Then vs. Now: How Teenagers have Changed from 1982-2012

Published on March 16, 2012 by

A look at the changes the changes teenagers have made since 1982 till 2012.

Then vs Now: How Things Have Changed from 1982 to 2012

Then vs. Now: How things have changed from 1982-2012

Those kids today… you may be the parent of a teenager and wondering what you’ve gotten yourself into. But do you have it worse than parents of the past? We all know that kids will be kids, but how much do they change over the course of a generation?

The typical teenager in the early 1980s was rocking a Walkman and had just seen E.T. Today’s average kid? He has a cellphone in his pocket, he listens to Rihanna, he’s less likely to finish high school and he’s more likely to practice safe sex.

Music

1982: Olivia Newton-John, Survivor, Joan Jett and the Blachearts

2012: Adele, Rihanna, Katy Perry

Movies

1982: Fast Times at Ridgemont High, E.T.

2012: Twilight: Breaking Dawn, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows 2

Video Games

1982: Coleco Vision, Atari

2012: PS3, Wii, Xbox 360

Sports Stars

1982: Pete Rose

2012: LeBron James

Work Money

1982: $60.30 per week

2012: $130.oo per week

Cell Phones

1982: What?

2012: 3 out of every 4 teens has a cellphone

Marijuana Use

1982: 30% of teens

2012: 20% of teens

Career Aspirations

1982: Engineering, Biology, Business Management, Physical Sciences, Agriculture and natural resources

2012: Healthcare, Business, Education, Social Sciences, Visual & Performing Arts

Driving

1982: 52% of kids 15-17 had their driver’s license

2012: 43% of kids 15-17 had their driver’s license

SAT Scores

1982: 997

2012: 1,011

Graduation Rate

1982: 77.5% of high school students graduated

2012: 72% of high school students graduate

Diversity

1982: 79% white, 11.6% black, 6.3% hispanic, 1.3% Asian

2012: 54% white, 21.5% hispanic, 17% black, 5% Asian, 1.2% Native Americans

College Plans

1982: 58.3% go to college, 35.4% work full time, 6.3% other

2012: 79.2% go to college, 18.7% work full time, 2.1% other

Top Foreign Languages

1982: 18% Spanish, 9.2% French, 2.5% German

2012: 30% Spanish, 8% French, 2.1% German

Sex and Safety

1982: 55% of kids use contraception during their first sexual experience

2012: 81.5% of kids use contraception during their first sexual experience

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Category: Category: Education, Category: Life
Tags: education, Generation, infographic, Teenagers, Then vs. Now

About Kristen Rafajko

Kristen Rafajko, founder of StyleListe Media, is an entrepreneur, former model, fashion stylist, and editor. She has worked with celebrities, influential leaders and businesses, and is known for her over the top ideas and imagination, her straightforward honesty and optimism, and her drive to help others succeed. Kristen has built her career by using her expertise as an editor and stylist to advise companies to market their businesses more effectively, and promote a better overall image. She has helped individuals and businesses become “famous” in their industries and to help manage and strategically plan their way to “fame”. In Kristen’s personal life, she resides as a single mother of two children, and has had the honor to do public speaking around the country on the importance of self-worth and overcoming life’s challenges. Her life's goal is to help inspire and empower women to feel confident and achieve their goals while pushing past the road blocks of life.

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