The new innovations of the 1950s, like rock n' roll, began influencing the teenagers of the decade. Teenagers were becoming more independent, but rebellious as well, in fact the use of the word teenagers was first used in the 1950s. Teenagers wanted to have fun and dance to the new favorite music. Teenagers were into the new rock and roll music, and they had more freedom and money to spend because the economy was better than it had been in previous decades. Many teenagers seemed to want to do new and different things than their parents, and this made the older generation think the new styles and music would corrupt their children; there seemed to be a "generation gap" because the different generations enjoyed and thought different things. Many 1950s movies also portrayed teenagers as rebellious kids or juvenile delinquents, and many people thought this was influencing the teenagers of the decade to act out differently than before. Teenagers became a big part of the 1950s life by becoming the new audience and consumers for movies, music, clothing, and many other aspects of the decade. 

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