How getting richer made teenagers less free
The article critiques how societal wealth, while eradicating child labor, has inadvertently created an era of unprecedented teenage supervision and diminished autonomy. It provocatively argues that this over-protection, fueled by parental anxiety and institutions like CPS, might be stifling young people's development and mental well-being. This nuanced perspective on childhood evolution and its modern paradoxes resonates with HN's interest in social dynamics and the unintended consequences of progress.
The Lowdown
This piece delves into the paradoxical effect of increasing societal wealth on the freedom and independence of teenagers, arguing that while economic progress has eliminated the dire necessity of child labor, it has inadvertently led to an era of excessive supervision and diminished autonomy for young people.
- In 1913, journalist Helen Todd found that most 14-16-year-olds in factories preferred work to school, citing reasons like less abuse, financial contribution to family, and a sense of purpose. Their families often relied on their meager earnings due to pervasive poverty and high adult mortality.
- A century ago, child mortality was high (19% before age 18), education levels were low (median eighth grade), and child labor was common, with 41% of 14-15 year old boys working.
- As society grew wealthier, child mortality decreased dramatically, leading to increased protectiveness from parents and a corresponding escalation in perceived minimal standards for child well-being.
- Today, this translates to extreme supervision: a poll found 36% believe children should not be left home alone for an hour or two until ages 14-17, and another 36% think allowing a 10-year-old to play alone in a park warrants a Child Protective Services (CPS) investigation.
- CPS investigations, which affect about 35% of American families (mostly without findings of maltreatment), contribute significantly to parental anxiety and the restriction of children's activities.
- The author notes racial disparities in attitudes toward CPS intervention, with 50% of Black voters supporting calls for a 10-year-old playing alone, compared to 33% of white voters.
- This lack of physical world agency forces teenagers into a solely digital existence, hindering their development of a realistic worldview and concrete life goals. Although current conditions are vastly superior to 1910, the article suggests this new form of 'child endangerment' stems from a lack of agency.
Ultimately, the article concludes that while eliminating child labor was a massive improvement, the subsequent explosion of prosperity should not trap teenagers in a state of extended adolescence devoid of meaningful choice and participation. A middle ground is necessary to ensure both safety and autonomy.