If it feels like your teenager is a walking contradiction lately, you’re not imagining it.

As we move through 2026, new data reveals a fascinating "optimism-anxiety paradox" among young people. They are simultaneously more hopeful about their own potential than they’ve been in years, yet deeply stressed by the world around them.

A recent talk I attended highlighted an emerging fascinating (and slightly worrying) phenomenon – that more teens and students are ‘losing belief in their future before they’ve begun’ driven by constant conflicting information.

What is the contradiction that teens are living with?

Todays’ young people are simultaneously being told that the job market is ‘dreadful’, AI will ‘take their jobs’ and university costs are ‘extortionate’, but that they should aim to go to university, follow their passions and that they can ‘do anything’.

They are advised that they can be both AI and recession proof (according to those influencers who are ‘Only 21 and earing £80k’ or ‘Owning my own house at 22’ or (exhaustingly) ‘Living my life as an 18 year old start up founder’).

BUT only if they work hard enough!

So, what (and who) should they believe? And how can we support them?

How are they feeling?

Understandably it’s leaving some of them feeling a little like ‘What’s the point?’, which in turn may feel a bit depressing for us as parents, carers and teachers.

Some in the sector are calling it a new fear… of scarcity. That there just won’t be enough to go round… experience, opportunities and jobs will be limited, and that this in turn will limit their future and lives.

So what’s going on?

Here are 3 big ‘tussles’ that are actually going on in their world—and how you can support them.

1. The Big Contradiction: Hopeful but Hurting

Recent surveys show a surprising jump in personal positivity. In fact, nearly 79% of teenagers feel good about their own individual future. They feel capable, tech-savvy, and ready to take on the world.

The "But": That personal hope sits right next to a lot of systemic fear. About 69% of teens report feeling anxious at least some of the time, often driven by:

The "Survival" Economy: They worry about the cost of living and whether they’ll ever afford a home.

Climate & Politics: They feel a massive "accountability" for the planet, which can lead to "climate fatigue" or feeling overwhelmed by the news cycle.

The School Squeeze: Exam pressure and social expectations remain the top daily stressors.

2. The Digital "Curfew" Desire

We often think teens are addicted to their screens, but many are actually feeling "digital burnout".

The Internet Exit: Surprisingly, 47% of 16-to-21-year-olds say they’d prefer to have grown up in a world without the internet.

Curfew Support: Half of them even say a "social media curfew" would improve their lives. They see the "dark side" of constant comparison but feel trapped by the social necessity of being online.

3. AI: The New Study Aid (and Stressor)

AI has officially moved from a "cool tool" to a daily staple.

Homework Revolution: Nearly half of all students now use AI to help with schoolwork.

The Risk: There’s a growing concern about "fake news" and deepfakes. Many teens find it harder to tell what's real, leading to a rise in anxiety about being scammed or misled online.

AI Therapy: Be aware that some teens are turning to AI chatbots for emotional support rather than talking to humans—a trend that has mental health experts worried about "digital misdiagnosis" and over reliance on machines, when human kindness would be better and safer. I wrote about this in a previous blog.

On the upside- what young people feel optimistic about…

It isn't all bad news, though—there is a genuine spark of excitement among this generation that parents should be reassured by. When teens look at their own personal horizons, they feel most optimistic about their technological fluency and their capacity for social change. They are hugely empathic, and socially driven by important causes.

Unlike previous generations who had to "learn" the digital world, today’s teens see themselves as the natural architects of the future.

They are remarkably hopeful about using AI and green tech to solve the very problems that cause them anxiety, like climate change or healthcare.

Moreover, they take immense pride in their generation’s emotional intelligence; many feel that being the first "therapy-positive" generation (they see therapy in a positive not negative light) gives them a unique edge in building better relationships and more inclusive workplaces than the ones they see today.

The Bottom Line: Your teen is likely more resilient and optimistic than they let on, but they are carrying a heavy "global" mental load.

Being a safe, non-judgemental space for them is more powerful than any app or advice. You can still be the most important support in their life, and nothing can replace the human love and connection that you nurture them with.

What Parents Could Try

1.        "Sideways conversations” Work Best: Especially for boys or less-talkative teens, try "shoulder-to-shoulder" conversations. Chat while you’re driving, gaming, or cooking together. It removes the intensity of direct eye contact and makes opening up feel less like an "interrogation". Ask about these types of worries and let them know you are interested in their thoughts.

2.        Validate, Don’t "Fix": It’s tempting to say, "Don't worry, it'll be fine!" but experts suggest simply sitting with them in their worry. Acknowledging that their stress is understandable helps them process it better than dismissing it.

3.        Watch the "Window of Tolerance": If your teen is suddenly very irritable or totally shut down), they’ve likely been pushed out of their ability to cope. Distraction techniques—like focusing on five things they can see or touch—can help bring them back to the present.

4.        Prioritise "Green Time": Research continues to show that even a short walk in nature or a physical hobby (like baking or sport) is one of the most effective ways to break the "anxiety loop" of the digital world.

5.        Build their self-confidence and self-belief that they are enough, that they can do things, that it may sometimes be challenging but that they will have support around them if necessary.

None of us knows what the future will bring, but we are all here to support each other to get through even the most difficult times, the most significant technological advancements and the most unpredictable scenarios.

They may be anxious, but they should be excited too, it’s their future, so they can shape it.

Sources

To provide the most accurate and up-to-date context for parents, the data in this article is drawn from several key 2025–2026 reports focusing on UK youth.

BBC Bitesize & Survation: Teen Summit Survey 2025:

Found that 79% of UK teenagers feel positive about their future.

Reports that 47% of students used AI for coursework in 2025, up from 29% in 2023.

Notes that 69% of teens feel anxious at least some of the time.

Indicates a 15-percentage-point rise in concern over fake news and misinformation.

BSI (British Standards Institution): Supporting a Safe and Secure World for Adolescents (May 2025):

Revealed that 47% of 16-to-21-year-olds would prefer to have grown up in a world without the internet.

Shows that 50% of young people support a "digital curfew" (restricting access after 10pm).

Finds that 68% of respondents feel that time spent online is detrimental to their mental health.

UK Youth Poll 2025 (John Smith Centre/University of Glasgow):

Reports that 63% of young people believe "democracy in the UK is in trouble".

Highlights financial anxiety, with 41% of youth citing inflation and cost of living as major stressors.

Found that 56% of those surveyed feel anxious on a daily or weekly basis.

The King’s Trust (The Prince's Trust) & YouGov: 2026 Social Impact Report:

Details that 73% of 16-to-25-year-olds are anxious about their future careers.