North America
Today, adolescents consider dating to be a fun activity that is not so much delegated by authority figures. Young adolescents often "date" in the sense of becoming boyfriend and girlfriend and these relationships are usually short in duration. These relationships are also frequently intense emotionally in that the couple will see and talk to each other daily. Relationships are ordinarily ⑤carved out of existing peer groups and many times couples will make going out on a date a group activity. The group or couple will venture out in public for an evening or afternoon of fun, thereby continuing the early twentieth century idea of public dating.
Many people believe today's youth take dating to a new level but in actuality, some of the common characteristics seen in the past still hold true today. Experts have found that adolescents usually follow traditional dating customs by having a male dominated first date, (i.e., the man will pay for the date; the man will decide what type of plans the date will encompass). In addition, men are more likely to discuss having a second date than women are. In this way, the roles are still separate when dating occurs and men maintain a more dominant role over the dating process. Women generally fill a reactive role where they tailor their appearance toward acceptance by their prospective suitor, they wait to be asked on a date, and they expect to be picked up for the first date.
北美洲
现在，年轻人把约会当成是一项娱乐活动，与长辈没有多大关系。年轻人总是抱着成为男女朋友的目的而进行约会，而这类关系通常也不会维持很长时间。这种关系在情感上也总是显得很强烈，主要体现在两个人每天都要见面、说话。通常情况下，这类关系是在同龄人群体中建立起来的，很多时候情侣们会成群结队地外出约会。这个团体或者单对情侣会在晚上或下午外出取乐，因而这延续了20世纪早期的公开约会理念。
很多人认为当今的年轻人将约会提升到了一个新的高度，但事实上，一些旧有的普遍特征还是被延续了下来。专家发现，年轻人还是在遵循一些传统的约会风俗，即男性在第一次约会时占据主动（那就是说，男性支付约会费用；男性决定约会内容）。此外，与女性相比，男性更有可能再次提出邀请。如此说来，约会中的角色也还是有分别的，男性在约会中扮演着一个更为积极主动的角色。而女性通常是一个被动做出反应的角色，她们会使自己的外表符合其心仪对象的口味，等待别人邀其赴约，并期待着在第一次约会时由对方接她赴约。
permanent /`p8m9n9nt/ adj.永久的
adolescent /,2d9u`lesnt/ n.青少年
delegate /`deliGeit / v.委派……为代表
peer /pi9/ n.同辈
