I know so many families where the kid (usually there's only one, at the most two, siblings,) is a spoiled and pampered brat. They don't know what the word "chore" is. The parents think it would be child abuse to make their little darlings do anything resembling a "chore." Oftentimes the parents even do the kids' homework for them. Moms will call each other on the phone asking, "Do you know the answer to question 17 on the history homework?" Then the parents whine about how mean and unfair it is that their little darlings have to carry so many books in their backpacks and those horrible teachers give TWO HOURS of homework a night! Why, the poor, overworked little dears.
What's more, the kids rule the roost. No family decision is made without first getting the approval of the little prince or princess. I know 14-year-olds who literally have never made a sandwich or heated up something in a microwave. They are chauffeured everywhere, have never been on a bus, then they get new cars for their 16th birthdays. They are surly and rude to adults, and they always have earphones in their ears.
But their self-esteem is really, really high.
I think lots of young adults/teenagers are self absorbed but some of your examples are bad.
First, kids never being on a bus. There is no way I would let my kids ride these days. We live in San Jose, California, and it is way too dangerous for them to ride on a bus. When they were little, their school district had bus service from near our house to school. My kids rode that bus. However, then the district changed it so the bus stop was over a mile away and the pick up time was 2 1/2 hours before school (6:30am). My kids were 6 & 8 at the time, and the school was only 3 1/2 miles away. I preferred us waking up at 7:30 and me driving them to school.
Two hours of homework for little kids is too much school work! Maybe in high school, 2 hours is okay but not 2 hours for elementary school kids. (I never had more than 1 hour of homework until high school back in the 70s.)
As far as backpacks go, lots of kids are having problems with heavy packpacks. My niece severely injurred her back when she was in high school. (I never had to carry so many books to and from school.)
I think kids never going to Church/Synagogue has a lot to do with their self-esteem problems. If kids know that they are sinful, and they know that God is greater than themselves, then it helps them to have a better perspective.
Parents are also self-absorbed these days and send kids to daycare all day long. Parents then can't role model good behavior. Simple things like making cookies for the new neighbor or helping a sick friend.
l have two Granddaughters who are exactly what you wrote about.My Daughter has kept them in a cocoon.The older girl is in University and has never been on a city bus.lt isn't safe for her to travel anywhere alone.The girls have never done a chore.Even putting their clothes away after Mom has done the laundry is just too much for them.l don't know how they will ever be able to take care of themselves.Another thing, they have never been critized.l can't ever imagine either of them in the workforce.The first negative thing spoken to them will have them in tears.l get so frustrated with my Daughter but there is nothing l can do.The damage began when the girls were young children .