The major character in most adolescent lives during their Holden Caulfield years tends to be a beat up old jalopy of a car. Many teenage adventures over the years have started with a tank of gas, nothing to do, and a whole lot of time to kill, but today’s generation has begun preferring, wait for it, smartphones.
According to the New York Times:
In a survey to be published later this year, Gartner found that 46 percent of people 18 to 24 would choose access to the Internet over access to their own car. Only 15 percent of the baby boom generation would say that, the survey found.
I’m not sure if I should be proud because this generation doesn’t feel the need to have their own cars to clog up the skies with, or if I should be sad because the days of misadventure and road trips are long behind us at this point.
The NYT article points out that the iPhone, and smartphones by extension, have replaced the driver’s license as a rite of passage into adulthood. I mean, it kind of makes sense, given the economics of today. Young adults can afford an iPhone long before they can afford a used car, gas, insurance, and repairs.
What do you think? Would you trade in that much-loved Pinto that you rocked during your senior high school years for an iPhone if you got to do it all over again? I love my iPhone as much as the next guy, but something tells me my priorities would side on not having my parents drive me on all my high school dates.
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LikeAs a parent of a 17 year old I am familiar with this issue. I have offered countless times for my son to drive and practice so he can get his license but he has no interest. At the same time he's never 2 feet away from his iPhone. I don't think it has so much to do with the environment or laws so much as it has to do with social networking, he doesn't need to go somewhere to socialize with his friends so why does he need to drive?
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LikeThe young generation of today are constantly being told and taught about global warming and the global economic downturn, hence, money is 'precious'. This generation would prefer to ride public transfer over getting some 'crappy' car and spending the money on more personal items, such as smart phones.
As Cilo said, it's also the expense of upkeep of cars; i.e. insurance, gas, licenses, while once you buy a smartphone, that's all you have to pay (except for phone carrier charges, which is relatively minimal in comparison).
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LikeYou must remember that many states have passed graduated driver's laws that prohibit many of the "harmless" activities that you or I did as a youth. Having your license now as a 16-17 year old means not driving after 10 pm in some states or only having one other under age 18 year old person in your car (not counting siblings). Many students are taking a pass on getting their licenses due to schools no longer paying for the driver education class which can be quite pricy. And all this, studies show is making those mistakes people used to make at 16 & 17 be made once that person is of age.
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