Issues Teenagers Struggle With Today

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. The prevalence of digital communication has changed the way teens interact with their peers and romantic interests.

Because of this, many teens lack essential interpersonal communication skills like knowing how to pick up on social cues. Much of this dysfunction can be linked to the overuse of technology. Teens' social media and texting habits as well as how they consume media is changing the way they communicate, date, learn, sleep, exercise and more. 

Here are the 5 social problems teens struggle with every day.

Depression: 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 If your teen seems withdrawn, experiences a change in his sleep patterns or starts to perform badly in school, schedule an appointment with your teen's physician or contact a mental health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.

Academic Problems: 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. 

Peer Pressure: 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 consequence that sharing explicit photos can have on their lives but sharing inappropriate photos is not the only thing kids are being pressured into doing.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 they make a mistake. Demonstrate that you can listen without judging or overreacting and instead find healthy ways for them to make amends and move on.

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 cyber bullying, 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 friendship and is changing the ways 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. 

On-Screen Violence: Teenagers are going to witness some violent 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, studies have linked watching violence to a lack of empathy and even aggressive behavior and other studies have shown 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 that 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 in excess and unsupervised. Teens need to learn how to identify what is good and what is bad about the 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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