Is the age of the prom over? How high school students are ditching their annual dance to stay at home on Facebook



The prom has been a staple of America teen culture for decades, but according to a new report it's slipping out of vogue -- thanks to technology.

Lisa Kor, the assistant principal at John Jay High School in Westchester County, New York, told Business Insider that the schoool has gradually been forced to cancel dances, such as the Winter Ball, due attendance rates plummeting from close to one thousand to a few dozen.



Now they only stage an annual prom but even that is in the firing line. 'We're lucky if the juniors stay through dinner at their prom,' Ms Kor said, adding: 'It's a thing of the past.'



Changing times: The American prom has been a staple of America teen culture for decades but according to a new report it's slipping out of vogue

One of the freshman students, Lucy Moss, explained that most of her peers would rather be home texting, Facebook messaging, or Snapchatting each other rather than socializing in person.



'Kids don't need to go to a dance to interact with each other when they can sit in their bed with their laptop and phone and text them,' she said.



'It's basically like being with that person. You don't have to show up to a dance hoping to see someone anymore. You can literally Snapchat them and see them on Snapchat.'



However, one commenter suggests that the financial burden of attending prom also puts people off.



'With the economy being so bad, who can afford to buy new clothes (expensive dresses, suits, tux, etc.), go to a restaurant and take someone out?' they wrote.



'Many school sponsored dances now require purchasing a catered dinner, and so the price of admission is only available to the kids of the elitist snobs who took the dances over.



'That's one of the big reasons kids stopped going.'

Indeed, a study last year revealed that American families splashed an average of $1,139 on their teenager's prom debut, topping 2011's budget by a staggering 41per cent.



Ms Kor say that it's a shame the prom tradition is fading.

She told Business Insider that she has spoken to several administrators at surrounding school districts in Westchester where the same trend is taking effect.

But while some are commiserating others are celebrating.

One commenter concluded: 'I would like to be sad about this, but school dances were a nightmare for me.

