Hi Charlie:
Lots of technology oriented kids in my neighborhood, many following in their (engineer) parents footsteps (I live in what is essentially the "AerospaceLand" of Southern California). Among the kids who like technology, the top three things they seem to "play with" have been:
1. Robotics (terrestrial)
2. Rockets and drones
3. App designs
Both the robotics and rocket/drone pursuits include telemetry and commanding - i.e. radio. As a result, SOME of them get their amateur radio licenses, but usually as technicians (sometimes higher - they are smart kids) because they are mainly interested in VHF/UHF frequencies.
The local hamfest provides them with SOME of their hardware, but mostly they purchase components on-line. There are a tremendous number of small preconfigured hardware components inexpensively available for Arduino (etc.) processors, from switches to actuators to GPS to sensors, etc. They integrate these components and write the software needed to drive them. The results, from what I've seen, can be quite impressive.
Thats where young technologists seem to be going.
The old thrill of talking to new people across the USA and world seems to have been absorbed by social media (for better or worse), making the long ham tradition of warming your hands by the firey glow of a tube set as you find a new friend on the airwaves during a cold winter night, less attractive.
So the techno-class of kids is still very much there - but seems to have moved on to other pursuits.
I re-retired early this year and part of my job was mentoring new grads. In fact, quite a few kids are still calling in, even from college and high school, with questions, life plans and project reviews. They're are smart and involved as they've ever been. But relatively few seek to become "hams".
This hobby was very attractive before ubiquitous, instant worldwide communications via voice, video, text, data (media) was instantly available to all, from age 3 and up. Today, we have to find a way to make amateur radio more relevent in the face of all the competition, if we really want to grow it in the younger ranks. THAT is a difficult problem.
Best Regards,
Brian - K6BRN