When you turn 18 you should be able to reboot yourself.
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Just something I've been thinking about.
When you turn 18, you should get (and all of these are optional):
- A new, free social security number
- A new, free name change
It's really unfair to kids that their parents get to know their SSN. This leads to people using their kids SSN (have actually seen it happen, so this isn't a myth or something I've heard), and the parents can also do weird shit to you even after 18 because they know your SSN. Especially in the case of abusive parents, they have all your details to get into your bank accounts, or find where you live, because they can perpetually prove they are "you".
Also in cases of your parents giving you a shitty name, you can rename yourself.
So I've been thinking. You should get a free name change and a free new SSN number when you turn 18. No questions asked. I'm completely ignoring the issues that giving SSNs out as a kid cause here in the first place, just focusing on the fact that people need to be able to just.. start over outside of their parents' influence.
When you turn 18, you should get (and all of these are optional):
- A new, free social security number
- A new, free name change
It's really unfair to kids that their parents get to know their SSN. This leads to people using their kids SSN (have actually seen it happen, so this isn't a myth or something I've heard), and the parents can also do weird shit to you even after 18 because they know your SSN. Especially in the case of abusive parents, they have all your details to get into your bank accounts, or find where you live, because they can perpetually prove they are "you".
Also in cases of your parents giving you a shitty name, you can rename yourself.
So I've been thinking. You should get a free name change and a free new SSN number when you turn 18. No questions asked. I'm completely ignoring the issues that giving SSNs out as a kid cause here in the first place, just focusing on the fact that people need to be able to just.. start over outside of their parents' influence.
Both of these things are already possible and accounted for, I'm just thinking they should be heavily subsidized or free.
I'm already in the process of legally changing my name because I was named a Jr. I've had to have my dad's bankruptcy removed from my credit report multiple times, because credit agencies aren't accountable and don't even check to make sure the person they're 'reporting' is the right fucking age.
I'm already in the process of legally changing my name because I was named a Jr. I've had to have my dad's bankruptcy removed from my credit report multiple times, because credit agencies aren't accountable and don't even check to make sure the person they're 'reporting' is the right fucking age.
By Bruh Go To PostBoth of these things are already possible and accounted for, I'm just thinking they should be heavily subsidized or free.I'm already in the process of legally changing my name because I was named a Jr. I've had to have my dad's bankruptcy removed from my credit report multiple times, because credit agencies aren't accountable and don't even check to make sure the person they're 'reporting' is the right fucking age.
Me to!
By Trey Go To Postsounds like a logistical nightmare that would cause more problems than it would solve.
Not really, there's enough problems for kids without their parents being able to put them in debt or use their SSN for other fraudulent purposes. Can't count how many people have had some form of fraud done by family members with or without their knowledge. A lot of shit doesn't even come up until they're trying to buy a house or car.
Lots of people used to find their parents rekt their credit by applying for credit under their name, happens less now that you have to be 18 but still occurs.
I had my dad's delinquent phone bill stuck on my credit report for a while ( but I also got his 5 year long car payment so ayyyylmao)
I had my dad's delinquent phone bill stuck on my credit report for a while ( but I also got his 5 year long car payment so ayyyylmao)
By db Go To PostNot really, there's enough problems for kids without their parents being able to put them in debt or use their SSN for other fraudulent purposes. Can't count how many people have had some form of fraud done by family members with or without their knowledge. A lot of shit doesn't even come up until they're trying to buy a house or car.
By Bruh Go To PostBoth of these things are already possible and accounted for, I'm just thinking they should be heavily subsidized or free.I'm already in the process of legally changing my name because I was named a Jr. I've had to have my dad's bankruptcy removed from my credit report multiple times, because credit agencies aren't accountable and don't even check to make sure the person they're 'reporting' is the right fucking age.
To me this sounds like a problem better addressed by increased funding for fraudulence detection and amelioration.
The way I rationalized this proposal in my mind was a name and SSN change prompt coming in the mail or email on your eighteenth birthday, like college literature or something. The "best" way to go about this would be treating it like voter registration, but still, I don't know. Never mind the social weirdness of every person getting a one time name change offer on their eighteenth birthday. An important part of society is consistency and familiarity with people throughout their lives - I don't know how people would adapt to a culture shift something like this would bring about if it became widely practiced.
The one reason why I can see this possibly working is that I don't feel many Americans would take advantage of such a thing even if it were a free option, so all of those potential issues wouldn't be magnified while the people who could make use of it are being served. But again, I feel such a thing would be more effectively tackled by increased awareness and better protective measures.
People already have a lot of huge decisions to make at eighteen, so I respect the idea of giving them even more control over their identity. But as with any dramatic social and fiscal policy change, there are questions:
How would you roll such a change out?
How do you message this to Americans?
How do you account for the (probably negligible) loss of revenue but the (probably not-insignificant) increase in overhead due to processing/paperwork/man hours - what is subsidizing these costs?
Won't you need to increase anti-fraudulence measures anyway in order to facilitate the increase in people changing their names and SSNs?
Is it only at eighteen a person gets the free name change and SSN?
What about the cultural aspect: something like this may cause stress in even more families as burgeoning, independent kids might not fully understand the ramifications of changing their entire identity on a whim. Are there any take-backsies, and if so, what's the grace period?
By db Go To PostI don't know why you're acting like name changes are a big deal when women do it upon marriage.
Society culturally and fiscally has adapted to that. Teenagers getting a "clean slate" at 18 is something new and different.
By Trey Go To PostSociety culturally and fiscally has adapted to that. Teenagers getting a "clean slate" at 18 is something new and different.
Right so your point is basically "but it's hard". That's not an actual legit debate point.
By db Go To PostRight so your point is basically "but it's hard". That's not an actual legit debate point.
Sure it is. changes to the status quo mut be legitimized on their own merits. Right now all we have is a problem that should be looked at.
those questions I offered alongside some others must be addressed in order to go through with something like this. I am sympathetic to the spirit behind this proposal if not at this time the execution.
How would you roll such a change out?
Batch the name changes into dockets for every citizen over 18. Then just get people that turn 18 after that.
How do you message this to Americans?
Turn the pAge Act
How do you account for the (probably negligible) loss of revenue but the (probably not-insignificant) increase in overhead due to processing/paperwork/man hours - what is subsidizing these costs?
The only government agency that actively has to change any records is the SS administration and the IRS. The IRS already tracks all of your aliases, so this ability already exists in the government, and as db pointed out, it had to be implemented to accomodate women changing their names anyway.
As a dude, you can get married to change your name and have a bit of a reboot, but it would suck if you HAD to get married as a man OR a woman just to get a new name for cheap. For me to change my name I have to pay court fees, then pay for 4 weeks of ads in the newspaper, THEN I go back to the judge who can still technically reject it.
I'll also have to pay to change my passport and state ID, but those already get 'clipped' to expiring at 18 if you're under 18 already. So those are costs you'd have to pay anyway.