Are Children Today Doomed?

A middle school teacher from Dallas recently voiced her concerns online about her eighth-grade students’ struggles with reading comprehension and problem-solving abilities.

“Honestly, I’m at a loss for how these kids ended up like this,” said Mr. L., reflecting on the challenges faced by his 110 students. “Only two are reading at grade level. Eighteen are barely at kindergarten level, while fifty-five range between second and fourth grade.” She noted that this pattern seems to be commonplace.

This baffled teacher expressed disbelief that her 13- and 14-year-old students lack such fundamental skills.

“They struggle to apply reasoning, can’t process questions longer than a sentence, and fail to connect cause and effect. It’s alarming,” L shared. “I mean, it’s a bit frightening.”

The situation is not isolated—it seems to be a widespread issue across the school.

According to the 2022 National Educational Progress Assessment, about 70 percent of teens scored below “proficient” in reading comprehension, and 40 percent fell into the “below basic” category.

It’s concerning, to say the least.

Interestingly, one commenter on Mr. L’s video mentioned that cognitive decline isn’t just a teenage issue. “I’m a high school senior, and it feels like everyone my age is experiencing the same thing. It’s not just the little kids. This appears to be multi-generational now…”

Thousands of others are chiming in on this pressing issue beneath the viral video.

“At 14, I was writing fan fiction that was basically the length of a Twilight novel. This is mind-blowing.”

“I hate to sound like an old-timer, but back in my day, we had to write book reports and provide annotated bibliographies in elementary school.”

Then there are comments like, “iPad kids + no impact = this.”

One user mentioned Australia’s recent social media ban for those under 16, stating, “I’m eager to see the outcomes from Australia’s social media ban.”

With the new regulations, users younger than 16 will not be allowed on platforms like TikTok, Facebook, or Instagram. Existing accounts will be disabled and new accounts won’t be permitted.

While many parents may overlook how such a ban could affect teens in the U.S., states like Virginia are preparing to implement their own restrictions on screen time.

Starting January 1, 2026, individuals under 16 will only be permitted to use social media for one hour per day, according to new regulations in Virginia. 7 news.

“You’ll see kids using these apps less, and becoming more engaged in school and with their friends,” stated Virginia Senator Schuyler VanValkenburgh.