Stereotypes are a widely believed idea that characterizes and associates a certain group of people. Stereotypes directed at teenagers include laziness, rebelliousness, uncaringness, irresponsibility, and recklessness; however, most do not actually apply to teens. Even adults are not perfect, many commit crimes, yet we do not associate adults with the minorities’ behavior. A teenager’s behavior may not be perfect, but most of these poor behaviors are portrayed by the media and adults; this portrayed behavior sets a standard for teenagers. Above that, teenagers’ brains are not fully developed; it only adds more hope for teenagers in meeting these unrealistic and bad standards.

The media and adults’ judgment have many damaging experiences on teens who are just hoping to be normal. As media surrounds teens in their daily lives, its influence is beyond our expectations and control. According to the Raising Children Network, the media often has lot of inappropriate content wandering around the internet and getting absorbed by teenagers scrolling on the internet. Many fictional stories, for example, depict teens as less interested in studies, which can influence teenagers. Content like this often depicts the wrong impression of what is normal to teenagers.

The Huffpost has found that four-fifths of teens feel that they are unfairly represented in media as the media only focus on broadcasting negative stories of teenage behavior and none on the positive. Furthermore, The Princeton Summer Journal, stated that, society is so focused on the negative aspects of teenagers that they forget how many of these little adults “take multiple AP courses, stay inside to study for the SATs and care for their younger siblings.” The media tends to manipulate the image of teens in a negative direction.

The National Institute of Mental Health has stated that “the brain finishes developing and maturing in the mid-to-late 20s,” and “the prefrontal cortex, is one of the last parts to mature.” The cortex is also responsible for decision making. They also stated that “melatonin levels stay high later at night and drop later in the morning, which may explain why teens may stay up late and struggle with waking up early.” Many health institutions have found that premature brains cause some oscillation in decision making in teenagers and young adults. Not only does the internet magnify teens’ poor behaviors, but they also show an unrealistic way of life in teens that the teen did not get to experience.

Of course, there are teenagers that have unreasonable and reckless behaviors, and these behaviors should not be ignored or tolerated at all. Proper discipline and punishment should take place to adjust their behavior. These minorities should not be the face of millions of teenagers just because they are minorities. Many adults of all types are also not perfect or near perfect, yet we do not form the stereotype that all adults are criminals.

We should stop using these untrue stereotypes to represent these teenagers. Not only would this tiny step improve many behaviors in teens but also improve their mental health and relationship with their families and just about anyone.

Some teenagers do live up to their stereotypes, but many do not and are falsely judged based on stereotypes. Many of these opinions are not even created by teens but by the media and adults, and it has negative impact on teenagers in behavior. It encourages them to be reckless and irresponsible just how their counterparts portrayed them. Additionally, teenagers with an unmatured brain and inexperience only worsen their judgment and decision making. Therefore, we should stop spreading this misinformation encouraging poorer behavior in teenagers and because many teens do not fit in these criteria.