Back in the 20th century, getting your driver’s license was a big deal. Some youth started looking forward to the day by the time they were in, oh, second grade. These days, teens just aren’t in such a rush to get their licenses. According to a study by the University of Michigan, just half of 17-year-olds had their driver’s licenses in 2008—a huge decline from 1983, when nearly 70 percent of 17-year-olds were licensed to drive.  Researchers say the sour economy plays a role in the delay, but they also believe that in a culture where teens are constantly in touch with one another via text and Facebook and when there are so many ways for teens to entertain themselves without leaving their couches, there’s less incentive for teens to drive to meet their friends somewhere. “It is possible the availability of virtual contact through electronic means reduces the need for actual contact among young people,” says Michael Sivak, a research professor at the University of Michigan. (Time)