In the last paragraph, the author presents characteristics of teenagers in order to suggest that teenagers can make valuable contributions to society. The paragraph emphasizes the potential of teens to see challenges in new ways and act as sources of fresh ideas, which indicates their ability to impact culture and society positively.
Where Do Teenagers Come From?
Teen Channel: Spotlight on Teens
Rock 'n' roll, teen dancers, eye-popping moves. It was a combustible combo when 18-year-old Chubby Checker introduced "The Twist" on the TV show American Bandstand in August 1960. His performance set off a national craze of swinging hips. It then sent teens to the record store. Their purchasing power turned "The Twist" into a hit.
That episode shows the historic influence of teenagers on American enterprise and culture. And they have even more sway today. Teens now spend billions of dollars each year, though they might track trends on TikTok rather than American Bandstand. What might surprise people today is that the history of teens as a group only dates from the last 100 years or so. Technological, social, and economic changes transformed adolescents into a cultural force.
A Century of Teens
For most of human history, adolescents were not considered to be a special group. They were just seen as "unfinished" adults. In general, once children could contribute to the family farm or hold a job, they were put to work. At the start of the 1900s, less than 10 percent of American kids graduated high school. At the same time, almost all social life revolved around the extended family. Historians point to three main factors that fueled the rise of the American teen: cars, compulsory education, and cash.
Automobiles were the technological development that gave older adolescents more personal freedom. Cars had become common by the 1920s. Those four wheels let teens evade their parents for a little while and get together with friends.
Another key element in the invention of teenagers was compulsory education. Two causes led to this social shift. There were efforts to end child labor in the early 1900s. In the 1930s, laws were passed to keep kids from competing for jobs with unemployed adults during the Great Depression. One result was more high schools. There, teens could hang out in large numbers as well as learn. Schools became places where teens could share opinions and ideas about clothes, music, movies, and so on.
Then came the economic boom after World War II (1939–1945). Working class families had more income than ever before. For teens, that meant more cash to spend. Filmmakers, fashion designers, music producers, and businesses evolved to appeal to teens. By 1960, an enduring image of the American teen had taken hold. Movies, blue jeans, and rock 'n' roll were all part of the picture.
More Than Consumers
Teens, though, had more on their minds than shopping. Many had strong opinions about how the world was being run. Thousands of Black teens, for example, braved jail to join the struggle for equality in the 1950s and 1960s. And by the end of the 1960s, teens across the country were defying their elders in other ways. They protested against the Vietnam War and championed women's rights.
Today's young people might be concerned about different issues. But teenagers, past and present, have a lot in common. By their nature, teens take risks. They look at social conventions and challenges in new ways. That's why they continue to be vital sources of fresh ideas—not to mention the occasional dance craze.
Think about and discuss these questions:
Was there anything that surprised you about the history of teens? If so, what was it and why was it unexpected?
In what ways do you think teens are shaping the culture today?
Question 8
8 / 8
In the last paragraph, the author presents characteristics of teenagers in order to __________.
show that teenagers of the past took more risks than teenagers today
suggest that teenagers can make valuable contributions to society
argue that teenagers are most likely to avoid certain causes
demonstrate that teenagers are not capable of changing
1 answer