Are today's youngest generation becoming spoiled?

[Sir Suomi]

Well, this is a pattern I've begun to notice this terrible trend in today's youngest generation(I'm talking about 10-12 year old children here). It seems that almost every child has a phone, majority of the time it being a smart phone, or expensive electronics just for themselves like Ipads, Ipods, laptops, and gaming consoles. They do not respect their elders, and use harsh language, even worse than a sailor. Now, although this is not true for all, but I can see it happening in my own city, in small town Nebraska. Is anyone else noticing this? :what:

[Jess]

The only thing I notice/know is that my little brother, who's 12, uses the iPad/iPod a lot to play games. But he's respectful to his elders and he doesn't use any bad language...yet.

[Mortal Coil]

Well, I'm noticing it, but I think every generation of older teens/young adults sees their juniors in the same light. Think about all the times your parents have said things like that to you!

Personally I do think they're spoiled, but I also understand that in the larger context, it's always going to be like that because of cultural and technological advances.

[ImCoolBeans]

Back when I was 10-12 everybody had a phone, so I don't think it really makes a difference if it's a smartphone or not. If smartphones were around 8 years ago I'm sure the 10 year olds I was hanging out with would have had them instead of the crappy flip phones that were in style. The generation ahead of the one behind it will always think that the younger generation is spoiled/rude -- history agrees.

[Apollo.]

When I was younger everyone had the latest phone, I think because things are more expensive now it looks like kids are more spoiled but in reality if they had a £600 phone out that could do loads of cool shit when I was 12 I reckon lots of people would of had them.

I don't think all kids that have these things are spoiled some are yes but others appreciate it a lot. From my experience with friends younger siblings the ones that have things like Iphones and Ipads they are actually a lot more mature and easier to talk to which I think is a good thing.

[unknownuser]

Surely we didn't see ourselves as spoiled bratty kids when we were that age...
I'm sure that each generation has their share of kids who have the latest technology, are rude, and annoying. On the other hand, there are always the handful of kids that are the opposite.

You think 10-12 year olds acting like this and having all these nice electronics is bad, you should see all the preschool to 2nd grade kids I know and their iPads/laptops and stuff... they've got better stuff than me- and I'm 17... Also, many of them are indeed very rude, not only towards others, but their parents as well.

[Silicate Wielder]

oh god, I've seen so many little kids spoiled rotten in the shelters i've been to, I remember this one little girl and ugh it was scary. (No joke, even my mom and friends were stunned by this girl's behavior)
But seriously some they get fancier things but they still have the same manners and such but then there are the parents who are neglectful that their kids need to be punished when they do something bad and get or do whatever they want. its mostly bad parenting that results in a spoiled child.

however outside of the shelter's you don't see this too often.

were I live most kids are raised little more old fashioned. they don't really get the Ipads and ipods and things like that, its mostly in the richer neighborhoods but those kids aren't spoiled either they might have maybe an extra Ipod nano and stuff but they still appreciate having them, however once you see kids in middle school is when you see the DSs and portable game consoles disappearing here, they're starting to use tablets and smart phones. (I still use a 3DS on the bus, i feel a little out of place here :P)

so no not really. but we still have that handful of bratty spoiled kids though, so not much has changed.

[TheBassoonist]

I'm almost willing to bet that this is how every generation views the next generation. Our parents' generation probably thought the same about our generation. It's a self-perpetuating cycle as society changes and new stuff becomes available.

[Lost in the Echo]

Every generation of children have been spoiled.
When you're a young child, it's natural to want a bunch of shit, because it makes you feel superior to others.
Also, when something new is advertised, children want it, because the advertisement makes this new product seem "cool", and the child wants it, so they're "cool",
That's the point of advertisement, it's done to make things appeal.

But like I said, it's natural to want a bunch of toys and such, when you're a child, because you're young and naive, and you think, that if you don't get it, you're inferior to everyone else.
As you grow up, and mature though, you realize you don't need a bunch of shit to be happy in life, and you become appreciative and thankful, of what you do have.

[NeuroTiger]

It's their way to show they are growing; part of puberty, I guess.
True it is they are becoming more and more rude.

[Gwen]

Anyone who has got it easier will be spoiled that's just how it is and will continue to be.

[Twilly F. Sniper]

For the most part they are. I see little kids bringing snacks on the morning route on my bus, and attacking people who don't give them snacks in the evening.
I am an example of the otherwise.

[ShatteredWings]

Teenagers in the 90s/00s probably said that about our game boys...

The technology is new but nothing is really different.

(This said my siblings have WAY more stuff than I ever did at their age. We were also poor when I was there age so life just sucks that way.)

[Snookers]

I think it's normally for kids born in the 90's to think that about the younger generation.
It's a big difference between a spoiled child and a disrespectful child. You can spoil a kid (e.g. buying him/her lots of clothes, a telephone, many toys) but still give him/her a correct education and learn him/her how to behave.
But yea, when it comes to spoiled little brats, the parents are to be blamed. It's okay of you want the best for your child, but you still need to discipline him/her.

[Human]

These discussions happen every generation... maybe a bit but it doesn't really matter. The mature ones will contribute to society.

[brandon1995]

You might be right but our teacher read a piece one time about how the young are becoming soft due to luxuries, etc. And how they are becoming disrespectful and many of the other things you mention. And it was from Ancient Greece. ( or Rome possibly)

[Cicero]

My parents have always said "Be spoiled without acting spoiled." So if they're not acting spoiled I could care less.

[TheBigUnit]

I think its like this every generation, ours may have been that every 12 y/o had a video game they could play in their pockets like a PSP or a gameboy,

[StoppingTime]

Well, I'm noticing it, but I think every generation of older teens/young adults sees their juniors in the same light. Think about all the times your parents have said things like that to you!



This. People who are older almost always "look down" on those who are younger, because we feel like we're entitled to do so. However, it was the same when we were all 9,10,11 etc. Sure, it might not have been smartphones, but it was whatever else the "hot gadgets" were for the time. Maybe it was an original DS, maybe a Gameboy Color, or whatever else. The point is we did the same thing, but now that we're older we think we're entitled to call it out :P