The OP had asked whether his teenagers were correct in thinking that they, as a cohort, inherently faced a more stressful existence than he had, citing “the internet, academic expectations and having to excel in all areas, among others.” In other words, the generalization was not on the part of the OP: he was relating the generalization proferred by his teenaged offspring.
Some posters on the thread had a reaction similar to yours: “Thanks a lot for assuming all of us growing up in (insert your decade here) had it easy because we didn’t have internet/academic expectations/pressure to excel.” As you pointed out, individual experiences vary. Being painted with the same brush gets folks’ goat up, regardless of age.
Other posters seized on the “Internet has made life more stressful” hot button and reacted with all kinds of snark toward your generation as a whole accordingly. Part of it is a byproduct of getting older: like it or not, eventually all of us react with some version of, “You kids get off the lawn.” Still, I apologize on my generation’s behalf.
The internet showed up when I was a freshman in college and it’s the best thing since sliced bread. Like you, I don’t have a FB or Twitter account, but I do use some social media for convenience. Internet is the greatest research tool ever invented, however, and I use it for work extensively. Conversely, I find it to be the greatest stress reducer, and when young people say it makes their lives more difficult, then yes, they’re not using it intelligently.
Your description of your junior year sounds a lot like mine (minus the impressive PR stats, that is; I was a ski bum). You sound like an impressive young man working your butt off to excel. Ambition leaves little time for social media addiction, and school is as challenging as one makes it. It sounds as though you have chosen to forego being socially plugged in for in lieu of academic and athletic challenges. I would say then the snark on this thread is not directed at you, or anyone your age living your life like you do.
I do have one generalization of my own: being a teenager IS stressful. You’re not a kid anymore and the rest of your life may depend on decisions you make now. It’s stressful now and it was stressful a 100 years ago. The OP’s teenagers are just wrong in thinking their stress experience is unique, or that their dad’s life was a cakewalk at that age just because the scenery was different.