Notes

Contrary to many, teens are gullible and are easily pressured by other factors and people to make decisions that might not be beneficial. Many teens, and adults included, are guilty of searching social media. This sort of media is targeted towards more credulous viewers, like teens, who often develop obsessions and addictions. The brain matures from ages 23-30. People within these age ranges are able to effectively make decisions by themselves, without relying on their emotions and pressure from others, based on logic, moral, and experience. A quote from Jacoby highlights the reason teens’ decision making is usually clouded, “Teens more often rely on the more emotional, primitive part of the brain” (A USA Today Roundup, Contributing to Society). As they develop, teenagers are more likely to experience mood swings and affect their decision making both inside and outside of voting. More than we would like, minors are more likely to be pressured into doing certain things by peers and people they hold close. This is not beneficial most of the time, as they are more open and bare to people they get close to. The pressure from external sources takes a big part in the mind of an immature teenager. In 2018, when Japan lowered its voting age, they began to engage their 18 and 19 year old students in school hours. Journalist Miho Nakatani reports that, “...the practical activities were not actively utilised due to difficulties in securing neutrality when debating political issues, increased burdens on teachers to prepare and the limited time and space available in the curriculum to devote to political education” (Lowering Japan’s Voting Age). Teachers and students were unable to keep stronger political views and biases to themselves which in turn pressured the students and negatively affected everyone involved. This also took valuable instruction time from students who are ready to enter college. The last few years before college should be focused on the education of students who are preparing for top colleges in order to take successful jobs and be able to become a responsible adult. Once these less-stable high school years pass and the door to adulthood is opened, it’s easier to establish voting habits for years to come.