Why 16?
One of the common questions we get is why 16? Why not make the site adult only, starting at 18? Or make it the commonly used minimum age, which is usually 13?In the United States, which is where the owners culturally base the site off of, 16 is the standard legal working age. At this point, individuals can be employed, earn their own money, and choose how to invest it.
Users under 16 generally rely entirely on their parents or guardians for financial support. It is incredibly difficult to apply any practical advice regarding self improvement if you lack the financial (and personal, legal, medical) autonomy to make those decisions.
We want our content to be actionable. Without personal income or guardian consent, younger users often find themselves unable to apply the guidance/advice available here, defeating the purpose of the site. So it doesn't make sense to allow them here.
For users aged 15
We recognize that maturity and capability can vary by individual. If you are 15 years old, you may request an exception to this policy under the following conditions:- You must contact the staff team to review your case.
- You must demonstrate that you can contribute constructively to the forum, engage in mature discussions, and understand the core concepts of the community.
There is no point on lying about your age, and there's no point on hiding your age from the staff team. Explaining you're 15 via the Contact Staff category before we find out will save YOU the grief.