Teen Dating

Teen dating refers to activities related to the formation of romantic relationships among young people, most commonly middle and high school students between the ages of thirteen and seventeen. These activities may include social media interaction, texting, telephone conversations, group outings, one-on-one dates, and sexual encounters. Dating—also known among teens as "going out," "hanging out," or "hooking up"—is considered part of the normal social, emotional, and physical growth and development process that occurs during young adulthood, as teenagers gain experience with different types of intimate peer relationships.

Studies have shown that traditional dating among teens declined steadily during the first two decades of the twenty-first century. According to Monitoring the Future: A Continuing Study of American Youth, the percentage of...