Why are young people taking longer to grow up?

The Ethical Life

Episode 129: There was a time, not all that long ago, when most Americans in their 20s did several things — often in quick succession. They got married, started a family, joined a church, bought a house and subscribed to the local newspaper. Once that checklist was complete, you were clearly an adult.

Today, however, things aren’t nearly so simple.

Hosts Richard Kyte and Scott Rada talk about how the world is changing at an ever-quickening pace, but why one of the few things that seems to be slowing down is when young people consider themselves to be an adult.

Links to stories discussed during the podcast:

Technology slows the development of young people, by Richard Kyte

Why Americans are having fewer babies, by Janet Adamy, The Wall Street Journal

Americans can't decide what it means to grow up, by Faith Hill, The Atlantic

The gender war within Gen Z, by Derek Thompson, Plain English podcast

About the hosts: Scott Rada is social media manager with Lee Enterprises, and Richard Kyte is the director of the D.B. Reinhart Institute for Ethics in Leadership at Viterbo University in La Crosse, Wis. His forthcoming book, "Finding Your Third Place," will be published by Fulcrum Books.