What the hell is wrong with kids these days?

I'm utterly mortified. I wasn't paying attention to who you are, just responding to what you said. Is that a problem?

It's fate

http://weknowmemes.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/10-for-any-kid-who-can-guess-what-this-is-used-for.jpg

Somewhat unrelated but I really would wonder if they actually knew.

It really makes me wonder what I would do if my kid wanted an iPhone, and every other parent had given their kids iPhones.. but I didn't want mine to have one because what the hell do they need one for? But what would you give them instead.. an old nokia? Would they get bullied? Theres no alternative, they're all smart phones with access to the internet and a billion apps.. what are you supposed to do?

I have an old nokia.

You sound like a miserable old git who is looking through some rose tinted spectacles.
Get a grip and remember what it was really like.

I swear there's been a drastic change in kids ever since our generation (around year 12) grew up.

Firstly, I tutor 3 year 8's with reading every Tuesday. They're such outspoken brats, cheeky little.. when I was that age I looked up to the elder students with respect and awe. And I swear, they're all spoiled with Iphones etc.. when I was that age I'd be lucky to get an MP3. I wouldn't dare go near the back of the bus, but now we're crowded by them!

Secondly the tv shows kids watch.. WTF is that crap? The Big Time Rush show? Wizards of Waverley Place? I'll take CBBC's Shoebox Zoo, Ace Lightning or CITV's Angela saying "Next is Digimon!". Don't even get me started on the new Tracey Beaker..

Then how naughty they are. I did work experience in the old school, only to find a park, a wooden fun reserve, football shooters, every colour you could think of. When I was in school all you saw was grey concrite, if we were lucky in the Summer we'd get chalk to draw on the concrite. We'd roleplay Digimon, Yu-Gi-Oh and Lilp and Stitch, and play "Mob tag" and have a blast! During that week I broke up four fights, got questioned by a year five on my sex life, and came across a year 4 who thought she could bite me and laugh it off.. (She mever got to go swimming hehe)..The dinner lady I spoke to actually said the kids were way naughtier than us!

Lastly and worst of all, a year 7 on my bus has lost her virginity.. Is that even possible? I'd only just had my first kiss at that age! And those damn year 7 guys on the back of the bus talking about their girlfriends 24/7 .. you haven't even hit puberty! At that age I was collecting Doctor Who adventures and Jackie Chan cartoon trading cards!

Are kids growing up too fast?

Whilst I'm totally with you on the whole tv thing (the new Tracy Beaker makes me very sad indeed), I think maybe you just went to a better school than the one you now tutor at. I went to about seven different schools, but there were at least a couple that were almost exactly as you describe- fights, threatening teachers, sex at a really early age. People started smoking before we even got to middle school so like... year 5? I don't know. Whereas the kids I tutor now are still a handful from time to time, but angels in comparison to some people I went to school with.

Sad, but true... I'm horrified every day when i see children of that age and think how i was back then, i dread to think what they'll be like in a decades time.

We're all getting a bit emotional looking back to when we were kids, but c'mon you've got to at least agree with OP in that our generation had the best children's shows of all time - well, certainly better than the thrash that the kids of today have. We had pokemon, spiderman, x-men animated series, digimon, power rangers, bernard's watch, goosebumps, are you afraid of the dark, ant n dec SMTV live, hey arnold, etc etc.........