Chapter 1

Dear teenagers,

I’m somebody that grew up as social media became popular. I was just becoming a teen as social media sites like Instagram and Snapchat were invented and became popular. My teen years were shaped and molded by that, and I grew up far too quickly because of it. My advice to you is this:

Please slow down. Don’t rush into adulthood, you never get to go back to being a teen. You never get to go back to being free from bills, free from the stress of jobs, relationships, societal pressures to “fit in.”

Be a kid while you’re still a kid.

You’ll want it back when you’re 24 and working 70 hour weeks with no time for yourself or the few friends you have. You’ll feel your inner child just desiring to be cared for again, for your mom to make you dinner, for your dad to give you $20 to go get McDonald’s with your friends, for your siblings to play board games with you. You’ll long for a time when the world wasn’t pressuring you to meet somebody, get married, find a job, do something meaningful, have kids…

Parents, let your teens be kids. Don’t push them to work as soon as their or age to work. They have their entire lives to work. Let them have the summer to be free and hang out with their friends and find their passions and try new hobbies and go outside. You never get that time in your life back.

Teens, especially young ladies, stop that dating or even talking to that boy that’s older than you. 20+ year olds shouldn’t be interested in children in their teens. You’re being groomed.

Parents, watch out for this. Keep your teens off social media if you can. Apps like Snapchat and Instagram are playgrounds for pedophiles where they have unrestricted access to your kids.

Honestly, teens, avoid dating all together. Don’t download dating apps. Don’t talk to boys and men you don’t know. You’re bringing adult emotions and dynamics into your still developing minds when you don’t need to be. You aren’t ready. You aren’t “mature for your age,” you’re being forced to grow up too quickly, and it has so many consequences that you can’t foresee right now. Trust me, I’ve been in therapy for 4 years now.

Break the cycle that teaches young people that they are only valuable for their bodies and appearances. You are more than the boyfriend who says he loves you, and that you think is the only person who could ever love somebody like you. You are more than your Instagram follower count. You are more than your Snapchat streaks.

Break the child to adult pipeline that has 15 year olds looking and acting like they’re 22. It isn’t safe and it isn’t fair to kids who are growing up.

Teens, please take your time growing up. Be kids while you’re still kids.