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# Smells like teen spirit...
- URL: https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/19068/
- Published: 2006-09-14T15:09:20.000Z
- Updated: 2019-02-14T22:35:13.000Z
- Author: openDemocracy Supporters
- Tags: #en, #Migrated, #Import 2026-04-09 18:23

**by Jessica Reed**

A quick look at the 00's & youth culture: are we that doomed, or just a bit confused?

Corporate media [warns](http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11165576/?ref=opendemocracy.net) us that networking sites like Myspace or Bebo are dangerous and addicting cyber-spaces full of predators. [Opponents](http://www.zephoria.org/thoughts/archives/2006/07/10/study%5Fshows%5Ffea.html?ref=opendemocracy.net) (including practionners, researchers and [openDemocracy columnists](../../../media/control%5Fdopa%5F3785.jsp)) maintain fear is overblown, and that those sites play a crucial role in the development of social skills during teenagehood. Parents worry about the kids; they end up having more friends on their computer screens than in 'real life'. A new book asserts that our '[toxic culture](http://www.suepalmer.co.uk/toxic.php?ref=opendemocracy.net)' is bad for children. Or maybe it's [not that harmful](http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/story/0,,1871924,00.html?ref=opendemocracy.net), replies a Guardian's columnist today. The Telegraph [publishes](http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2006/09/12/njunk112.xml&ref=opendemocracy.net) an open letter signed by dozens of academics warning us against the deplorable effects of 'junk culture and modern life' on our children. A US academics [fear](http://www.zephoria.org/thoughts/archives/2006/09/13/the%5Fconsequence.html?ref=opendemocracy.net) "people will interpret it to mean that technology is bad bad bad". And just when [books](http://books.guardian.co.uk/reviews/generalfiction/0,6121,1040923,00.html?ref=opendemocracy.net) and [movies](http://www.elephantmovie.com/?ref=opendemocracy.net) about tragic high-school rampages are starting to use art to comment on Columbine, armed youngsters still [kill and injure others](http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20060914.wmontreal0914/BNStory/National/home?ref=opendemocracy.net). We are the [slacker generation](http://www.salon.com/ent/movies/feature/2006/07/05/slacker/index.html?ref=opendemocracy.net), the Internet generation, [generation X,](../../../arts/generationx%5F3816.jsp) [generation Y](http://www.usatoday.com/money/workplace/2005-11-06-gen-y%5Fx.htm?ref=opendemocracy.net) or generation 9/11 - marketing categories youth vaguely understands, but never admits to be part of. Youth culture and its corporatisation is an obsession - [Naomi Klein](http://home.mira.net/~deller/ethicalpolitics/blackwood/klein.htm?ref=opendemocracy.net) says it has become globalization's most powerful symbol; youth is brainwashed and neurotic and community minded but technology-savvy. We are surrounded by i-pods, mac computers, free music and free movies, but youngsters are supposedly basking in their own ennui like never before.  

In a nutshell? Teenagers handle technology & online networking tools better than adults- who are [a bit bitter about it](http://www.metafilter.com/mefi/52671?ref=opendemocracy.net); junk food and trash tv = bad, tragedies motivated by social alienation have happened before and will continue to exist, and worrying too much about the next generation = unoriginal.

See? Getting it was easy, and everything is going to be okay...