They could be children or adults, or even in the processing of one becoming the other (and where the line fell has changed plenty of times), but the idea that distinct stage of life exists between childhood ending and adulthood beginning only coalesced post-WW2.
Yes, that's why 16 year olds used to be adults
Yes because there’s absolutely no difference between 8 year-olds and 15 year-olds.
But also, saying that 16 year-olds not being adults is just a marketing invention is an interesting argument.
They could be children or adults, or even in the processing of one becoming the other (and where the line fell has changed plenty of times), but the idea that distinct stage of life exists between childhood ending and adulthood beginning only coalesced post-WW2.
https://boundlesstheatre.org.uk/we-are-boundless/the-origin-of-the-teenager/
https://www.saturdayeveningpost.com/2018/02/brief-history-teenagers/
https://blog.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/2020/03/30/birth-of-the-teenager/