Why does it take so long to grow up today? | Jeffrey Jensen Arnett | TEDxPSU

It takes so long to “grow up” today-finish education, find a stable job, get married-that it makes sense to think of it as a new life stage, emerging adulthood, in between adolescence and young adulthood. But why? Four revolutions of the 1960s and ‘70s explain it: the Technology Revolution that changed the economy and led to more education for longer than ever before; the Sexual Revolution that made it possible to have a sex life without marriage; the Women’s Movement that gave women an incentive to postpone marriage to pursue a career; and the Youth Movement, which gave adulthood a bad name. Older adults grumble that it takes “too long” to grow up today, but most people will be better partners and parents if they wait longer, so why not use most of the twenties for adventures you’ll never be able to have again?
Jeffrey Arnett is a professor in Clark University’s Department of Psychology in Massachusetts. Starting with his Bachelor in Science in Psychology at Michigan State University, Arnett’s education continued with a Masters and a Ph. D. from the University of Virginia. Arnett has held a lot of professorships and research positions with a variety of universities across the United States. Arnett coined the phrase emerging adulthood, the phase of life between adolescence and full-fledged adulthood. Arnett has also authored three publications including a book about the heavy metal subculture and teens. In addition to his background in academia, Arnett has appeared on television and given speeches to further his theory of emerging adulthood.
This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at ted.com/tedx

[@katejoy9849]

i always cringe when i see older adults talking about this generation, it was such a relief to hear him be supportive. it was calming

[@battomataxa]

100%

[@elmohead]

1950: "You wanna work in this car factory? You look strong, got two hands. Here's some gloves and stand over there" 2017: "You wanna work in this car factory? Do you have Robotics Engineering degree and also 10 years experience in the field?

[@powerd1432]

elmohead yea but in the 50s they didnt have technology so they had to work harder on books and things

[@elmohead]

I don't understand what you're saying. Rephrase please?

[@powerd1432]

elmohead we have innovated so much further so right now is harder but u get more back then it was easier but u got less

[@elmohead]

Yes but at the same time, knowledge is more accessible as well. But I agree with you.

[@silhouettesmile5472]

Not only will you need a Robotics Engineering degree with experience, you must move to China.

[@lancerd4934]

This is the first talk I've seen that really hits the nail on the head. Emerging adulthood isn't driven by millennials, it's just experienced by them because it takes longer to get the necessary training and experience to acquire economic stability. He's still got this idea that emerging adulthood is about freedom and choice, but it really isn't. Millennials live with their parents because they lack the financial freedom to leave. They change careers frequently because companies would rather hire externally than promote or train their existing employees. This isn't driven by millennials' preferences because they aren't the decision makers in the workplace, they are just affected by those decisions. The average millennial carries $40k in student debt and by the end of "emerging adulthood" at 29 will only make $35k/year. That's not a position you want to be in when you're considering starting a family and taking on adult responsibilities. People say millennials are too choosy about their jobs, and that they should just take manufacturing or laboring jobs wherever they can get them, but employers are so choosy now that this isn't really feasible. I've been turned down from unskilled laboring jobs because I'm 'overqualified'. Besides which, a job that pays $8/hour while you're trying to pay off $40,000 in loans is just not going to cut it - the debt grows faster than you can earn money. So you have to be choosy if you want to avoid bankruptcy. Introducing spouses and kids into that situations is not only undesirable, it's downright irresponsible. Millennials are doing the best they can with the hand they've been dealt. What you observe about millennials is the result of their trying to cope with changes in society and the workplace that are outside of their control. What we're seeing now is the result of decisions made by politicians and corporate decision makers who large belong to the baby boomer generation. We don't yet know what changes millennials will bring because they're too young and economically/politically powerless to make them yet.

[@onlyresilience6276]

lancer D PREACH 👏👏👏👏👏

[@musicmann6812]

I left home at 16 but it still took until I was at least 28 before I had a child and finally grew up.

[@yopawpaw7408]

super Troll I think thats another thing. A lot of people my age with 3+ kids. Being in debt with kids on minimum wage is hard. You can live with debt. You cant grow with it though.

[@ramonaortega9958]

The youngest millennial is 26 and the oldest is 40, i think you’re referring to Gen Z, where 76% want to start their own business and work for themselves. Millennials want their employer to provide free food and put a slide in the building. Millennials were encouraged too much with individuality whereas Gen Z feels the need to stick together to fix everything, hence the change in family life course development. We are changing the traditional way of “growing up” where you’re to finish education, find a job and have a stead family all at a young age. We are putting ourselves first to ensure a better future with ever changing technology and opportunities, all before starting a family

[@benkleschinsky]

The saddest part its that grandparents and great grandparents are going to become non existent. It used to be common to have large extended families spanning many generations. Today parents in their 60's are walking their daughters down the aisle. By the time your kids are teens they will have no concept of grandparents because that is the consequence of having kids later on in life. It's truly a tragedy.

[@QJR583]

This should really be a HS graduation speech!

[@sunnysunde3495]

Exactly!

[@smiechu47]

I'm 40 year old and people are pushing me into adulthood, what the hell is wrong with them?

[@victormendoza3295]

+CLIn7 l33tW00d 50 is the new 20.

[@sallybenardello6533]

Victor Mendoza. Hahaha so very true

[@BetaBuxDelux]

Don’t lettem change you bro. I’m 48 and feel like I’m 15.

[@lyz6459]

This video needs more views. more young adults and teens need to see this seriously. As someone who did not have a concrete career plan before 18, I kept beating myself up for "not getting my life together". This could help a lot of people especially since the rampant hustle culture that is, for the most part, toxic. please share this among your young peers. We could really use this support. from the bottom of my heart, THANK YOU

[@Charlie-zp2se]

Maybe they could decrease the amount of time spent in education? Personally I feel like I didn't learn all that much in school and that it was more of a way to keep young people occupied.Perhaps they could cut high school short by 1,2 or 3 years so young people could start college earlier? Or they could emphasize a vocational aspect to school so students could learn skills that would actually be good for a job.

[@juliemarr2169]

That's is exactly what my mom was thinking when she homeschooled us. When we entered high school, she wanted us to focus on electives and subjects that we really wanted to pursue. Instead of garnering general knowledge, we got to specialize, volunteer, and try out different things before making that final decision.

[@humpadumpathump5918]

In Germany, and some other European countries, they actually stop going to normal high school when they turn 16. After that, they can either choose a vocational school where they gain actual job skills or go to a school that starts prepping them for professional jobs and advanced schooling. So by the time they're 20 they are ready to hit the workforce with actual skills and experience and are presentable to employers. I personally felt that the last 2 years of high school were just a bunch of time fillers and could have been used for more useful things such as vocational training. The simple wood shop class or car mechanics class aren't cutting it anymore, and ironically, those are even starting to be cut from schools.

[@johnleung7250]

Vocational training has always been an option. The problem is most students want to leave their door to prestigious jobs like doctors or university professors open, so they choose college over vocational training.

[@lyz6459]

I can relate to this. Especially if you are in a country that does not have free high quality education for all. However, these "filler" subjects or teachings can actually help people become holistically developed and ready for a lot of careers. So the ideal solution here is government funding. If education was affordable and accessible, people would not worry about studying for as long as they can. In turn, theyd be able to learn a lot and have more opportunities open to them

[@stephencrhodes]

@@juliemarr2169 Thanks for this insight... it crystalized my thinking about issues regarding my own experience as a university counselor. These ideas are not usually given as reasons for homeschooling. What do you do in your career now?

[@lauragawecki9867]

This was a very interesting talk. I found myself thinking about the age I married, 31, and the fact that there really was a great time of freedom I had compared to my parents and grandparents in this new knowledge economy. I see this playing out in my nieces and nephews as well. Great talk!

[@thedreamer4222]

This guy is a hero to us young adults. Let the problem be known so we get the support we need not people who try to judge us with their timelines.

[@marylaureen2859]

Wow. So good. Thanks for relieving some of my depression for being 32 and single af 😆 ... but I’m pursuing dance and a possible business! I would like to get married and have children one day tho 🙏🏻

[@trollbagginsphd1110]

What up wanna go on a date I know a great bridge

[@mckennalynn1916]

As a gen Z child born in the early 2000s, I feel like I'm doing the best I can to navigate through life but I do find it overwhelming and hard and I feel like because of technology and how the world is evolving things have changed for the better but also for the worst. Just so my thoughts based off reading the comments I did not get to watch the video yet but I feel like it would definitely be informative.

[@tinaseger679]

As always, no one explains it better. Thank you, Dr. Arnett.

[@l.aposdif4855]

I was born in the early 1990s, I've turned 30 recently and the existential anguish that comes along with it is real, anyone else feeling this way? Especially since almost everyone around me have synched to have babies this year and I'm feeling somewhat left behind about that, but I'm neither biologically (I have PCOS which lowers my possibilities of conceiving) nor mentally ready to assume that responsability Also, as much as I desired in my 20s to reach full independence and stability, now that I have that I can't help feeling rather emprisoned by the responsabilies that come along with having a job, running a house, paying bills... I long for freedom and flexibility in my life

[@user-qg2ym1tw2t]

Thank you for your words of wisdom! As a 28-year-old uni student without children. Hit the nail on the head, thank you!

[@teddyman27]

Thank you Jeffrey Jensen Arnett, I will enjoy it every moment

[@bemnetsileshi5222]

What a perfect timing for this video to appear in my feed🤯😃👍🏾👍🏾👍🏾🤷🏽‍♂️…. Thank you Adam from Ted x

[@jza1926]

essay due tomorrow and a a&p exam in a few days and more math ..... im tired

[@softypatel9937]

You'll pull through it

[@softypatel9937]

Oh wait... One year ago

[@softypatel9937]

Hopefully it all went okay lol

[@tuckercatlin1599]

Would be interesting to see him and Meg Jay talk about the process of emerging adulthood.

[@nataliehersom6416]

sooo true!!!! There's also a lot more pressure now to go to college which leads to a higher rate of depression and anxiety so they should lower the amount of college you need for a degree. ALSO we might be 10 years "behind" but the life expectancy increased.

[@nancypatricia511]

I have been part of communities who held the opinion the adolescence was an unnecessary stage in life. Or that young people were not growing up fast enough and that the years they remained in adolescence was getting longer because these young people were flawed and lazy. "When I was their age . . . ". It only takes one generation for parents to get out of toutch with the world because it does not stand still. They don't realize that a lot happens in 2o+ years. It is difficult to plan for a world that does not exist. My mother trained me for her world where there were few opportunities for woman's which was the world that she was born into.

[@geoffhannan1]

Hmmm, the problem with this talk is the definition of 'adulthood'. The speaker equates adulthood with having dependants - which 'narrows your choices'. The point I want to make is that 20-years now are not more 'childish' than those of a generation or two ago.

[@digdeeper3123]

so, when i was sandwiched between two tables at Starbucks the other day, one with an 18 yr old with a giant sticker on his laptop of an anime pink baby bunny, and the guy at the other table wearing a beanie with giant fuzzy floppy ears, you're saying with a straight face that boys don't grow up any slower now? things are definitely different all around. a scientific study just came out showing that men's hands are physically weaker now than they used to be. men today are definitely not the men that used to be. not saying it's necessarily bad in many cases but men have definitely become more feminized.

[@zoemaximex]

I'm only 21 so I can't say exactly how it is obviously but I think that might be because it's not that neccessary anymore to be physically strong. Men used to work hard in factorys or had to do hard labor, and since a lot of things are now automatic, men power isn't used as much as in the past.

[@jessd9759]

Adulthood etc are specific terms when used in developmental sciences though, so you need to take that into account.

[@charlotteclark3960]

My parents a grandparents and over 65 years and they have not grown up. They still. Backstab me a hurt my life by not being real parents to me .

[@peeweesmellyrat]

I took Dr. Arnett's Abnormal Psych class way back in 1988. Good professor and had some skills on the b-ball court...

[@raelbeauchard230]

i like this guy. he knows

[@gamma21285]

In one way I can agree but in another I can't agree. His baby boomer shows a lot when he talks about this, " adventures you'll never have again". He's got that old mind set that everybody SHOULD get married and have kids, as if it's a mandatory to life. He needs to understand that's became an outdated way of life. Sure people still get married and have kids, they always will, but people now choose to go they're own path and if marriage or family life isn't in their life plan then their not going that route regardless of what people say. You can have adventures anytime in life, not everyone's 20s are "carefree". Some people may have situations that prevent them to do these things. So they make up for the things they missed out on later in life be it their 30s, 40s, ect... You have one life, enjoy until the end,.not just during one numerical decade of your life. I do agree on SOME things but he still has a lot of too many old fashioned thoughts to try to "understand" younger people.

[@AllLonelyAndAlone]

preach it!

[@gamma21285]

Frau Meow Best comment I've seen! I think this guy is looking at thoes early 20somthings who have well to do parents, where it's easy for them at 22 to jump on a plane and fly to Europe and stay a month or so whenever they want. But for an average 20somthings it's not that easy

[@rhettgedies7467]

Marriage and raising a family creates long-term stability in one's own life, as well as society/culture at large. That's why it has always been top priority for living. Without it, your ultimate goal in life is to seek pleasure for yourself. That goal and dream lacks altruism, pouring into the next generation, leaving your mark on society through your children, contributing to maintaining the human population (in the barest sense of contributing to the country, 2.1 kids), sacrifice, and typically produces a younger death. In short, you lack duty and take the mindset of "I don't owe anybody a thing." It's a change/shift from "planning and building for the future" to "living for now." You here it in every pop song currently on the radio. Life is an ember spark. Here and then gone in a flash. So live for now. In my book, that is shallow self-conceited thinking.

[@gamma21285]

Rhett Gedies​​​ In my book you're way of thinking is one of the problems with society. You're one of thoes types who thinks everybody "should" get married and have kids whether they want to or not because "it's just the right thing to do" and if you don't then you are "self centered". That's just load of arbitrary none sense. It's doesn't make a person "shallow self-conceited" if it's not a life goal they want. And sure is hell not a sure fire way to happiness. While one person might have a goal of wanting the family life, another might want something different. It's called being an individual and choosing your own path. You don't have to have kids to "contribute to society". Just paying taxes along is contributing. Volunteering and donating to good causes and helping out in your community is contributing. People like you are a cancer to society. Labeling people because they don't go down the well traveled path of marriage and kids. A path that many people went down went they really didn't want to and end unhappy but felt like they had to because of people like you. You want to get married and have, if that's really your life goal and if that's what makes you happy. Then go for it. But expect it to be mandatory to life because it's not, it's a life choice. And don't think people who choose a different path then you makes them "shallow", it's seems like you're the one whoes shallow for thinking people their life they're way is wrong.

[@rhettgedies7467]

gamma21285 Thank you for lacing your response with ad hominems. I hope you have a blessed day. :)

[@lindsayallen73]

Funny, a couple of semesters ago, the professor posted a TED talk that promoted the exact opposite theory- Don't wait, Don't procrastinate.

[@musicmann6812]

It's simply a natural consequence of the human race living longer. Each decade the lifespan of humanity increases exponentially there for if our childhood is measured in percentages to the length of our lifetime then it would be logical to assume that as we live longer each stage of our natural life cycle would also increase.. or it could just be a consequence of our perception of time speeding up. If that is true then it would also be logical to assume that we would grow up a lot later than in times past when we perceived time more slowly than we do today.

[@tracky0077]

no doubt our increased longevity speaks in part for our life-cycles and its stages, though I think what jensen is saying and what i think is important is the nuanced role society occupies to help shape those stages. there are many reasons i think and not that youre wrong, but youre response isnt very textured and lacks gradation when it comes to explaining this issue.

[@RisXXX]

[@robynmitchell4478]

I'm watching this as a part of my assignment, and I'm repulsed by what he is saying. Don't get me wrong; he makes some valid and significant points.

[@MATTicall]

Wow.

[@justinmoore3217]

I disagree with the title. People are not growing up slowly they're the same ages any age was then or now it's that people are making a living not growing but living slowly because how f****** expensive this world is now. I make more than my grandpa did when he was my age though he was able to move out at that age we're in my situation everything's too damn expensive

[@mikaylalawrence1238]

exactly!

[@steinarbruun3852]

Sounds good, but I rather think that it is because childhood has been taken away from the children. Everything seems to be organized, controlled, planed and supervised with safety, learning and the removal of innocence in mind.

[@richardjordan9564]

What he didn't mention is the fact that this delay puts added burden on parents, requiring them to parent longer and later sacrificing more of their lives than before. Supporting children steadily rather than occasionally in their 30's was not the parents plan. Parents have a right to live the later years of their lives before they get too old to enjoy them. If it's too expensive for the kids to be independent, then it is also too expensive for the parents to support them continuously. I didn't hear any of that. The emphasis on kids needs first until they're comfortable enough to venture out effects those supplying the comfort. No consideration for them.

[@skittenhund]

Exactly.

[@zon2602]

Thank you for clarifying this topic.

[@gamma21285]

Zeenat Nordien I wouldn't take everything he says with face value. Need to look a little more into it

[@kononoism]

I love him so much

[@gamma21285]

don't buy into this guy's bs, he's a baby boomer with gloomy ideas about life late on

[@cynthiasparkschannel7797]

Thank you for sharing this perspective and key points on why the world and our children (emerging adults) are DIFFERENT! and I love how you even added WHY that's okay! When they are ready, young adulthood will still be there, it's a personal choice. We need to continue to spread this narrative because gosh, all I hear is bashing from the boomers and its their ignorance and it really is damaging.

[@BillRitchie]

It takes too long to make this point. An artist like Bob Dylan or a rapper can make it faster, more memorable.

[@SJHollist]

I wish my kids had been born when I was in my 20's then in my 30's. Now I'm in my 40's and can't keep up with my young kids.

[@gamma21285]

S.J. Hollist That's probably a lack of taking care of yourself

[@MsHeartIsArt]

@@gamma21285 that's what I was gonna say. I'm 35 and I run 3 miles easily and can pole dance. Nobody believes I'm 35. I have good genes but I also helped myself by exercising and eating right since I was 18.

[@jaijai5250]

@@MsHeartIsArtI exercised and ate well most of my life. I’m approaching 60 and can’t do some things as easily as when I was younger. It also takes longer to recover. This is just a long winded way of saying 35 is very young. Let us know if you’re still doing those things when you’re 60.

[@jaijai5250]

I try to tell people who delay parenthood, that babies are for young people. It takes a considerable amount of patience and energy. The amount of running up and downstairs you do, while sleep deprived is astonishing. I definitely couldn’t do it now, without causing harm to myself.

[@Er.MayurRajendraPawar]

Transfering from manufacturing to knowledge economy. Education. most people prefer marriage after getting stable job.

[@man-dranda-truthinterjection]

Everyone is been, and has been educated from school and the environment (society) they’ve built for us all to-live in.were kids as adults,we were educated to not take life seriously,its all a game,,but we act as if its real,so it-effects our living-life,wake up,its all by design.

[@bigpaw64]

easy way to solve the problem - never marry or have kids. live life having fun cradle to grave.

[@erubin100]

Amen!

[@MsHeartIsArt]

Prophetic words. It's actually a deep answer. Why SHOULD we have kids or get married? These are not for everyone at all. Society undervalued the single person. They can after all work more, are more productive.

[@seastorm9548]

@Lucid Dreamer Marriage and parenthood are only wonderful experiences to people who truly wanted it. The people who didn't have those desires would be miserable and it would only increase the divorce rate and the number of broken homes for children. There are married couples who choose not to have children and there are people with children who decide not to marry, people have different wants and needs in life. Saying marriage and children is wonderful for everyone is a little biased

[@user-xi9bv6fj7e]

Is there a link to these older parents getting married after age 30. In particular women's egg being that much older and increasing chance of having children with asbergers etc. This appears more common today than it has ever been.

[@domeuqe]

gosc jest pogchampem

[@cozytrucking]

Question is why it take so fast to go down , and that’s the problem we need to face today.

[@henrimatisse7481]

He's just listing events in history. Many people never grow up. take responsibility for their actions, develop an ability to understand incoming information, be able to take care of others. Most people can't even have a well informed conversation. Parents don't enable adulthood

[@YEETSWORLDWIDE]

What a GREAT speech.

[@gamma21285]

TOMM Y If wanna be his sheep then ok

[@user-hb4xj5xx4p]

👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽

[@FeiAHu]

What age range do you define as "emerging adulthood?" Is this 18-25? Or all throughout 20's?

[@wildfireleo]

not the angry old people in the comments lmao 💀

[@MohamedKandilMD]

يسلم فمك يا حج و الله

[@7eavenQueen]

I think I'm still emerging and I'm 40 😂

[@stevenhanson6057]

Coddling and pampering

[@Travanators]

This could honestly be the doom of humanity.

[@user-ry2qs7xf9k]

*young generations think that can beat time*

[@brittneynicolehenthorn9446]

I completely agree. It’s a shame.

[@redbehnke6615]

This???? Not the climate crisis, or micro plastic in our blood, but this???? Hahahaha

[@bigcatproductions2789]

I'm a Toy's R Us kid and I don't want to grow up ! 👶

[@quietconfidence20]

hi guys

[@aolvaar8792]

The War on Poverty in the 60's, "you don't need a man, just children" and we as a society will pay you. We didn't pay enough, because the Number one thing that takes a child out of poverty is TWO parents.

[@jaijai5250]

Not always. There are lots of two parent families living in poverty in the UK.

[@aolvaar8792]

@@jaijai5250 "ALWAYS" is a totality word. I did not say: "Without exception in the Universe"

[@mitchbales6462]

"Adulthood will still be ready when you are". If I develop a mindset of putting off responsibility, that will become a learned habit that will not be undone on the mystical day that the future finally arrives.

[@rhettgedies7467]

I am 21 and in graduate school. I am trying to be the exact antithesis/counter culture to what this guy is presenting. The sad thing is, what he saying is truly happening, but that doesn't mean it is right. "And once you enter, you can never really go back." Case and point, that's what childhood and adolescence have always been for. Teach that to them.

[@Smngtr]

but why?

[@MsHeartIsArt]

Said like a true young person. This is Just your opinion and reality. Not others'.

[@wendydowns3045]

Emerging adults, however, often want to lead a lifestyle that they can't afford. It's fine to pursue dreams and enjoy a carefree life with little responsibility, but emerging adults need to accept that they can't expect their parents or grandparents to finance their c'est la vie lifestyle and attitude.

[@shanonsnyder9450]

Many of us are first-gen college students from working class families, so we are aware of our parents inability to fund our adventures. Millennials are statistically the hardest working generation, after all!

[@jaijai5250]

@@shanonsnyder9450I think you’re correct. I was born in the 1960’s, my siblings and I were first generation graduates, and we expected very little from our parents. We knew we had to have the fire, and drive within, to achieve what we wanted. My children don’t have that fire, yet I see less fortunate people of their generation with that fire. I’ve realised that giving your children too much, and making life too easy, sadly disempowers them.

[@termita358]

Unfortunately all scientific studies conclude the opposite of what the speaker is talking about. Adulthood will not be there waiting for you. If you don't make the jump at a reasonable time you will always be waiting tables and living on the gig economy. People hear what they want to hear. Be aware of someone that says everything you want to hear.

[@annaguo7294]

well, that's a straight up lie because the speaker's scientific studies did not conclude the opposite of what he is talking about. go on, then. show us "all scientific studies". are you really trying to say my adulthood is going to get up and walk away if i don't claim it by a certain age? are you saying that if i don't "make the jump" into commitments i'm not financially ready for and instead, take all the time i need to study for a high earning career i'm going to end up.... waiting tables? please tell me how this makes any sense.

[@shanonsnyder9450]

On the contrary, beginning adulthood earlier tends to consign people to lower incomes for most of their lives while they their children. People who put off adulthood tend to have better jobs and happier marriages later in life. While this may not be good for society or economy overall, the stats do tend to show this as true, generally.

[@redbehnke6615]

Ah yes all the scientific studies you made up in your head

[@ehsanforghani8477]

To relate the marriage so much with growing up is what I don't find interesting.

[@sbmang4927]

My wife and I don't have kids, so this is not an issue. Thank goodness!!

[@lovelight5714]

Become NPD?

[@uncleball78]

How many of you would last in the wild? Before the 20th century, many of us could say "Yes, I could survive". Not so many can say that today. Pets are animals that never grow up. They are perpetually in a state of childhood, forever dependent on their parental figure. A pet has a hard time surviving in the wild without the aid of humans. So the question becomes, "Who owns us?"

[@jinjer9313]

That's fucking hilarious! I know literally everyone around me couldn't survive in the wild. I'm pretty fucking sure modernized civilization goes far beyond the 20th century, assclown. You're telling me you could tell what not to eat or drink, how to set up shelter and survive off the land? If you took these pets and dropped them off in the fucking wilderness they could survive. Just because abandoned animals die in society is because of that. You can't just go roam in the woods and call it "the wild". Geologically speaking, that's impossible from where I'm from. I know a lot of people like to sit on their asses and watch their naked and afraid, but that doesn't mean shit. Maybe you could survive, but don't spit out nonsense that we both know doesn't apply to "many" of your generation. The whole generation wars is bull shit. Both sides think they're soooo fucking perfect.

[@uncleball78]

Jinjer 93 You miss the point. I'm saying we are all pets. Most of us were born into it. There are only a handful of people that could live off of the land that are alive today. The generations that could do that before are dead (mostly). I'm nowhere near 100 years old so I don't know what you mean by "your generation." Baby boomers, Gen X and Millennials are all ill equipped to survive without society's infrastructure.

[@jinjer9313]

uncleball78 Ah I see what you're saying. I misread the before 20th century part and thought you meant they could. Still, though, people have been farming crops and animals for a long time, and traded goods long before technology. Our communities are definitely weakened which I think does everyone in them more harm than we realize.Sorry to jump at you and offend you if I did.

[@christietrumb7807]

@@jinjer9313 That was really nice of you to take responsibility and apologize. I'm serious bc that too is a lost art.

[@GhostSamaritan]

It's easier to survive in the wild. When I was extremely suicidal, a couple of months ago, I legitimately considered wandering off in the woods and make a living like Ted Kaczynski.

[@mrhallman64]

One of the issues with people taking longer to grow up and be independent is that they want to claim they are adults and expect to still be taken care of.

[@darleyt1]

90% of my wage goes to pay for boomers pensions and assets in the form of rent. After a 40 hour week I keep 0 pounds, but at least i'm independent right .Its tragic how boomers have unintentionally enslaved their own offspring. Male suicide has rocketed because of your inhuman rhetoric.

[@christinaparks4573]

WELL SAID!! THANK YOU!!!!!

[@redbehnke6615]

I can tell you commented without understanding anything this guy said

[@mrhallman64]

He didn't mention the simple fact that if women want to have babies it is more difficult in their 30s than in their twenties, and the longer they wait the percentage of success goes down and risk to their babies health goes up.

[@erubin100]

That's a myth. Lots of women can have babies in their 30s and 40s.

[@erubin100]

Ronnie Phoenix so your solution is, what? Enslave women and tell them they have to pump out at least ten babies before they're 30?

[@ronniephoenix5649]

erubin100 Well Ummmmmmmmm, yes! But that's not me speaking that's simply science/biology. A woman's fertility and pregnancy risk factors increase significantly beginning at age 30 and then multiply greatly after age 35 because she's nearing the end of her child-bearing years. Of course it's implausible to think that anyone should be enslaved to another. However women should consider/think about these parameters when considering marriage, family planning. That search for "The One" maybe at some point should become a pairing of decent like-minded individuals, who are willing to work and build a life together. What scripture calls "equally yoked"! Maybe, just maybe the idea and dream of a "soulmate" is the biggest fallacy of human existence!!! Sorry hopeless romantics, Romance is built, tended to and kindled, ... Not simply, given easily.

[@MsHeartIsArt]

This is an obsolete idea. We are healthier longer. Well if your genetics are good.

[@mikaylalawrence1238]

glad I wasn't the only one who thought that

[@grahammewburn]

At 5 years of age I walked 1 mile, 2 km, to school and the same on the return home. Kids today are wrapped in cotton wool.

[@livie4033]

But...isn't that the point? As we grow older, don't we WANT our children to live easier lives? To not struggle and go through some of the struggles that we went through? That's what everything today is about. The entire justification of technology is to make (insert task) easier. Seriously. Phones, cars, self-checkout at stores, computers, etc. You were five. Are you telling me that when you got the opportunity to drive, to go to different and further places, you said no because it makes things so much easier? That you wanted to continue walking because cars made things too much easier and you didn't want to support a benefiting industry? Honestly. There are two types of people in this world. Those who think, "I don't want anyone to struggle the way I did," and those who think, "I struggled, why shouldn't they?" Kids today are wrapped in cotton wool. Oh, right because you were wrapped in steel wool, huh. I'm sure your parents may have had the same thought.

[@grahammewburn]

@@livie4033 I often walk 5km at 72 years young. Everything has consequences. Walking keeps me healthy. I wish you well. Please grow your own food. Soon demand for oil will exceed supply. This will cause global food shortages. Please Google Green revolution

[@livie4033]

@@grahammewburn Ok sir listen. The only reason I mentioned cars was because they are the alternative to walking, which is what the first part of your post was about. I did not mention them to start a debate about the Green Revolution. I took an AP Environmental Science class. I'm in college. I understand supply and demand. But what caused me to respond was your last sentence. Kids today are wrapped in cotton wool. Is that a bad thing? Sure, I didn't have to walk to school because I had a bus. But at school, I had History, where we learned about the things that you had to live through, so that we knew what to/not to do in the event that history should repeat itself. And I took AP Environmental Science, where we talked about the Green and Blue Revolution, renewable energy, GMOs, etc, which I doubt you had at your school. Frankly, I don't understand how the "When I was your age..." argument is even valid. "When I was your age, I had to do this, this, and this and it was hard." Ok? How do you want me to respond to that? What do you want my response to be so that your "argument" made a beneficial change? In my experience, I've never heard an argument that started like that have a positive impact to resolve an issue.

[@grahammewburn]

@@livie4033 I don't want you to do anything. But please grow your own food. Cheers Gray PS I simply shared my opinion. You have expressed yours. Done!

[@grahammewburn]

@@livie4033 the issues of this bankrupt society are beyond solving. Civilizations come and go. Now it's our turn to go.

[@stevenhanson6057]

Socialism is becoming more popular. Ok, you see where this is going.

[@bettymariduena8591]

quiero este vídeo en español

[@elienaiassis1889]

Betty MARIDUEÑA subtitles.

[@jentyme]

I do not share these antiquated Beliefs. None of what he says fact or science. It is general speculation on statistics of general populations. The study of 1, each individual is the only thing I believe, for now.

[@gamma21285]

true

[@cindyblust6722]

science is also fallible ......it is a process of theory and proof. Often the 'proof' part is left out. Being in science, this is a must to understand. look under 'google' the ten ways science is fallible. what he says is indeed observation but i will agree, that 'age' is mental and not necessarily chronological age. there are exceptions to the rule ALWAYS. he is speaking generally like most

[@streetcarnamedtrainwreck2078]

Who is feeding and housing these “emerging adults?” Grow up !!!

[@GhostSamaritan]

Ah yes, now you have people roaming the streets with nothing to do. If they don't end up dealing drugs, they'll end up as addicts. Or they'll just straight up kill themselves (which mean in their 20's are doing).

[@jaijai5250]

It puts an added burden on parents, who would like to enjoy their lives, whilst they still have energy, and the mental capacity. I don’t blame young people for their outcomes. Policy makers and politicians forced parents to be more hands on, and intricately involved. My parents would have been charged with “blissful neglect”, if they had been raising children today. We walked to school alone, when I was 9, and responsible for an 8,7 and 6 year old. We stayed home alone during the school holidays, while our parent’s worked. We played out unchaperoned, and unsupervised by adults with all the other local children. We wandered onto building sites, wastelands and woodlands, and I was born in the UK in the 1960’s. The playground had a concrete floor, teachers and parents were permitted to enforce physical punishment. All these things would’ve been reported to social services today.

[@marytang8888]

I'm sure this speaker is popular for asking young people not to grow up, not to take on responsibilities and remain in adolescence for as long as possible. Making up a new term like 'emerging adulthood' is a good idea to keep people in that life stage where they spend money freely and may boost the economy - is that what it is all about? Late parents do not make better parents; late marrieds get divorce too. Women and men should have their right to choose when they want to become responsible adults as long as they do not depend on ageing parents or the society to support them. It's ridiculous to suggest that you need to stay in college for longer to get anywhere in technology, or in life. We all know that; don't we? This is the worst TED talk I've ever heard.

[@Snaaaked]

+Mary Tang Well.. science and biology dictates that.. the more sophisticated and complicated creatures take longer to mature, while the simpler once mature faster. any comments about that?

[@marytang8888]

+john snow Science and biology dictate very little, less and less since writing was invented: we are capable of learning from thousands of years of civilisation and benefit from wisdom gained thereby. People have a right to CHOOSE to remain free of responsibilities - as long as they are not expecting the rest of society to carry the burden. To say that they can't help it is simply untrue.

[@Snaaaked]

well im saying that it takes longer to mature, because there is much more information and knowledge to process. because maturity is ultimately ( a stop to growth). So now we are in the age of information and growth and learning, we need less people to be "mature" in the traditional sense and more people to go out there and utilize these new resources and understand them.

[@marytang8888]

+john snow I do not believe that learning is a hindrance to growth, however much there is to learn and no one is ever expected to learn everything there is to know. Most of your so called 'emerging adults' are not going out there to 'utilise resources and understand them'; more like utilising the ever expanding amount of goods and services available before today. They are being groomed as consumers.

[@Snaaaked]

what ever... im actually quite neutral about this statement. I think everyone grows up at different rates and you shouldn't ostracize anyone for not maturing at the same rate. its their life let them live it. you are a judgeful person because you are miserable.

[@Nick-1992-SRB]

That's why all these new generations are shit and rubbish that's why more and more young people aren't getting married or should i say never seen a girlfriend in their life or a boyfriend if your a girl back in the days like the 60s my dad was married to my mom at 21 and she was 19 and the relationship lasted for 26 years which is a very long time and all his high school friends were all married the latest 23 years old but the marriage back then was for love now these days its all about money greed for love there is no such thing today as true love it's very simple you got to have your own house lots of money for her to spend in return for her to live with you and the only people that can achieve this is much older guys in their mid 30s or 40s that's why young people's life's are disasters now days and are single to an old age or it never happens at all.

[@powerd1432]

Nicks 92 videos THANK GOD.

[@MsHeartIsArt]

Don't be jealous of others. Just love your own life. Live and let live.

[@MsHeartIsArt]

Trust me your parents had an open relationship. Long marriage doesn't meant they were only with each other. Monogomy is unnatural.

[@dontbesylly]

At least the new generations don't write unreadable run-on sentences.

[@onicabornstein3893]

ok boomer