About underaged stuff
 

A friend of mine and I are having a discussion.

I say: "underage", on internet, means "18-"

HE says: "some ppl use underage to describe girls under 10, under 14, under 16, under 18 etc. its not clear."

He says that the term "underage" is "not clear".
In everyday life: maybe, depending on the laws and situation.
But on the web?

So, is the guy just nitpicking or what?

Under 18 on the Net is considered under age by most countries.

So the VERY first thing that comes to your mind when I mention "underage" = UNDER 18

right?

Underage is not a real term. Its made up.

No legal documents use the term "underage".
Credit Card processors and Content providers use presice terms like "under 18" "under 21"

Accoring to Webster's it IS a real term

http://www.webster.com/cgi-bin/dictionary?va=underage
Maybe not completely layed out what it means in everyday life, but on the web everybody knows "underage" means "18-"

If you're talking about the net, yes. If you're talking about consent laws, no.

Yes..we are. Otherwise I wouldn't have posted it here :D

Ok, what do we have here ?

Main Entry: un·der·age
Pronunciation: "&n-d&r-'Aj
Function: adjective
1 : of less than mature or legal age
2 : done by or involving underage persons <underage drinking>

Of "less than mature age" = you cant pinpoint a precise age for the term "mature"

and "less then legal age" = any age from 1 to 21

You see, "underage" could mean any of the following:

Under the age of 18
Under the age of 16
Under the age of 14
Under the age of 10

etc.


It's is not a correct term to use in business.
One should use presice terms, like: "Under 18 y.o."

I would generally take a statement written on a website saying "underage" to mean under 18

but yes it;s important to be specific and say UNDER 18 or UNDER 21 etc
because laws vary

My first thought when I see underage, is whether you can buy alcohol at a bar.

And while I am at it, what is the 21 shit in most of the US?

You can enter the army at 18, no?

:rasta

With out getting into the technicality of the literal meaning I think it is fair to assume that "underage" refers to under the age of 18 for net purposes. If it is not used for legal documents then I don't think it holds any value.