Pads or tampons

I recently turned 18 but ever since I began my period when I was about 12 or 13 I’ve used pads but I would like to change to tampons but my mom had never let me use them claiming that tampons are for people who have had sex and many people that I have talked to also say it’s true. I just want to know what’s better for me to use and whether my mom and all the people and I’m talking to are right