Hasn't every generation of adults complained and railed about how the kids of the next generation were awful and so much different than themselves at that age? And their parents did the same? And their parents before them? I find it quite impossible that every generation has gotten staggeringly worse, else we'd all be back naked in the trees flinging dung at each other.

I think most teenagers I meet are stupid snots. I daresay the adults that were around in my teen years said the same despite the fact I was pretty tame and spineless back then. I do, however, remember the smoking, drinking, drugs, swearing, inappropriate sexual activity and other teen activities going on that are now cited as the reasons why the next generation is terrible.

Has the internet changes kids? Sure -- it's changed people of all ages. So did TV, the personal automobile, not wearing corsets, the railroad, several generations worth of wars, etc., etc.