Should I stop caring?

Sorry it's taken me a minute to reply, thank you for commenting! Idk why but I do feel better that someone commented and gave their opinion. Involving your statement about brain development, I looked into that because I heard it so much and as far as I know your brain is never done developing? The brain does continue developing in your twenties, but it also does in your thirties, forties, etc. too. Many sites claim 25 is when the prefrontal cortex is "done developing" but then modern science also says the brain is...well never done developing. I've also heard that the studies regarding the frontal lobe/prefrontal cortex with association to age only went up to 25, and the scans done were also "subjective". Like, when reading them I guess they can be a very subjective reading? Not quite sure what that means tbh. But then others mention that there's an escalation of synaptic pruning and something with white matter in your mid twenties so I'm not sure. But one thing I commonly see is that it's hard to choose what can be considered an age of adulthood when it comes to the brain? I guess because the brain is always changing and sometimes the structures in the brain and the rate of development to certain points varies person to person, idk. I do know that 18 is largely considered biologically mature at least. While younger than 18 isn't. Do you have any opinions on that? Or more information?

@Epsilon Of course, no problem! I'm definitely not an expert by any means, and I think what you're highlighting here is the fuzziness of it all. I would be careful about researching too much, because I get the sense that this may be a compulsion for you. It probably feels like you need to come to a clear, concrete "right vs wrong" answer. But again, I don't think there is a right answer. Because biology isn't the only part of it. There are likely cultural differences, as well as philosophical differences, in what people consider appropriate. It's complicated. To expand on my own opinion, I just think back to when I was around 18-19, and how incredibly different I was at that age compared to my 20s. So to me that time involves some rapid emotional and intellectual growth, and I personally wouldn't feel that comfortable getting sexually involved with someone in that phase of life (for context I'm in my mid 30s). But that's just me and my subjective experience, and not something I would try to push as a universal rule. I'm pretty sure people emotionally and intellectually mature at different rates. Plus I may feel differently about it if, say, it's a quick hookup at some party rather than pursuing as a partner (although my party days are mostly done tbh 🤣). This is all probably why it's such a sticky topic for you, because of that uncertainty. I totally get it. I would just suggest not trying to come to a universally correct answer, because you'll just end up in a cycle of, "but what about this...or that...or this?"

@djflorio - Thank you so much for replying and giving me your insight/opinion. I honestly feel much better ❤️