History of teenagers - 1950's

At the end of the 1950's teens were ignored by the adults, who didn't want to be bothered with the very different values of teenagers.  There were a few television shows aimed at young children, nothing for teenagers, and nothing on the radio speaking to teen life.  Teenagers felt left out, ignored, disenfranchised. Then teens started to hear music about their world — songs about high school sweethearts, wild parties and fast cars, sung by other teens. Energy started to build as this generation developed their own image and style, combined with the purchasing power of an increasingly influential demographic.  The word "teen-ager" was newly coined at this time. 
Teenagers in the 1950's are so iconic that, for some, they represent the last generation of innocence before it is "lost" in the sixties.Sexual relations among teenagers in the fifties were another aspect the teen culture redefined. By this time, kissing, hugging and other mild physical forms of affection were done quite frequently in public.
The adult generation disapproved of the values and lifestyle of the teens, and were doing something about it, including setting new rules, restrictions and prohibitions.

• Boy's hair touching the ears wasn't allowed, punishable by expulsion from school.
• Most girls weren't allowed to wear pants, and boys weren't allowed to wear blue jeans. 
• The new slang - hipster talk - bothered most adults.  It was part African American, part beatnik and part street gang... an offensive combination in the eyes of the status quo
• There was alarm about teens dating and "heavy petting."  Any talk about sex could be punishable.
• Many parents were worried about their daughters adoring black rock musicians, fearing the possibility of racial commingling.
• Dancing to rock'n'roll music was often banned, with school and teen dances shut down.