Adulthood now begins at 24, say scientists as young people delay work, marriage

[Tugg Speedman]

Adulthood now begins at 24, say scientists as young people delay work, marriage and families
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/2018/01/19/adulthood-now-begins-24-say-scientists-young-people-delay-work/

Adulthood does not begin until 24, scientists have concluded because young people are continuing their education for longer and delaying marriage and parenthood.

The traditional definition for adolescence is currently between and the ages of 10 and 19, which marked the beginnings of puberty and the perceived end of biological growth.

But, writing in the Lancet Child & Adolescent Health, scientists from the Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne argue the timings needs to be changed.

They point to the fact that the brain continues to mature beyond the age of 20, and many people’s wisdom teeth do not come through until the age of 25.

And people are also getting married and having children later, with the average man entering their first marriage aged 32.5 and women 30.6, an increase of eight years since the 1970s.

[Tugg Speedman]

If you believe this, should we raise the drinking age to 25?

[MU82]

Hell, adulthood still hasn't begun for me, and I turned 24 at least 3 years ago.

[tower912]

If you believe this, should we raise the drinking age to 25?

No.

[#UnleashSean]

Just turned 24 and this seems to be pretty much the truth really. I don't know how an 18-20 year old is expected to succeed on their own with a marriage, kids, house unless they are extraordinarily lucky in the job market.

[jesmu84]

Just turned 24 and this seems to be pretty much the truth really. I don't know how an 18-20 year old is expected to succeed on their own with a marriage, kids, house unless they are extraordinarily lucky in the job market.

Trust fund

[#UnleashSean]

Trust fund

I don't count a trust funder as an adult. They have to be able to support themselves, not live off family money.

[Dr. Blackheart]

Hell, adulthood still hasn't begun for me, and I turned 24 at least 3 years ago.

Don't worry...in one of these decades, your frontal lobes will naturally connect.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

Connecting the two threads you created today, can you imagine if people weren't allowed to star in adult films until they were 24? I think that might cause the collapse of the porn industry.

[T-Bone]

I don't count a trust funder as an adult. They have to be able to support themselves, not live off family money.

Amen.  However, they should be forced to suffer like the rest of us at 18 - military and jury duty.  And I guess we could give them the right to vote, but it's not like they'll do anything with it.

[forgetful]

Youth today typically do not get their first job until college or after college.  Most I knew started working at 12-16, first on farms and then once 16 fast food/retail etc. 

Working, paying a bill or two, having a checking account/credit card, paying taxes, is part of becoming and adult.  That process typically doesn't start to the early to mid 20's now.  So adulthood is not beginning until at least 24 now. 

That has no bearing on drinking/voting age. 

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

Youth today typically do not get their first job until college or after college.  Most I knew started working at 12-16, first on farms and then once 16 fast food/retail etc. 

Working, paying a bill or two, having a checking account/credit card, paying taxes, is part of becoming and adult.  That process typically doesn't start to the early to mid 20's now.  So adulthood is not beginning until at least 24 now. 

That has no bearing on drinking/voting age.

My office employs a lot of student workers. I am consistently amazed how many of them (near 100%) have never had a job before. I got my first job at 12, getting paid under the table to wash dishes for a family friend's catering business. My parents didn't believe in allowance, they believed in children doing chores or getting grounded. They would occasionally give me enough money for a movie ticket but if I wanted spending money I had to get a job.

The gaps in knowledge between students who have had jobs before and not had jobs before is very obvious. How to answer interview questions, how to dress at work, what is and isn't appropriate interactions in the workplace, how to talk to customers, knowing that yes they actually do need to show up to all of their shifts, and when you finish one project you ask your supervisor for another you don't go watch netflix or leave.

Don't take this as grumpy older millennial looking down on younger millennials and iGens. Not my intent. I was fortunate that my parents made me get a job as young as I did because I learned all of those things when I was a young teen and employers expected me to be a bit clueless. It gave me a huge advantage later in life when applying for jobs.

[PBRme]

Agree with everything you said.  AND I cannot imagine my parents calling my employer to question how they are treated (I have gotten these calls).