I don't like my mother': Why do children decide to distance themselves from their parents?

"Parents hold a key that grants access to areas of their child's life that no one else can enter a foundational intimacy. However, more and more people are choosing to sever that bond and throw the key away. It's difficult to quantify how many children have decided to stop speaking to their parents, although some studies point to a steady increase in recent years."

"In August of last year, a YouGov poll indicated that 38% of U.S. adults were estranged from a family member: 24% from a sibling, 16% from a parent, 10% from a child, 9% from a grandparent, and 6% from a grandchild. It's a trend that has also made its mark on social media. On TikTok, the hashtag #ToxicFamily has generated hundreds of videos and millions of views, offering advice on how to deal with toxic family members."

"Brooklyn directly blames his parents for the problems that, he says, affect both him and his wife, Nicola Peltz. He did so in a blistering statement that includes lines such as I do not want to reconcile with my family, I have been controlled by my parents for most of my life, and my brothers were sent to attack me on social media."

Estrangement between adults and family members has increased, with multiple studies and polls reporting substantial numbers of disconnected relatives. In 2020, 27% of Americans over 18 were estranged from a family member according to Karl Pillemer's data. A YouGov poll later found 38% of U.S. adults estranged, with specific percentages for siblings, parents, children, grandparents and grandchildren. Social media has amplified the phenomenon: TikTok's #ToxicFamily hosts hundreds of videos and millions of views offering guidance on handling toxic relatives. High-profile cases, including Brooklyn Beckham's announcement and parallels with Prince Harry, exemplify a diminishing taboo around cutting parental ties.

Read at english.elpais.com