s teenagers?

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We had respect for our elders. We did what we were told. We didn't talk back. Eat what was put in front of us. And we asked before we took something (except when borrowing dad's Playboy).

Other than that, pretty much the same.

Thought we knew everything. Couldn't be told otherwise. Rebellious against the status quo. Listened to anything our parents hated. Didn't understand why parents were always so non-understanding.

3 ( +9 / -6 )

Although I'm not in the group of being teenager in 1970s, I have been comparing those with teenagers today, since I'm working as a person who interact with students. As a positive side, recent teenagers' individuality or unique characteristics are respected and they are allowed to do what they are interested or sometimes avoid what they are not good at. Therefore their uniqueness is greatly fostered. As a negative side on the other hand, they do not have much tolerance for a situation which requires toughness and hard work. Also, since their characteristics are prioritized by surroundings, they tend not to behave well in a group.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

If one was a teenager in the 1970's and superficial behaviors are the point here, how could they possibly know what teenagers are like today other than "♬Why can't they be like we were, perfect in every way...♪"? Certainly clothes styles, slang, music, all of the superficiality that most live their entire lives in are different but PEOPLE, people are very much the same generation after generation after generation or 'national character', 'culture' would have great difficulty maintaining consistency over time, and it does.

-3 ( +2 / -5 )

We learned how to spell lose and the difference between there, their and they’re. We read newspapers and books. We had an attention span longer than a TikTok video or a tweet. We listened to great music. We filled the car with gas for $5. As the 70’s progressed, we could buy a house in our early 20’s for $35,000. We had great muscle cars. We didn’t run into as many stupid people, since there was no Internet. They were out there, but we were exposed to less idiots.

4 ( +6 / -2 )

No idea. I wasn’t a teen in Japan and I have no idea what normal/average teens are like in my home country now. Not gonna use what the media shows me cuz they lie. Tech, music, fashion, etc change, humans not so much. Still amazes me just how many great musicians and bands came from that small island across the ocean during this time. Unfortunately the music world copied the US managers and went for the shock or simple and cheap value instead of real long lasting talent. So I do feel sorry for the teens today as most are stuck with this dancing crap they call music.

-2 ( +3 / -5 )

Their were no internet,CB radio was the only social media

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

As a teenager in the 70s in Aust, other than the obvious changes in tech, music, fashion, lifestyles etc etc etc a huge difference is in the amount of freedom we were afforded.

Carefree was the norm in my world.

What would be considered bad boy/girl behaviour now was commonplace. Roaming around, kicking footballs in the street, light drug experimentation - incl smoking/drinking, hitchhiking everywhere, beach/house parties, live rock music on week nights, sometimes holding 2 part-time jobs while at school *eg (night time milk delivery and bread factory), owning cars from 16 years and heaps more. Many (not all) parents gave this freedom to their kids - for better or worse - and we sought adventure and took risks.

And I'm speaking about my world in which we were all pretty good academically and many of us went on to higher education or got good jobs that led to great careers.

Too difficult to objectively value one environment against the other, but I'm glad I had that experience. I'd suggest that given the same world, most teenagers today would fit - but that they haven't had such social learning experiences they possibly find it more difficult to cope with demanding challenges???

Funnily enough I'd have been a bit more than worried if my daughters were exposed to the same - lol.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

Generally speaking, they were then forced to become an exact copy of their parents, showing only a bit resistance by other tastes of music or fashion, while nowadays the youngsters and greenhorns resist , have no more manners and education, but instead try loudly whatever they can to re-educate their parents, grandparents and the whole older generations.

-5 ( +0 / -5 )

I was already an adult by then. People follow their parents and there isn't a big difference between one generation of teens and another.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

I'd say, age-wise, they're pretty much the same.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

I dont know but tend to think that 70steenagers had less freedom and possibilities in the same time had it easier in other aspects since many hurdles didnt exist then yet. In general, they are all more or less the majority I guess the same, teenagers.

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

They listened to their elders, they knew the difference between men and women, they studied, they were active, they enjoyed life, they were less obnoxious and confrontational, they cared about people, and they didn't have social media corrupting them and turning them into radical Marxists.

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

bass4funk

They listened to their elders, they knew the difference between men and women, they studied, they were active, they enjoyed life, they were less obnoxious and confrontational, they cared about people, and they didn't have social media corrupting them and turning them into radical Marxists.

That might be your experience but far from the one I had. The youth of the 1960s and 70s were very radicalized and political. The colleges and universities were full of radicals. There was a drug culture and many gave up the ambitions their parents had for them.

The hippy movement and the rock music culture. The opposition to wars and weapons got the American nuclear weapons removed from the UK. CND, Greenpeace, Friends of the Earth.

The support of the GAY movement. Feminism.

Social networking was achieved with offset printing and meetings.

The great authors and poets have great influence.

Nixon resigned in 1974.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

The Graphic Idealism of the 1970s US Radical Left

https://hyperallergic.com/366246/printed-legacy-of-us-radical-left-1970-1979-interference-archive/

0 ( +1 / -1 )

70s teens were tougher.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

teens of the 70s took pictures with friends

teens of today take selfies with besties

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

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