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The 'Boomerang Generation' is a relatively new term referring to the generation of people who more commonly return to their parents' homes after having moved out. It is mostly associated with the Millennials, but will probably include succeeding generations. Factors of becoming more independent, such as the school-to-work transition and building relationships and a family, are experienced differently by the younger generations than they were by older generations (Berngruber, 2015 p1278). Living with parents longer and the potential of moving back in is becoming increasingly normalized, fostering a new understanding of independence in youth. While many adolescents may desire independence, the reality is that is much more difficult to become completely independent than it was in preceding generations. The bedroom a teenager grew up in may be lived in longer than traditionally expected, and thus continue playing a role in the development of young people.

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Berngruber, A. (2015). ‘Generation boomerang’ in Germany? Returning to the parental home in young adulthood. Journal of Youth Studies, 18 (10), 1274-1290.
Giddens, A. (1991). Modernity and self identity: self and society in the late modern age. Stanford: Stanford University Press.
Lincoln, S. (2012). Youth culture and private space. London: Palgrave Macmillan.
Carey, N. (2017). Co-constructed space and the power of presents. The Journal of Architecture, Design and Domestic Space, 14 (3), 279-306.

Pearson, E. (2009). All the world wide web’s a stage: the performance of identity in online social networks. 14 (3), np.
Võsu, E. (2010). Metaphorical analogies in approaches of Victor Turner and Erving Goffman: dramaturgy in social interaction and dramas of social life. Sign System Studies, 38 (1-4), 130-166.

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'Dramaturgy,' as it is understood in sociology, is a concept developed by Erving Goffman that uses theatre as an analogy to describe how people have the tendency to 'put on' different personas in different social contexts, similar to how actors play different characters on a stage (2010, p132).

A teenager's bedroom is a private space that could be considered 'backstage,' where they are not in character and can be themselves. There is no audience to put on a show for, therefore there is no need to be in character. However, in virtually any other context, they would be in 'frontstage' and thus would be taking on a character depending on who their audience is. This means that a teenager would behave differently in front of their family than they would their friends or coworkers, and their behavior is informed by how they feel they are being perceived.

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The role of the bedroom was particularly gendered up until recent history. Now, bedrooms are viewed as important private spaces for every teenager, regardless of gender. However, bedrooms used to serve different purposes for young women than they did for young men. While young men primarily took to the street with their friends, young girls would keep each other company and hang out in their bedrooms, effectively making it a large part of their culture (Lincoln, 2012, p109). It is interesting that bedrooms served different purposes in different periods of time for young men and women. It sheds light on how teenage bedrooms have evolved alongside the social and cultural changes experienced over the years and will continue to transform just as the understanding of youth does.

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Looking at teenage bedrooms from a sociological perspective can uncover how significant of a role they play in young people's lives. A bedroom is much more than just a place to sleep—it's a space where young people can build their identities and evolve as members of society. Teenage bedrooms are also a source of great discussion in which sociologists aim to explain how a teenager's bedroom both influences and is influenced by the experiences and activities of who resides there.

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'Zoning' refers to how teenagers can transform their bedrooms into a space unique to their personality and capable of upholding a plethora of different activities (Lincoln, 2012, p13). A bedroom can be a place to study, socialize, relax, and reminisce, and how a teenager decides to utilize their space to do so is entirely up to them. Generally, however, rooms have separate areas devoted to different activities: for example, a desk to study at and a comfortable chair to watch television in. Teenagers can decorate their rooms to remind them of friends, family, their likes, and goals. How a teenager orients their bedroom is very telling of their personality and is influenced by the teenager's experiences in life.

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The 'Glass Bedroom' is a metaphor used to describe how a private space like a bedroom is not truly private if it has glass walls, the glass being screens on devices. As teenagers are connecting with others online in private spaces more often, it calls into question if they are really alone. Furthermore, this suggests that there is no true dramaturgical 'backstage' because of the online audience that resides in their technology (Pearson, 2009, np).

This may shed light on how teenagers define privacy today compared to how they might have defined it in previous time periods. There is much less traditional privacy, that is, true alone time; however, this may not be a concern with teenagers today. It is possible that privacy no longer means being completely alone.

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A teenager's bedroom is a reflection of their unique personality and identity. But, if personality and identity can be shaped by external forces, then there is an argument to be made that bedrooms are co-constructed, construed by multiple people rather than just one. Newson Carey argues that co-construction is present especially in the form of gift giving, as physical objects received from loved ones can be put on display in a teenager's room as a symbol and reminder of their relationships (2017, p282). This goes to show that a teenager's bedroom is just as much a melting pot of sentiments and experiences as the teenager is.

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Ontological security, a term developed by Anthony Giddens in 1991, refers to the stable state of mind people feel as a result of continuity in their lives. This concept can be applied to a teenager's bedroom, as it can be a space that provides constant and consistent comfort for the person who resides there. Adolescence is a challenging time for everyone, so it is important for teenagers to have a place where they can cater to themselves. Having a bedroom where one can personalize their space promotes wellbeing and thus positively influences the mental state of teenagers.

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Many parents feel that there is a danger to teenagers spending so much time in their bedrooms. It is quite a common concern—it is easier for teenagers to connect to others through modern technology now, so there is less of a need to leave their bedrooms. This ease of access to technology is partly why parents are alarmed, as it is harder for them to monitor their children's activities online and more aspects of their lives are private. Furthermore, they are concerned that lack of family time and other in-person connections could have negative consequences. Teenagers are generally spending more time in their rooms compared to the teenagers of past generations, which is a result of modern society and culture. While some facets of this are overestimated and there is a need to fully understand how the teenage generation interacts with their everchanging world, it is important to note that a lifestyle of solitude in the bedroom could have adverse effects.

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A teenager's physical development can be used as a parallel to illustrate how they also develop a unique personality and identity: their likes, dislikes, beliefs, and opinions can change and solidify over time. This can be observed in countless ways, such as their diverse tastes in music and fashion, their hobbies and ambitions, and, of course, their bedrooms. Just as a person grows up and looks different over time, their bedroom changes to reflect who they are as a person and to serve as a private space where they can feel safe and authentic.

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Economic status plays a role in how teenagers interact with their bedrooms, and thus they can serve different purposes depending on how much a teenager can do with them. For example, depending on the income of a teenager or their family, some teenagers may be able to spend a lot of money to purchase popular goods such as music players, televisions, lights, and high-end clothing while other teenagers cannot afford anything other than the basics (Lincoln, 2012, p20). Furthermore, teenagers may not even have a bedroom to themselves—they may have to share with other family members, which has an effect on how they perceive their bedrooms. Someone who lives in a home that can afford them their own space will have a different relationship with their bedroom than someone who lacks a space to call their own, which may have long-term effects on the teenager.