Are British and European teens as materialistic as American teens? Latest clothes, electronics (Ipods), cars?

I have been told that people in other countries in general are not as consumerist or materialistic about so much more petty things as those in the United States.





Teens here want the latest clothing from the most popular brands like Abercrombie %26amp; Fitch or American Eagle that normally costs something like ($100 jeans, $50 sweaters and $20 shirts, $100 shoes). Many upper middle class parents buy their daughters designer purposes that cost between $500 and $1000.





Then they get the latest electronics. Xbox, Playstation, Ipods, etc.





Then on their 16th birthday or when they turn 21 they may even get a new car or at least a car of some kind. And many do not work until they are 18.





Is it like this in other nations or are teens raised like me in the United States just overly spoiled? I know from personal observation that many many teens are spoiled as such, especially the clothing part because everyone wants to wear the latest brands.

Are British and European teens as materialistic as American teens? Latest clothes, electronics (Ipods), cars?
Do not speak for a nation or generation of youths in America. Not everybody wants to wear labels!!! We may come from the land of opportunity but not everybody has the opportunity to splurge on materialistic items. Even the lucky people that can afford luxury items may not be into buying in excess of material things.
Reply:From my experience in Romania, kids of rich people do that. I was a teacher in such a class and I saw them playing with cell phones in class. There is a craze about cell-phones in Romania. They were also kids who didn't care about school.


Now, not all rich daddy kids are like this. In depends of the interest and morality of their parents. Some parents were seriously interested about the education of their progenitors.


Now I live in a small city in Canada. Though it is a highly consumerist society-what are the malls for, after all- I disagree that they are materialistic. Teens here don't care so much, as you suggested, about their clothes. They are dressed casually. They might have the latest electronics but these gadgets are not so expensive after all. Well, they are not so expensive for Canadians but somebody living in poor country couldn't afford it.


For me as Romanian moving in Canada, the standard of life increased very much. How to explain? Having a car or even a house in Canada is not such an impossible task if you have a decent job. In Romania, that was an unachievable dream for a middle class person. To have your own car or house is a matter to be proud and shows that you do very well financially. In Canada, that is different, having these values is something common place.
Reply:i guess teenager from all around the world are the same. some maybe not as extreme as american but they are people like that in asia too.
Reply:british people cant even learn how to drive till 17 and licence at 18. Many british people i know are very materialistic and yet many arnt :):) like america



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