If Nightlife or later is installed, turn-ons and turn-offs are also assigned at this point. In The Sims 2 and The Sims Stories, when a child becomes a teenager, their aspiration can be chosen by the player.

If University is installed, the player has the option to send a teen to college, where they will first live as a young adult otherwise they will skip ahead to the adult stage.

Teens in The Sims 2 are unique in that they can age up into one of two separate life stages: Young Adult or Adult. Teens can also use gym equipment, and it becomes necessary in order to stay fit. Notably, if one of a teen's close relatives (such as a parent or sibling) has or once had acne problems, the teen is significantly more likely to get acne too. Teens will act frightened when they gussy up, and an option to 'use acne cream' will appear when using a mirror. Some teens will develop acne if their hygiene motive falls too low. The teen life stage lasts for 15 days although Teens can be aged up earlier if they go to college. Teen Sims in The Sims 2 are taller than children, but shorter than adults and young adults. In game, the teen life stage represents a Sim's life from approximately age 12 or 13 to approximately age 18 or 19. However, the manuals and help messages for The Sims 2 and The Sims Stories refers to them as 'Teen'. In The Sims 2, The Sims Stories, and The Sims FreePlay, the name of the life stage is called 'Teenager' while The Sims 3, The Sims 3 for consoles, and The Sims 4 simply calls them 'Teen'. Sims in this life stage can be enrolled in high school. Prior to the update, Sims can only grow as far as the pre-teen life stage.

The life stage is featured in The Sims FreePlay with the Teenagers update, in which pre-teens can grow up to the teen life stage by completing a certain quest. Players can download custom head and body skins which can give a Sim the appearance of being a teen. The teen life stage is not present in The Sims, as Sims in this game do not age. Teens are not included in the console games based on The Sims 2 and The Sims Bustin' Out, due to the lack of life stages in these versions. It succeeds the child life stage and precedes the young adult or adult life stage. It is also the fifth life stage in The Sims 4. Teen, or teenager, is the fourth life stage of a Sim in The Sims 2, The Sims Stories and The Sims 3.

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