What scares teenagers these days?

[StBrides]

Some colleagues were talking about how desensitised teens are these days, having grown up in the fully digital age where you can stumble upon really horrible things online.

Because it's Halloween, it made me wonder if the younger generations don't find the traditional scary / horror films scary in the way us who are a bit older do?

I used to love a bit of gentle horror as a teenager, but the famous films from the 70s were too dated for me to get into so they never freaked me out. Just wondering what the scare landscape is like for the "youths of today" I guess - i don't really know anyone in this age group to ask!

Their own shadow scares them and every bloody thing offends them.

Eye contact.

100% agree with phone calls, no Wi-Fi, no charge on the mobile.
Some of these are quite funny!

My teenage DD is terrified of spiders!

This

14 year old DD still hates the farmer in Peter Rabbit, found Scream hilarious when watched at a sleepover though.

Making conversation, being interested in other people, grammar and spelling.

really? As a wild generalisation, I think this description fits our generation more than the current teens

Missing out. Not having friends. Turning into their parents. Doubt there any films that would scare them but a young cold caller ran away fast when seeing me in my dressing gown muttering covid, go away at him. Wonder if it works on Jehovah's witnesses?

Wonder if it works on Jehovah's witnesses?

Just tell them you have blood transfusions for shits and giggles, they bugger off then.

My teen is fairly normal I think. She's scared of horror movies, hates gore but what would really scare her is if she dropped her phone and broke it

Being publicly embarrassed. Doh. Obvious, no? Social opprobrium is very very tough & a relentless pressure when you're 13-14.

I remember feeling same at about the same age in 1970s !!

2% battery life

We're in the US and my older two are a bit desensitized bc of the internet and active shooter drills. But my younger teenager has been homeschooled so she's afraid of guns. Dogs are another because of pit bull attacks locally. Social interactions have become difficult since the pandemic.

Sorry i dont know how to quote!
Not so odd really. My son and a few of his friends are queer and the future for them is really uncertain.

The way trans people are being treated is such a backwards step. Where will it end? Will gay rights go the same way? He still can't be openly queer in our home town for fear of violence.

And I don't mean they are not living their lives, of course they are. But they are realistic and that's actually a bit heartbreaking.

Trans people are rare so I expect most people won't have come across one on the whole and not know how to respond but LGB pretty badly treated still, especially globally.

Sorry that should read won't know how to respond.

I'm sorry to hear your son is living with homophobia. It's quite shocking in this day and age @Oooooft .

The way trans people are being treated is such a backwards step

In what way? Their supporters are trampling all over women's rights!

@MrsCuthbertson I agree.

I'm not getting into a debate on women's rights and trans rights.

What I do mean is the trans boy I know is treated with contempt and disgust. How is that OK? My bisexual son is also treated with a lesser level of contempt and disgust and its only getting worse. They are worried for their futures. I am worried for their futures. This is what scares THEM. Its real and its happening to them now. Womens rights are not at the forefront of their minds....

How do people know what your son’s sexuality is in order to treat him with contempt? What a bizarre thing.

The wifi going down and having to talk to people either face to face, or god forbid......on the telephone!!

Life. Life itself seems to have them on high anxiety medication. I really want to know why.

@MrsCuthbertson

I want to add that there are hard workers. My DD gets on with life and is doing very well at school and she is focused on her studies. From the outside you would call her fearless. Very confident young girl.

That doesn’t mean that they have zero fears - it could be as petty as “public speaking” or “loosing all of my Instagram followers”.

Someone else mentioned their fear as a child. My biggest fear as a kid was the city flooding because of some scientific programme I stumbled across as a kid - I still got on with life, did very well at school, went to uni but hated water. I’m sure this generation would say I had “climate anxiety” 😁

Everyone is scared of something - even our biggest “hero’s” and I think each generation and groups of people have collective fears. Like being of that generation that might never buy house and fearing homelessness or living in extreme weather conditions (maybe not in the UK) and fearing you’ll be wiped out one day.

Unless there are a few people out here that live in constant utopia. Happy for you - teach me!

Being seen out in town with either of his parents.
Being seen by either of his parents when he is out with friends and said parent coming over for a chat.