There's a lot of media attention on this, as it's a reality that has been a problem for a quite a while - if the media is aware of it, then it's been going on for a long time. Kids in my area in Northern California were "dating" when in 3rd grade, and allowed to wear makeup to school.
I find it ironic and sad that while kids are thrust into adulthood through sexual activity and such, older kids and teenagers are seemingly incapable of dealing with much else in their lives, I know a lot of 19-25 year olds that have no clue how to cook, clean, care for themselves, pay bills, save money, and live lives of drama and chaos because they've gotten no eductaion in common sense and the basics of life. Then they go and have children, and the cycle is renewed. It's the blind leading the blind.
The liberal media spends decades worrying and demanding that kids be taught about sex, gay lifestyles, and killing Flipper, yet the kids are thrust into the world with zero survival skills, and any attempts to ask for them to be taught that is answered with scorn and cries of extra work from teachers. I remember being taught how to use a checkbook in 6 or 7th grade (with supplements from our dad), most teens and young adults I know don't know what one is, how to use it, or even know where theirs is.
Things have to change, and media coverage of the problem is heartening, but we have a long way to go, because we have young adults raising kids who were also part of this problem, and those young adults are essentially children, with no life skills.
I have friends in their mid twenties who have experienced just about everything you can imagine, and more, at their young age - drug addiction, alcoholism, suicide, sexual promiscuity and exploration, depravity, emotional turmoil...and if you throw a simple problem at them, they fall to pieces. I spend a lot of time coaching them into learning how to deal with problems, and to gain some skills in dealing with life. It's rough work, but a few I care about enough to try. Right now it's about a 50/50 success rate.
I see all those things you are talking about, with my sons friends. Some of the males too, but the females are especially lacking. My son has a very hard time with dating, etc, because most of the females cannot cook, haven't a clue how to do laundry, etc etc etc. No life skills at all, and the attitude that they aren't going to be a slave for any guy. (?) My son has all these skills, and find it strange that women his age don't. I guess it is a good thing I gave him the basics to take care of himself!