I’ve been on YouTube a lot recently, managing the user base for the Sexy Nerd Girl channel.

I’ve been monitoring who comments on videos and the SNG channel page. I go to their channel page, see if they’ve subscribed. If they haven’t, I’ll send them a friend request.

Judging by the content of their channel page – their favorites, their “about me” description – it is very obvious to me when a user is a teenager. I’ve been one myself. I know the score.

What I’m finding predominant is that when they lie about their age, they usually make themselves 20-years-old. I’ve seen hundreds of profiles in the past few weeks that list an age of 20, while it’s clear from all the signs that they are a teenager.

20 seems to be the magic age. Not so young that someone might think they’re lying about their age and not so old that they’d think they’re old.

It seems appropriate. When I was 13-17, I couldn’t imagine what 20 would look like. It was so far away.