Do you guys think teenagers are infantilized?

As a teenager myself (19) I think they are, to a degree

I'm saying this because I'm on the opposite end of the spectrum. I'm expected to be responsible for myself, pay for my own stuff, sign my own contracts, etc. I'm cool with that. But what confuses me is a 16/17-year-old, who is not much younger than I am, is being considered a "child" huh? they're minors, sure, but I guess since they're under the magical number of 18, they're on the same wavelength as an 11-year-old middle schooler.

And one thing I don't like is that if you point this out, people are thinking that you're defending exploitation or whatever. "technically, a 16-year-old isn't a 'kid'" "yes they are you freaking pedophile weirdo" huh. I guess, whatever makes you sleep at night.

They're not defending exploitation. They're not trying to age anybody up. They're just taken into account human psychology.

Of course I'm not saying that they should be treated like they're 35-year-old adults, but stop treating them like they're six. a 17 year-old two years younger than you shouldn't be treated so much different than me. I technically shouldn't be treated like I'm a 35-year-old adult either, but look where we're at now.