We need to take a balanced look though, not only look at the bad and conclude all the young are like it.   As parents of young transitioning adults we should not be authoritarian. It does not work. It leads to rebellion and ends up with opposite of what is desired. We need to communicate and teach our kids how to make good decisions not scare them into submission by authoritarian attitudes.   What a generalised load of claptrap about a whole generation of young people.

Living in denial is unhelpful.

Nobody said ALL the young are like it, but it's a large and worrying trend that shouldn't be poohed poohed off as harmless.

Living in denial is unhelpful. Nobody said ALL the young are like it, but it's a large and worrying trend that shouldn't be poohed poohed off as harmless.

It's not me living in denial. I did discuss these issues with my kids and was always there for them in finding their ways through adolescence.

I did not shield them from the nasties of life. We talked about it and watched TV programs discussing issues which might affect them.

I did not pooh pooh anything off as harmless, I said it's not new. If we learn from the past we can teach our children to take care of themselves.

Being authoritarian is being in denial. They soon learn to hide what's going on with them, then you are in the dark and denial.

ok

IMO, Gen Y is way more conservative than any teen/young generation from the 70s/80s.

This article relates to teens in the US which has a very peculiar conservatism towards sex thanks to the proliferation of the right winged Christian movement over the last 2 decades. 

Australias experience is very different.Thankfully the widespread practices over there aren't really a part of our culture.

.    Australias experience is very different.Thankfully the widespread practices over there aren't really a part of our culture.

Yet. With the infiltration of american traditions and the loss of our own, and with many american celebrities as not entirely wholesome role models, wer'e growing ever closer.