What's up with all the teen books?

I constantly see young people asking for book recommendations from the kiddie menu. I'm just curious, with American teens enjoying more freedom and having a larger voice in matters than they ever did in the past, why do they want their books dumbed down? There are countless thoughtful and clic books accessible to teens that can challenge and expand their minds, why on Earth would someone want to sell themselves short. Is it laziness? Lack of confidence in your reading abilities? Or just wanting to read things that don't make you think too much?