It is difficult for me not to discuss the recent Abercrombie & Fitch (A&F) controversy while on the topic of teens. A&F is a brand that is nearly 100% focused on the teen market and has always communicated in a very, um, distinctive way with them. But has the company's CEO, Mike Jeffries, now alienated the core consumer that made the brand the success it is today?

The world is a scary place, even for teens. They're coming of age in a time when bad things happen to good people on a mass scale, a time in which a normal day can turn ugly in the blink of an eye. Their young lives have been marked by horrific events: 9/11, Virginia Tech, and, in the past year, shootings at a crowded Colorado movie theater and Sandy Hook Elementary School.

As the spring 2013 semester concludes, college admissions officers must shift their focus to a new group of prospective students. Admissions departments need to recognize that this group is constantly connected to the Internet and their social media accounts. Therefore, the antiquated recruitment practices of many institutions must shift to include multi-channel, digitally inclusive tactics. In order to reach these potential applicants, they need to actively engage them through these platforms. According to a survey conducted by Zinch, about two-thirds of high school students use social media to research colleges, and more than one-third of those students use social media …

I want to focus on a personal favorite topic, which seems appropriate here - clothes shopping. More specifically, how much are teenage consumers spending on clothing and what are their style preferences?

After years of pop culture and reality TV focusing on the beautiful and privileged (think "America's Next Top Model" and "Keeping Up With The Kardashians"), the trend as lately shifted to a more rustic flavor (think "Buck Wild" and "Swamp People"). And today's teens can't get enough of the redneck trend, from fashion to music to TV.

With a user base that has surpassed one billion, Facebook would be the third-largest country in the world, having a population greater than the United States and with only China and India in its sights. However, the once-burgeoning social network is starting to lose its fan base. Teenagers, the trendsetters of all things digital, appear to be leaving the social party in favor of other platforms, specifically ones that appeal to more niche categories and capitalize on specialization, exclusivity, and most importantly, privacy.

Teens might prefer to hit their favorite stores with friends, but they're not afraid to buy the same brands as their parents. In fact, teens think it's cool to share a passion for a brand with mom or dad. We reached out to roughly a dozen teens, and they told us how their families influence each other's shopping habits. Here's a look at how all those brand recommendations take place.

For the past several months, the "modern woman" has been the center of media focus, from the debate on having it all in the "New York Times" to "Time"'s exploration of the balance of power in the workplace to the PBS documentary about inspiring women. And, of course, there's all the talk about the depiction of young women in HBO's "Girls." During election season, social media was flooded with petitions and videos about women's rights and information about politicians' stances on women's health issues. Many women (and men) posted status updates and photos making statements for women's rights. Teen girls …

Most brands include the usual suspects in their social media arsenal - Facebook, Twitter and the ever-growing Instagram - thinking all bases are covered. However, video platforms like the immensely popular YouTube, as well as newcomer Vine, continue to be successful routes to the teen psyche for a number of major brands.

There's a lot of noise in the marketing airwaves these days about doing good. Non-profits want to build strong connections with consumers. And more brands than ever seem to be aligning themselves with a cause or building good deeds right into their businesses. But what do teens think about all this cause marketing?