“dependents” is a financial term. it is real. it is not a function of age however.

Post-puberty humans are adults. That's just basic science. Denying that is #ScienceDenial.

Calling teenagers children is unscientific nasty bigotry. It is vile infantilization which is causing the problems which peeps then try to solve by doubling down on the thing that started the issue in the first place.