I feel like writing YA for teens isn't just about giving teens what they want (though that is part of it) but also giving them what they might need.

It's taking life lessons you may not have realized at 15 and filtering them through issues and culture relevant to teens now.

As with all things, there's nuance here, but I feel like people sometimes get caught up on whether X pop culture reference is included or what social media to use, and forget that you can't keep up.

The 16 year old you write for today will be 20 when your book releases.

So that's not to say you shouldn't keep things current (especially if you're still writing like it's 1973), but rather that it's broad strokes.

If your whole focus is what one group of kids like today, you'll be irrelevant by publication and ancient history 5 years later.

I'd rather my books feel emotionally resonant to teens in 2025 and beyond than cater to the specific requests of a handful of teens in 2020 who will age out of them by publication.

I just think centering teens is what's important & that goes beyond trends & memes.