Then and Now: Being a Teen in 2025 vs 1995

Imagine being a teenager in 1995. You’re calling your best friend on the home phone (and hoping no one else picks up), waiting a whole week to see the next episode of your favourite TV show, and carefully timing your radio to record the latest hit on a cassette tape. Fast forward to 2025 and it’s a completely different scene. Your phone is your calendar, music library, TV, diary and camera – all in one.

Today’s teens in Australia spend an average of eight hours a day on screens, compared to just 30 minutes in the 90s. Most of that time is spent on apps like TikTok, Snapchat, Spotify and FaceTime. But screen time isn’t the only thing that’s grown. In 1995, about six out of 10 completed Year 12. Now it’s closer to nine out of 10. Over 60% go on to further study, and there’s a huge increase in those choosing subjects like Coding, Physics and Advanced Maths.

Back in 1995, STEM classes rarely existed with maths classes mostly being about textbooks and calculators. In 2025, students are participating in more STEM classes and participating in coding robots, building apps, and using data to explore real-world problems. There’s been a 120% increase in higher-level maths enrolments in the last decade alone. Maths is no longer just about solving equations – it’s a tool for making change, creating new ideas and thinking critically.

Music and fashion have evolved too. While the 90s gave us girl bands, chokers and butterfly clips, today’s teens are remixing those looks with second-hand style. Nearly two-thirds say they love op-shopping and are more likely to buy from sustainable brands than big fast fashion stores. And while mixed tapes have disappeared, most now stream over 10,000 songs a year.

What hasn’t changed? Young people still value friendship, fun, independence and having a voice. Whether it’s 1995 or 2025, being a teenager is about growing into your own strengths – whether that’s solving tricky maths problems, leading a team, helping others or expressing yourself creatively.

So while the world around teenagers keeps evolving, one thing’s for sure: they’re making the most of every moment, one clever calculation and bold idea at a time.

Dr Karen McMullen

Learning Leader: Mathematics