Does music still determine teen social groups as much as it did in the past?

[Anonymous]

I was a teen in the 80's and back then, the music you listened to completely determined the social group you were a part of. For example at my HS the "punks" which also included the surfers/skaters listened to punk bands as well as new wave and dressed in a certain aesthetic The "grits" listened to Motley Crue, Bon Jovi, etc and had long hair and wore jean jackets. The "normal" people mainly listened to top 40. But the music you listened to also determined how you dressed, and who you hung out with. I really don't get the impression that music is such a social divider among teens anymore. Am I right about this?

[Anonymous]

I thought this was about something else --- music students at school. I don't think music defines student groups, no. But my DC is really into her chorus and her music friends at school and those are her social group.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I thought this was about something else --- music students at school. I don't think music defines student groups, no. But my DC is really into her chorus and her music friends at school and those are her social group.

+1

[Anonymous]

Interesting question. Pretty much all the teens I know listen to the same thing—rap/hip hop and top 40 type music. There is also much less diversity in dress that when I was growing up in the 70s and 80s. Most boys predominantly wear athletic wear, and girls wear a variation of what’s on trend (there was the UGG phase and the tiny shorts phase, etc.). There are few outliers like Goth kids. But we are deep in suburbia. Maybe it’s different in DC proper?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was a teen in the 80's and back then, the music you listened to completely determined the social group you were a part of. For example at my HS the "punks" which also included the surfers/skaters listened to punk bands as well as new wave and dressed in a certain aesthetic The "grits" listened to Motley Crue, Bon Jovi, etc and had long hair and wore jean jackets. The "normal" people mainly listened to top 40. But the music you listened to also determined how you dressed, and who you hung out with. I really don't get the impression that music is such a social divider among teens anymore. Am I right about this?

I’m of your vintage, and I think about this too. I think some of the difference is that there are less obvious distinctions in the music kids listen to now. It all seems to be a mash up of pop, hip hop, boy bands. I’m also not sure that music really grips kids the way it did for some of us. Music was a huge part of my teenage years, and so many memories are tied to it. I’m not sure kids have that passion today.

[Anonymous]

No. But I wouldn't if it did. Classical music kids are probably more likely to be studious and intellectual.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Interesting question. Pretty much all the teens I know listen to the same thing—rap/hip hop and top 40 type music. There is also much less diversity in dress that when I was growing up in the 70s and 80s. Most boys predominantly wear athletic wear, and girls wear a variation of what’s on trend (there was the UGG phase and the tiny shorts phase, etc.). There are few outliers like Goth kids. But we are deep in suburbia. Maybe it’s different in DC proper?

This is my take as well. There seems to be a lot more uniformity among teens now compared to the 80's. And according to my teen, most teens don't really care that much about music either, which I find hard to believe. When I was in HS, it was all about what type of music you listen to. People used to wear pins with band names on their jacket, have stickers, write band names on their notebooks, etc. My daughter says no one does that now, and no one really cares what music other kids listen to.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was a teen in the 80's and back then, the music you listened to completely determined the social group you were a part of. For example at my HS the "punks" which also included the surfers/skaters listened to punk bands as well as new wave and dressed in a certain aesthetic The "grits" listened to Motley Crue, Bon Jovi, etc and had long hair and wore jean jackets. The "normal" people mainly listened to top 40. But the music you listened to also determined how you dressed, and who you hung out with. I really don't get the impression that music is such a social divider among teens anymore. Am I right about this?

I’m of your vintage, and I think about this too. I think some of the difference is that there are less obvious distinctions in the music kids listen to now. It all seems to be a mash up of pop, hip hop, boy bands. I’m also not sure that music really grips kids the way it did for some of us. Music was a huge part of my teenage years, and so many memories are tied to it. I’m not sure kids have that passion today.

This exactly. Fascinating isn't it? Of course my old fogey explanation of it is that today's music sucks and it's no surprise that kids aren't as enamored of it as we were.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was a teen in the 80's and back then, the music you listened to completely determined the social group you were a part of. For example at my HS the "punks" which also included the surfers/skaters listened to punk bands as well as new wave and dressed in a certain aesthetic The "grits" listened to Motley Crue, Bon Jovi, etc and had long hair and wore jean jackets. The "normal" people mainly listened to top 40. But the music you listened to also determined how you dressed, and who you hung out with. I really don't get the impression that music is such a social divider among teens anymore. Am I right about this?

1998 grad here. I think by my HS years it was less “the music you like determines your group” and more “your group determines your music.” The cool kids listened to top 40 with whatever rap, grunge or hip hop was currently making it big, and just because it was ubiquitous most people listened to those genres to some degree. FFA kids listened to country. Christian kids listened to CCM. Theater nerds listened to Broadway stuff. I think the only groups that were really defined by music were the true grunge and metal kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was a teen in the 80's and back then, the music you listened to completely determined the social group you were a part of. For example at my HS the "punks" which also included the surfers/skaters listened to punk bands as well as new wave and dressed in a certain aesthetic The "grits" listened to Motley Crue, Bon Jovi, etc and had long hair and wore jean jackets. The "normal" people mainly listened to top 40. But the music you listened to also determined how you dressed, and who you hung out with. I really don't get the impression that music is such a social divider among teens anymore. Am I right about this?

1998 grad here. I think by my HS years it was less “the music you like determines your group” and more “your group determines your music.” The cool kids listened to top 40 with whatever rap, grunge or hip hop was currently making it big, and just because it was ubiquitous most people listened to those genres to some degree. FFA kids listened to country. Christian kids listened to CCM. Theater nerds listened to Broadway stuff. I think the only groups that were really defined by music were the true grunge and metal kids.

^I grew up in suburban/rural FL near Orlando, FWIW.

[Anonymous]

I don't think music has the same influence as when we were kids.... it's been replaced by YouTube, video games, social media, etc. See other thread on VSCO girls...

[Anonymous]

That’s ridiculous. If kids didn’t listen to music, explain the millions and in some cases u cc I ro

[Anonymous]

Sorry — that posted too quickly. I meant to say there are millions and in some cases billions of views for popular artists’ YouTube videos. Clearly young people are still listening to music.

[Anonymous]

Absolutely. In fact, I would argue it's even more important to them given all the genres and media platforms. It's easy for anyone to post a song and now as artists hype new albums and videos via social media, many kids hear new content within 2 days. Back in the day, we had to wait until Friday evening to get the album at the mall and would listen to it all weekend and read the liner notes. I loved having a few drinks after work and then spending hours with friends listening to new albums at the Tower Records by GW. My kid will likely never have that fun experience, but most of her friends had already downloaded and listened to the new Post Malone album Friday morning, and had seen the video for that album's first single.

[Anonymous]

Yes. My son goes too all kinds of concerts but the group that goes to county vs hip hop vs emo vs pop.. It's different.