Family and friends play an important role in shaping the youngster’s behavior and

beliefs.
However, there have been strong debates about who has more influence on teenagers .
Some people are of the opinion that friends have a strong impact on their
decisions, while others argue that parents have the greatest influence on their
children.
Firstly , teenagers find the company of their friends more comforting because
people of the same age groups have similar needs, interests and tastes.They feel
more free when talking to them and can reveal themselves without being judged .
Furthermore, they have been through similar experiences and circumstances which
makes them even more likely to listen to each other's viewpoints. Another aspect
that should be mentioned is that youngsters nowadays want to emulate their peers.
They are looking for ways to separate from their families and begin to define
themselves as individuals. To that end, they turn to friends for guidance and
direction. They tend to mimic their peers' behaviors and adopt the same attitudes.
For instance, if one smokes, others will try this to , not to remain behind. They
are constantly trying to fit in.
On the other hand ,everyone spends a significant part of their life with family
members whether they like it or not. As the majority of teens live under the same
roof with their parents till the age of 18, they communicate with them on a daily
basis.Another reason why family has also a great impact on children’s life would be
the fact that deep down every teenager knows that their parents are always right
and when it comes to a serious decision, they will always turn to their parents for
advice .
To conclude , I would say that every situation depends on certain circumstances and
it is always individual. However, in my view ,family’s influence is the most
important in the life of a growing teenager. Friends are unlikely to give the
unconditional love that parents have for their children and lack the wordly wisdom
of an adult.