Are friends more important than family to today's teenager?

Question

This seems to be the current attitude from our teens, but I can't understand how they can believe such a perversion. Don't they understand that (for the most part) friends will come and go but your family will always be your family?

I would never consider such a perversion to be "personal growth"! Who are you kidding? Mistreating your family is NOT personal growth! Unless you're a demon!
A control freak? Simply because I asked a question? Or because I want today's teens to honor their family?
You asked, "Do you not trust your teens to meet people and make their own assessments regarding character?" Sometimes yes, and sometimes no. I am certain they need guidance in that dept. right now. I know how easy it is to be a poor judge of character when you are a teen.
Of course I want them to grow up and be successful on their own! Where is the connection here?! Why and how would anyone ever imagine that I didn't?!
Oh well, I suppose some people have so little "real" things in their lives that they feel they must go around stirring up "DRAMA" in this forum... So sad...
I've reported you for abuse because I see you have a habit of insulting other participants and that is not only WRONG it is against Yahoo rules.

Answer 1

I'm a 16 yr old female, and have a few friends. My mum is my best friend though. She's been through what I have and we can talk for hours on end. She shares her wise advice and jokes, and I love her.

As for my father, he and my mother divorced when I was 12. I still talk to my him on the phone and see him when he visits Australia (every 6 months). I love him, too.

My three sisters are 26, 24 and 23, and they're great fun to hang around with! They're married and I can't wait to see them. They put a smile on my dial when I'm blue, help me in every way they can and encourage me to study and keep my faith strong. I love them so much.

My brother, 11, is a nice kid, too. He does have a kind heart and will defend me when I need him to. Although he may not show his love for me, I know he cares!

My Stepdad is great, too.

I love my family and wouldn't put my friends before them.
Some teens do tend to do this. I apologise for not having an answer as to why.

Thanks for letting me share how much my family means to me :)

Answer 2

Teens are trying to find their place - they spend time socializing with their friends because they're learning to be independent when it's time to be independent. It's BECAUSE they know family will always be there that they are able to branch out and experiment. How dare you call personal growth a 'perversion'! What kind of control freak are you??? Do you not trust your teens to meet people and make their own assessments regarding character? Do you want them never to grow up and be successful on their own? It is the security offered by family which gives people the courage to venture forth and explore the world. Grow up and get a little bit of security for yourself.

Answer 3

Seems like the average teen sets more importance on their friends and just having fun. When the going gets tough, they go to their parents and siblings for comfort as they know they'll always be wanted there.

On the other hand, some teenagers get so involved with their friends families, they start to think their family is inferior.

I guess it depends on the way you brought the child up before they felt like they didn't need mom and dad anymore.

Answer 4

I don't believe this is anything new (I had the attitude twenty years ago). What could be more fun than hanging around with your friends, it's a carefree life. Friends know what's going on in and around school, they can relate to you, they gossip, they laugh about just about anything (funny or not), they don't tell you what to do or where to go, they don't lecture you, they don't force chores on you , they don't ground you, they don't tell stories of, when I was your age..........
Teens live in this world right now and many want to have fun and laugh now because they know there will not be a lot later (adulthood starts at eighteen).
And besides, family will always be there (they know that because they have been told over and over..) Plus spending time with family is, really , really boring... They don't know what is going on at school or with you (feelings, goals, dreams), their dumb, they claim to know everything about anything , you can't relate to them and they don't understand you.......
After considering all this where would you want to be.........

Answer 5

To tell the truth Yes they are more important than family!For most teenagers they would rather be around there friends then family.Teenagers may can tell there friends more secrets then family.I don't think that may ever change but it's true that today teenagers do put there friends before family.No,It isn't right but that is just the way it is.Ways to teach teens family is more important.
Teach them that family is important and friends will come and go.
Tell them friends can turn on you
Never put friends before family!

Answer 6

because babies are out of control. and that i'm no longer basically generalising to as we talk and age its continuously been this way. for sure many a three hundred and sixty 5 days in the past there develop into the form of aspect as caning in colleges, dunce caps, status contained in the nook - amidst each and every of the starting to be inner city crime and asbos and god knows what else occurring that form of draconian behaviour might want to be met with a 40 5. firing out at easily each and every man or woman. even as i develop right into a young person I wasnt precisely a saint yet I wasnt out of control both, i develop into basically awkward yet now in my mid Nineteen Thirties I extremely have grown up plenty and discovered plenty from my mistakes. To self-discipline todays little ones might want to be no longer conceivable because of the entire namby pamby policital correctness that's usually occurring. A for instance a even as back this Policeman were given into sooooo a lot worry for giving a wayward youngster a clip around the earhole and it made the newspapers and each and every thing, a decade or so till now that that form of aspect develop into easily perfect.

Answer 7

I think teens today spend more time with their friends, than their family. The reason i think this is, is because they feel embarassed like they cant be seen with their parents. But they will grow out of this its a stage alot of teens go through. It doesnt mean they dont love their family. They will grow out of it.

Answer 8

You are right!
Many thngs have changed.
Now-a-days teenagers are really the way you said.But again all are not like that.
Even I am a teenagers and I very honestly say that in the past I too at certain times did that!!!
Well, may be it is this time or part of our lives when we think that always we are right and our parents wrong.
Actually....Parents should also take care of this thng.

Answer 9

No thats not true but yes in some case teens like to spend more time with their friends cause they think their family can't fulfill what they want like they can express everythings to their friends but cant do that with family.

Answer 10

at that age it depends on strength, which relationship is stronger? If friends are more important, then they need to build on the family relationship. and yes you are right, family is forever, friendships often aren't permenant. friends move away and people loose touch, but families have a certain connection. its called relativity. *snicker* LOL!