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Which Generation is Better Behaved: A Circus Life Lived by the Little Old Youth of the 21st Century

  • Writer: vicedooo. karl
    vicedooo. karl
  • Apr 21, 2024
  • 5 min read
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“Kami nga noon e…” These phrases reverberate in the ears of today's youth like a continual tune chanted by previous generations. This is a regular occurrence in today's society, as the conduct and lifestyle of today's youth are perpetually compared to previous generations, whether in terms of manners, etiquette, fashion, pop culture, self-identity, or other aspects. While many people say that kids today misbehave for various reasons, it is undeniable that this generation of adolescents endures their lives as if they are in a circus. Poised for verbal and emotional attacks from the older generations but paving their roads with bare hands, today's youth stand on the brink of independence and the continuous desire to prove themselves. Such delicate, docile young people meander through life's hidden corners until they reach the tipping point of circus life—a world that forces them to walk across a tightrope and throw themselves upon a trapeze. As a result, this makes them resilient and durable, albeit occasionally harsh. Notwithstanding this, a person's upbringing and choices shape behavior more than generational disparities. However, due to numerous disputes, the million-dollar question transcends multiple eras and generations: which generation is better behaved? The distressing fact, which individuals making the first assertion of this introductory paragraph are unaware of, is that children and teenagers nowadays are far better behaved than past generations. For this reason, in contradiction to common perception, today's teenagers exhibit far better manners, etiquettes, and behavior because they have been fostered by current political, economic, and social events; they demonstrate less rebellious behavior; and they have substantially risen in their reliance on certain forms of technology over the last decades. 


         People's good behavior is typically defined as courteous or well-bred social deportment (Ashraf, 2018). However, what defines "good behavior" is subjective, especially among generations. This may explain why generations have different perspectives on what constitutes good behavior and who conducts better. Parents and elders frequently compare their childhood experiences to those of today's teenagers. Of course, there will be some noticeable distinctions between today's youth, such as the type of music they listen to and their attire, among other things. Nonetheless, these evolutionary processes do not determine the behavior of today's generations. Contrary to widely held beliefs, the present generation of teenagers is more courteous and accepting of diversity than previous generations, according to Divecha (2017). They are also more concerned about environmental, animal, and human rights issues (Smith, 2023). This can be attributed to the prevalence of technology, which encourages youth to be receptive to some topics, whether they are affected or not. Today, the discussion about mental well-being and illness is being undertaken without prejudice. Miana Bryant, the founder of The Mental Elephant, a multi-platform outlet that promotes awareness about mental health, is a living expression of the youth of today's age valuing and seeking to break the stigma that the earlier generations constructed. (Ruiz, 2018). Furthermore, young people including Gabby Frost, Samuel Orley, Katie Regittko, Max Rothman, Satvik Sethi, and Amanda Southworth represent prime instances of how teenagers are socially aware of issues that require consciousness and solutions, such as mental illness, LGTBQ+ inclusion, and eating disorders, among others.

         Despite adults' self-proclaimed "woke" behavior, they may argue that kids currently have the reputation of being rogue rabble-rousers, youthful, perilous compounds of fresh hormones, vitality, and no actual responsibility. They drink, engage in sexual activity, and drive recklessly—or do they? Regardless of this, IGW (2023) claims that young people are now more likely to engage in safe sex and less inclined to begin smoking. Furthermore, most of the survey questions from the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance Survey suggest that today's teenagers are among the best-behaved on record since they smoke, drink, and participate in sex less than earlier generations (Kliff et al., 2016). This could be attributed to various factors, including educational initiatives in schools. When it comes to college, more teenagers today opt to further their education, and it appears that they are more sophisticated regarding social and health-conscious decisions. These pieces of data support the notion that the behavior of this generation's teens is considerably superior to that of earlier ones. 

         In addition, older generations may argue that today's youth are overly reliant on technology and are damaging society. This may be accurate given that technology usage has drawbacks, particularly when not used efficiently. However, IGW (2023) contends that increasing media coverage of some themes, such as education, social issues, and lifestyle, has resulted in more excellent behavioral development in today's generation than in prior generations. Furthermore, youths can quickly access information via technology to share knowledge and enlighten themselves and others about social issues that require awareness (ReachOut, 2024). Furthermore, they retain and establish supportive relationships, shape their identities through self-expression, learning, and communication, and foster a feeling of belonging and self-esteem by staying in touch with friends and participating in varied communities. These factors contribute to improving this generation's adolescent behavior, bolstering the argument that even the adverse effects of technology may be offset by positive youth behavior to maximize its benefits.


         To put it simply, today's teenagers have better manners, etiquettes, and behavior because they eagerly learn and understand current social, political, and economic events; they showcase less erratic conduct, portraying them as good citizens of society; and they have substantially raised their dependency on technology in order to contribute to the betterment of the world. Adults from previous generations fail to recognize today's kids' benevolence and excellent behavior due to their unchanging perceptions formed in their periods and eras—all of which are long gone. Time is passing us by, and the world is constantly changing. Moreover, sometimes our perspectives about life do not fit with the generation we are now in. At times, we must adapt and discard it to develop a fresh system of thought more aligned with today's realities. Even though today's youth are more well-behaved than previous generations, behavior is not inherently linked to generational identity. We must recognize the need for a deeper comprehension of generational disparities and the role of human accountability and upbringing in influencing behavior. At the very end of the day, kids are kids. The kids are alright. Kids will act like kids: obnoxious, adamant, and hardheaded. However, it will be determined by how they grow and how they are grown, like seeds sprouting in the soil of the present in order to blossom hereafter. The phrase "Kami nga noon e…" should be changed to "Kami kasi noon… ngunit ganito na pala kayo ngayon," for greater clarity irrespective of time.

"Being a teenager is chaotic because you're kind of coming into your own, but you're not an adult; you're fighting with your parents over responsibilities and freedom."

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