Genuinely and speaking in the kindest way: I think what you consider culture has aged out. Youth culture does exist, but has simply changed in a way that no longer appeals to your definition of culture. It’s also covered in the news, see: the Astroworld crowd crush. There’s new terminology (bussin, deadass, bet, etc.), new aesthetics (cottagecore), and new music consumption (the rise of kpop). And my knowledge is likely a older now (the teenagers I know are aging out into college).

Is/was there a sense of being part of something special and exclusive in those scenes or was it just something fun to do?

I didn’t say it in my OP above but I have heard young people bemoan a lack of interesting culture that is “theirs.” Hip hop, IDM, etc are all things from GenX or earlier, though obviously with a fresh coat of paint.

Young people are always thinking what they are into is lame even if they think it is special at the same time because they are young people lol

If any of us are commenting on this using anything that we know from when we were kids then we are already out of touch

Of course young people don’t realize their own culture. They literally are incapable of serious self reflection and critical thinking. When I was a kid I wouldn’t call IRC culture, but looking back it was definitely a subculture!I wouldn’t consider my music a culture either, but have you ever did karaoke with a wide range of age participants? You bet young people will be belting out different songs than the 40s folks.

Youth culture is still very much alive. It is primarily online or in school, and kept into circles largely out of sight of adults. You wouldn't come across them unless you happened to pass by, actively seek it out or cultures cross over.

The above is further amplified by communication between children and adult strangers being seen as a big no-no.

> Youth culture seems dead.

I feel this is very true, I'm still in my twenties. When I was a little bit than ten, I remember that things like "teenage rebellion" and unbearable young people were still a thing.

I feel like a certain stereotype of the teenager of the 90's has completely disappeared.

Being a teenager a few decade ago was all the rage, even in self identification, I feel now people just go through 10 to 20 progressively, with maybe their set of problems but nothing as typical.... like I did. In fact I think I just saw it died when arrived in this age.