What Today's Teens Really Want from Life (And It Might Surprise Parents)
Are Our Children Growing Up Faster Than We Did?
If someone had asked me at 13 whether I was thinking about pensions, savings or financial independence, I'm fairly sure I would have been more concerned about what was on television after school.
Yet new research suggests today's teenagers are thinking very differently.
Generation Alpha, those currently aged around 13 to 16, are growing up in a world shaped by rising living costs, economic uncertainty and constant access to information. As a result, many appear to be thinking about money, careers and future security far earlier than previous generations.
New research from PGL Beyond reveals that financial independence is now the number one goal for many teenagers, ranking above home ownership, university, marriage and even having children.
Perhaps most surprisingly of all, almost six in ten teenagers say investing in a pension is important to their future, a figure significantly higher than their parents reported when they were the same age.
The next generation of Britons to become adults already places huge importance on achieving their financial goals, such as being ready for retirement.
Almost three in five (58%) 13-to-16-year-olds say they think investing in pensions is an important aspect of their adult life. Meanwhile, fewer than half (47%) of their parents considered retirement planning important while in their own teenage years.
Overall, when asked about their priorities for adulthood, securing financial independence was cited more (93%) than anything else. In fact, "money" is such a driver for these Generation Alphas that having savings is seen as being as important as having a close group of friends (92% v 91%).
Almost as many of these teens say setting up a business is important to them (49%) as those who say getting married is (51%).
This represents a drastic change from their parents' generation, when fewer than a third (30%) placed any importance on setting up their own venture. And, despite the shift in attainability, traditional goals such as owning a home (85%) and buying a car (88%) are also still seen as being important for their adult years.
But the research by PGL Beyond shows almost nine in 10 (85%) say developing life skills such as confidence, communication and problem-solving are essential to achieving their goals. Three-quarters (76%) believe academic knowledge alone is not enough to prepare them, and even more (86%) say they would be better equipped for adulthood if schools taught more life skills.
Among the life skills Generation Alpha feel they need to develop most are confidence (58%), money management (54%) and communication (49%). Many say they also need to work on their problem-solving (44%), time management (41%) and teamwork (38%) to achieve their goals.
Dr John Allan from PGL Beyond said:
"We talk about Gen Z often, but more change is coming with Generation Alpha, some of whom are into their teens and on the brink of adulthood. This generation is highly focused on financial security, shaped by growing up in a cost-of-living crisis, and are actively seeking the tools to succeed."
"However, many feel they are yet to learn the skills they will need to achieve success in adulthood, such as confidence, communication and problem-solving. To thrive, young people must have chances to gain practical skills, experimenting independently, collaborating with peers, tackling challenges, and building resilience. Our Skills4Life programme provides exactly that: a space for them to push their boundaries, grow in confidence, and cultivate the skills and mindset essential for work and adulthood."
What Generation Alpha Teens (13-16) Think Is Important to Achieve in Adulthood
- Be financially independent – 93%
- Have savings – 92%
- Have a close group of friends – 91%
- Own a car – 88%
- Own a home – 85%
- Travelling independently to other countries – 73%
- Go to university – 66%
- Build a long-term career with one employer – 59%
- Invest in your pension – 58%
- Have children – 56%
- Earn money from a side hustle – 52%
- Get married – 52%
- Start your own business – 51%
- Live abroad for a period of time – 41%
- Go viral or secure large numbers of social media followers – 41%
What Can Parents Take From This?
While it's encouraging to see young people thinking about their futures, the findings also highlight an important message for parents.
Success isn't just about academic achievement.
Many of the teenagers surveyed said they believe skills such as confidence, communication, problem-solving and money management are just as important as classroom learning when preparing for adult life.
As parents, that can be reassuring. The everyday opportunities we give our children to make decisions, solve problems, manage responsibilities and build confidence may be helping them prepare for adulthood in ways that exam results alone never could.
Perhaps Generation Alpha isn't simply focused on money. Maybe they're looking for something deeper: security, independence and the confidence to navigate an increasingly complex world.
And if there's one thing this research shows, it's that today's teenagers are already thinking carefully about the future they're building for themselves.
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