The Vanishing Act of Teenage Rebellion As Americans continue to obsess over the supposed crisis of modern adolescence, a remarkable achievement is often overlooked: the near total disappearance of risky teenage behavior in this country.
Data shows that teen births have decreased by 81% from their peak in 1991, with the rate falling to a record low of 11. 7 per 1,000 girls aged 15 19 in 2025. This decline is not limited to pregnancy rates.
Teenagers today are also significantly less likely to engage in high risk behaviors such as drinking, smoking, and violence.