Being 13: 13 Poll: Thirteen-Year-Olds: What They Really Think

TIME conducted a national online poll of 501 13-year-olds to get a glimpse of the attitudes, ambitions, tastes, fears and fantasies of this age group

  • OUTLOOK

    Compared with your parents, do you think that being a teenager today is easier, harder or about the same as when they were your age?

    Easier --- 18%

    Harder --- 67%

    About same --- 15%

    When you reach your parents' age, do you think the U.S., compared with now, will be a...

    Better place to live --- 22%

    Worse place to live --- 46%

    About the same as now --- 32%

    RELATIONSHIPS

    How well do you get along with the following people in your life?

    My parents

    Excellent --- 53%

    Good --- 37%

    Fair --- 8%

    Poor --- 1%

    (1% not sure or not applicable)

    My brothers/sisters

    Excellent --- 23%

    Good --- 42%

    Fair --- 22%

    Poor --- 5%

    (8% not sure or not applicable)

    My friends

    Excellent --- 61%

    Good --- 36%

    Fair --- 3%

    Poor --- 0

    PARENTS

    Would you say your parents are ...

    Very involved in your life—they know just about everything that goes on --- 53%

    Fairly involved in your life—they know about most of what goes on but not everything --- 37%

    Not too involved in your life—they generally know only about the really big things that go on --- 7%

    Not really involved in your life—they know very little about what goes on --- 2%

    (1% declined to answer)

    Do you feel that your parents have too much, too little or about the right amount of involvement in your life?

    Too much --- 24%

    Too little --- 6%

    The right amount --- 68%

    (2% declined to answer)

    Thinking about how your parents treat you, are they...

    Much too strict --- 7%

    A little too strict --- 50%

    Not too strict --- 35%

    Not strict at all --- 5%

    (4% declined to answer)

    DATING

    What do you think is the right age for boys and girls to start going out together?

    Under 12 --- 3%

    12-13 --- 27%

    14-15 --- 27%

    16-17 --- 30%

    18 or older --- 6%

    (8% declined to answer)

    What age do your parents think you should be before you start going out or dating?

    Under 12 --- 0

    12-13 --- 4%

    14-15 --- 20%

    16-17 --- 44%

    18 or older --- 18%

    (13% declined to answer)

    Have you started going out or dating anyone yet?

    Yes --- 25%

    No --- 72%

    (4% declined to answer)

    Do you think that people should wait until they're married to have sex, or not necessarily?

    Wait until married --- 60%

    Not necessarily --- 27%

    (13% declined to answer)

    SCHOOL

    What grade overall would you give the school that you currently attend, based on your experience?

    A (excellent) --- 26%

    B (good) --- 45%

    C (fair) --- 22%

    F (poor) --- 6%

    (1% not sure)

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