Teenagers today, as in every generation, think they know everything. But we know that, for the most part, the opposite is true. In a recent discussion between men and women online, they revealed things they wished their parents had drilled into their heads.
1. Being A Social Media Influencer Is Lame
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Countless people express disbelief over the extreme ways teenagers try to become famous. Whether teens are trying to make viral videos or are just clout chasers, it's time to let them in on a secret: Being "always on" doesn't mean you're interesting. It means that you care too much about what people think about you.
2. It's Okay Not To Know Something
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You don't know what you don't know, and teenagers should realize that they shouldn't be put on a pedestal because they learned something before others did. More young people should learn to be content not knowing things.
"It is perfectly fine not to know something – it's okay not to know!" expresses one woman. "Stop shaming and bullying people because you learned something before they did. Social media is not the real world, and acting like it is will only make people not want to be around you."
3. Getting Into Fights Doesn't Make You Look Cool
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Okay, teenagers, we understand. You're young and full of angst. Stop getting into physical altercations with each other. You don't look cool; you look idiotic and immature.
4. Putting Your Life Online Isn't Smart
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Teenagers should prioritize privacy as the years go by, as it's getting harder and harder to stay anonymous in the Internet age. Some teens share too much! "Putting every aspect of yourself online is unsafe," advises one expert. "Nobody needs to know your triggers, address, or blood type list."
5. No One Wants To Hear Your Music
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For the love of everything good in the world, put on headphones. Nobody in public wants to hear your terrible music or your TikTok videos. In a perfect world, the United States government gifts teenagers a complimentary pair of headphones on their 13th birthdays.
6. Screwups Can Be Corrected
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Just because you screwed up does not mean you're a screwup. It happens to the best of us. Remember: Every day is another opportunity to turn it all around.
7. Pick Your Battles, Choose Your Spaces
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As much as everyone is taught always to be their authentic and genuine self, sometimes it's easier said than done. "As a queer person of color and millennial, it took me a long time to learn that you gotta learn to pick your battles, read the room, and know that not every space is a space that's made for you," says one teenager.
8. Stop Romanticizing Disorders
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Mental health isn't a trendy, cool topic. Mental health is something everyone should take seriously, especially teenagers. Don't overcomplicate things. "Everything doesn't need a label," one woman explains.
"It's okay to feel down, angry, anxious, or stressed every once in a while without the need for labeling it with some sort of disorder. Being bipolar doesn't mean one day you want to jump in the ocean and the next be curled up watching a movie. That's just being a person."
9. Start Being Financially Responsible Now
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Unless something catastrophic happens to the worldwide financial system, prices will continue to go up for the foreseeable future. So, teenagers, if you think everything is expensive now, you won't believe how pricey things become as you get older! Focus on your financial wellness now and save yourself from stress later in life.
10. Heartaches Will Pass
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As much as it feels like your world is crumbling around you when a relationship doesn't work out, try to stay positive. Breakups and heartaches are a rite of passage as a teenager, and learning the coping skills for navigating through heartache is an essential skill to have.
Cool Jobs For Teenagers..
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When you're a teenager, sometimes the most challenging part is figuring out how to make money. Not everyone is born with a silver spoon in their mouth, so it's essential to identify the jobs that are perfect for teens and that they may actually enjoy.
