Protecting this demographic requires shifting from reactive interventions to proactive education. Comprehensive Financial and Legal Literacy
—the area of the brain responsible for executive function, impulse control, and long-term risk assessment—is typically not fully developed until the mid-twenties.
As high school students approach the age of 18, they are often regarded as young adults, capable of making their own decisions and taking responsibility for their actions. However, the reality is that many 18-year-old teens are still vulnerable to exploitation, manipulation, and abuse. This essay will explore the various ways in which 18-year-old high school students are exploited, the factors that contribute to their vulnerability, and the measures that can be taken to prevent such exploitation.