0. How do kids socialize without devices these days?
1a-b. Do they meet new people like them and/or unlike them?
2. Do they go outside and explore the world nearby?
3a-b. Do they get in the same or different kinds of trouble as past generations of kids?
4a-d. What are the fundamental social values they share that differ from 1-4 generations ago?
5a-c. Do they have as much curiosity, work ethic, or resiliency to setbacks?
Here's my neon fuchsia fanny-pack, old personitis for reference:
When I was a kid, I had to wake up at 5:45 am to get ready to walk 1.3 mi (2 km) to a school bus stop when there was a perfectly good school 0.25 mi away. (Supposedly, I was denied a slot due to race-integration busing but I attribute it to paranoid parents rationalizing their lack of resolve.) The bus ride was 90 minutes each way for 3 hours total, depending on traffic. It was a magnet school where there were many kids from broken homes, abuse, poverty, undocumented parents hanging on, and situations adjacent to drug gangs. The non-IEP classroom material was too slow for me and I was often bored. The turnover of teachers was about 50%/year. Many substitute teachers. There were bullies, girls who behaved in age-inappropriate manners, carved graffiti-encased desks, and mountains of scantrons and dittos (spirit duplicator). No school uniforms, but gang colors and teen pregnancy were omnipresent concerns. Hardcover textbooks were worn to where bindings had saggy wrinkles. No computers and no cell phones.
I can answer a some those. Have family members who are teachers, friends who work with youth, etc and this whole thing comes up a lot.
I've used your numbering system to organize answers.
2. Less than previous generations.
There's simply far less places that will let kids just hang out.
Until a certain age its likely CPS will be called and police will be involved if your kids are out exploring, and after that age said kids hanging out is deemed antisocial and undesirable... So private security or the police hassle them.
3a-b: some the same, some different. Underage drinking/smoking/fucking is down, illicit drug use is down somewhat, but smoking's been replaced by vapes, and the drugs are different - often pharmaceuticals (real or counterfeit) such as xanax, etc.
Actual antisocial behavior is way down, but perceived antisocial behavior is up. Behaviours that previously were deemed largely benign (kids hanging out) are deemed unwanted. As per answer 2.
4a-d: the kids tend to be significantly more "tolerant" than previous generations. Make of that what you will.
5a-c: yes? They are still curious as all fuck, but work ethic is a funny animal.
Most traditional avenues for teenagers to "work" (outside of academics) are being closed off due to labour rules, liability, etc.
So a lot of younger people try make money online, have some kind of hustle. This ranges across the board of legality, morality, etc. Be it flipping clothes on Depop, dubious schemes involving dropshipping or selling knockoff designer gear online, selling artwork/crafts, trying to become an influencer/streamer/whatever... There's massive pressure to try monetize any hobby.
Resilience? Its teenagers. Some are hard as nails, some are drips.
0. How do kids socialize without devices these days?
1a-b. Do they meet new people like them and/or unlike them?
2. Do they go outside and explore the world nearby?
3a-b. Do they get in the same or different kinds of trouble as past generations of kids?
4a-d. What are the fundamental social values they share that differ from 1-4 generations ago?
5a-c. Do they have as much curiosity, work ethic, or resiliency to setbacks?
Here's my neon fuchsia fanny-pack, old personitis for reference:
When I was a kid, I had to wake up at 5:45 am to get ready to walk 1.3 mi (2 km) to a school bus stop when there was a perfectly good school 0.25 mi away. (Supposedly, I was denied a slot due to race-integration busing but I attribute it to paranoid parents rationalizing their lack of resolve.) The bus ride was 90 minutes each way for 3 hours total, depending on traffic. It was a magnet school where there were many kids from broken homes, abuse, poverty, undocumented parents hanging on, and situations adjacent to drug gangs. The non-IEP classroom material was too slow for me and I was often bored. The turnover of teachers was about 50%/year. Many substitute teachers. There were bullies, girls who behaved in age-inappropriate manners, carved graffiti-encased desks, and mountains of scantrons and dittos (spirit duplicator). No school uniforms, but gang colors and teen pregnancy were omnipresent concerns. Hardcover textbooks were worn to where bindings had saggy wrinkles. No computers and no cell phones.