Redefining Adulthood: The Consequences of Raising the Age Threshold

Some two hundred years ago, during the Industrial Revolution, it was not uncommon to see children as young as four years old working in dangerous factories. Of course, we've come a long way from those irresponsible practices, but now researchers and child psychologists are proposing we move even further away from that. They claim that the new age for the end adolescence should be 25 years old and call for social change because the brain is not fully developed at the current adult age of 18. Instead, raising the end of adolescence to the age 25 will have serious economic and social repercussions because it not only promotes an unmotivated attitude in young adults but, it also disables them from being independent. Raising the age of adulthood to 25 will mean anyone younger that will still be considered a

As said by Frank Furedi, “There is a loss of aspiration for independence and striking out on your own”(Wallis 4). But, Furedi is only referencing the young adults of today, if the age of adulthood is moved up to 25 this problem will intensify. By the logic that 18 years old is too underdeveloped to drive and be independent, then it would also mean 18 is too young to choose a career path to follow. Furthermore this change would not only enable young adults to be irresponsible but it would also restrict the capable young adults. Antrobus says it herself, “It is important for parents to realize that all young people do not develop at the same pace” (Wallis 3). This goes both ways. Meaning that some young adults develop faster than others, and at 18 they are ready to be on their own. Raising the age means that no matter the mental capacity and maturity of a person, they will be restricted and still considered a