From Dropping Famous Last Names to Spending Less Time Socializing, Experts See a Growing Trend
Recent headlines involving celebrity children have reignited a broader conversation about how young people are redefining their relationships with family. Earlier this year, Suri Cruise began using the name “Suri Noelle,” adopting her mother’s middle name in place of Cruise, while reports have also highlighted efforts by Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt’s daughter Vivienne to drop “Pitt” from her public name.
While every family situation is unique, experts say these highly visible examples reflect a broader trend among teenagers and young adults who are increasingly seeking independence and control over their identities. For some, that means creating distance from family members with whom they have difficult relationships. For others, it is simply part of establishing a sense of self separate from their parents.
Why Teens Are Pulling Away
According to a recent Parents report, teenagers today are socializing less frequently than previous generations. Researchers have found that many teens spend less time hanging out with friends in person, with technology, academic pressures, extracurricular commitments, and changing social habits all contributing to the shift.
Experts say some young people are also becoming more selective about the relationships they maintain. The Momtastic article notes that Gen Z is more likely than previous generations to set boundaries with relatives they view as harmful, unsupportive, or emotionally draining.
At the same time, reduced face-to-face interaction can create its own challenges. “There are fewer gatherings at home and there’s fewer places to gather outside of the home with the decline of third spaces,” explains Miriam Kirmayer, PhD, clinical psychologist and host of Two Peas on a Pod podcast. “All of that trickles down to the younger generation and, when we have fewer opportunities to practice socializing, the task of doing so can feel more effortful and daunting.”
How Parents Can Encourage Connection
There is a little good news for parents and that is that family estrangement is often temporary. A study from Science Daily says that 69% of estrangements with fathers eventually end, while for mothers this figure jumps up to 81%. Rin Reczek, who led the study’s research, tells Momtastic “Mothers are the primary caregivers to children in our society, so it makes sense that they are more likely to stay close with their children.”
Parents can encourage connection by creating opportunities for low-pressure family time. Shared meals, hobbies, car rides, and regular check-ins often provide better opportunities for conversation than formal attempts to force discussions. Rather than responding to events with punishment or guilt, experts recommend maintaining open lines of communication and showing genuine interest in a teen’s thoughts and experiences. Most importantly, parents should respect boundaries while remaining available. Teens are more likely to open up when they feel heard rather than judged.
While stories about celebrity children dropping famous last names attract headlines, experts say the larger lesson is about identity. Today’s teens are navigating a world that encourages self-definition and personal boundaries, but they still need meaningful relationships. By balancing independence with support, parents can help ensure that growing up does not have to mean growing apart.
