The biggest secret parents keep? The life-changing brilliance of teenagers | Emma Beddington

They are always talked of in terms of bad attitudes and wet towels. But the truth is, while their lives are painfully hard right now, they remain creative, compassionate and funny

A friend has fallen in love with Depop, the Gen Z fashion eBay, and its teen sellers. I downloaded the app on her recommendation, but I am bamboozled by the listings: a perf lil crop top" appears to be a shirt collar and sleeves without any other shirt parts; a corset is for dat peek-a-boo bad b lewwkkk ... wear her alone and sessi or over your fav big T". I feel 1,000 years old.

I message them questions because the listings are lacking useful info, such as what size it is, and they answer almost entirely in emojis and put kisses after everything, and I love them," says my friend.