Can a 16 year old date a 20 year old?

[Tammy_baby]

In some places it's okay but some places it's not. In your own opinion and state of mind. Can this happen?

No

Yes

Depends

A total of 200 votes were cast: 66 girls and 134 guys. See detailed results

[Madhatter920]

In many places, 16 is the age of consent, so legally, yes, they can. In most of America, it is illegal, so no, they can't. Is it kind of weird regardless of legality? Yes, it is.

[Tammy_baby]

How? If I may ask

[Madhatter920]

How is it weird? Four years isn't much of a difference for someone in their 30s. But at 16, that's a huge difference. That's 25% of their life. Think how different you are over the course of a quarter of your life. What do you have in common? Imagine you, at 16, dating a 12 year old. That not weird to you? Four years matters when you're that young.

[Tammy_baby]

What if you push your soulmate away? What if both parties just really adore and love each other. Should they wait?

[Madhatter920]

Yes, I think they should wait. Usually, when you do, you learn that soulmates don't exist. There are over seven billion people in the world and the only person in the world you would ever be happy with probably isn't the guy you met in your hometown in the first few years of your life. Wait and you'll find that those feelings go away. But they come back when you meet someone else. There's always someone else.

[Tammy_baby]

I like your opinions. What if they go into a deep depression for losing each other? What then?

[Madhatter920]

It's not likely. Maybe a temporary sadness that passes in a few weeks or months or until they meet someone else. Whichever comes first. But in the event they did? Then that's called co-dependency and is very unhealthy. I'd recommend weekly therapy and an effort to get out and socialize.

[Tammy_baby]

Very valid. Jeez. I'm in a pickle

[Madhatter920]

You'll figure it out. Whatever you end up doing, just be safe, yeah? Think things through and keep it honest. If it ever feels like something you should hide, let that be your first clue that you shouldn't be doing it. Other than that, just do you best. If it turns out a mistake, well fuck it. We all make mistakes. I just don't want to hear another story about a young girl getting hurt is all. Good luck.

[Tammy_baby]

Thank you so much. Wow. It actually helped a lot. ❤️ Thank you

[Anonymous]

Depends where you live if 16 is age of consent but the age is not too bad

[AmandaYVR]

That's a pretty significant age difference. The 16 yr old is still not emotionally mature, and graduating high school is an important marker.
Some people will do it, date this age difference, but it's not really advisable.

[btbc92]

A 16-year-old cannot legally date a 20-year-old. Period. If this is about you, you better stop this while your still ahead. An adult knows better than to date a child. Especially if your parents don't consent. It is still wrong. Whether it's sexually or not. He can go to jail if he touches you. You can send him to jail God forbid if you try to force it.

[Tammy_baby]

First of all, in some states it's legal and the consent ages are different. Second of all, I don't want to be rude but you have no reason to tell me if this this about me to stop it. You not my parents (as if I need one) and you can't just assume it's about me. I'm not dumb to ask opinions of strangers for my personal life. This question was something I was wondering about for a while

[btbc92]

Did anybody said you were dumb? No. It is still not righy or legal to be doing so. It's a warning. That's all. Not that you are wrong to ask questions of strangers. If you have to ask you know it's wrong. A 16 years old should not be dating a 20 year old. Plain and simple.

[btbc92]

I know those states laws because I looked it up all the time. And I can tell by how you're responding to me regarding if somebody is your parent and in the nerve to say as if you need one that let me know your parents obviously either don't know or is unhappy. I'm telling you is that if you're even thinking about it I highly suggest I'm telling you is that if you're even thinking about it I highly suggest that you did not cross that line. We at this point have the right to at least explain and tell you that much. We already know it's you because you are able to put two and two together. Plus you just said it's not done for you to actually pay the strangers for your personal life. So obviously yes it is you.

[Tammy_baby]

1: my parents don't know or anything because they're not around.

2: I'm in a happy relationship with someone my own age.
I don't see why I would cheat on her with a 16 year old or a 20 year old

[NYCQuestions1976]

Tough call. If you fast forward two years, an 18 year old dating a 22 year old is quite common and generally acceptable. If you rewind two years, a 14 year old dating an 18 year old is usually illegal and generally unacceptable.

People individually mature at different rates, so there's that to consider, as well as local and state laws regarding this issue.

All that considered, I guess I would base my opinion on each individual's "placement of life" at the given time. A 16 year old is still in high school, while a 20 year old is almost a full adult. Based on that, I'd say no.

[ThongQueenFlirt]

No, he shouldn't because of the ages. She is considered a grown woman. He is still considered a child, under the law. Now if they love one another, they will wait. Or be charged with statuary rape. You're probably thinking, no one will know. Things have a way of coming to the light. If you love her like you think you do, you won't let her go to jail.

[blutwolfe]

This is a conservative af site so the vast majority of answers are gonna be no

When I was 20 I dated a girl who was 16, met her parents and everything, keep in mind some states 16 is legal too, but ya it went pretty well until she was tired of being in a relationship and wanted to be a free bird

[Anonymous]

There are no laws, that I know of, that prohibit dating at these ages. After all, what is there bad about a 16 year old meeting a 20 year old for a coffee in Starbucks? As long as sex is not involved, there can be nothing wrong.

I think it is your choice, as long as the parents of the younger person are ok with it. Morally, I see nothing wrong. In UK, 16 year old people can marry, with parental agreement. Same in many other countries.

[Akachan]

I mean yea depending on where you are, where I am the age difference can't be over 4 years (16-20, 17-21).
But it's not a good idea trust me. You'll have virtually nothing in common and that's how you end up getting groomed/ taken advantage of.

[amyba]

Why would a 20 year old want to date a teenager? Only reason for that is to taken advantage because a 16 year old does not know the world the way a 20 year old does.

[Tammy_baby]

Some 16 year olds are very muture and know things that a 16 year old shouldn't know tho

[amyba]

Thats what I use to say at 16 and now I am older I know that is not true at all.

[zagor]

It's only illegal if they're doin' it. I don't know of any place where it is illegal to just hang out.

And that depends on where they are. In some place 16 (or younger) is the age of consent.

[Barry88]

Yes, I don't see any issues with that. In my country it's legal and I know multiple couples with such an age difference who are already together since they were around that age.

[OlderThanILook]

No. Stay very far away from those under 18. Just don't do it.

[An_Impulse]

i dont think dating is an issue here.. its the sexual intercourse if we speak about.. that is illegal.

[Liam_Hayden]

Date? If the younger's parent (s) permit it. Have sex with? Depends upon the laws of the jurisdiction. Good idea? Probably not.

[Tammy_baby]

Let me put it this way. Are they allowed to date? Just date. No sex no nothing just dating

[OddBeMe]

One, it’s illegal. Two, if it’s really love he’ll wait til 17-18 to do anything. But just make sure he ain’t a perv.

[juicyjessie]

Don't confuse dating with having sex.

[btbc92]

@juicyjessie It is the law. They still cannot date.

[juicyjessie]

@btbc92 Strange laws. They can sit on adjacent tables in a coffee shop, but not the same one. How do they actually define dating?

[OddBeMe]

@juicyjessie A date is romantic and being on a date with a child is pervy. Idt it’s against the law to just date tho. Just morally wrong.

[juicyjessie]

Wrong. A date does not have to be romantic. Not much romance is having a coffee together in Starbucks. Romance is in the mind! That can happen without even being in the same city! You cannot legislate against the mind and its thoughts.

I do know the "thought police" would love to be able to legislate against people's inner thoughts!

[juicyjessie]

It is only morally wrong in the minds of reactionary American. It seems like the religious fervour of the founding fathers is still prevalent. Here in the UK, we are a little bit less under the thumb of religion. Like I say, 16 year olds can marry with parental permission.

[Barry88]

Perhaps it's illegal where you live, as many US states have a relatively high age of consent (17 or 18). But in the vast majority of the countries on this world, it's perfectly legal (in many US states where the age of consent is 16, it's legal as well). For example, in most European and South American countries, this is perfectly acceptable and in fact quite common, in those countries the age of consent is often somewhere between 14 and 16, and hence a date (and even having sex) between a 20 yo and 16 yo is legal.

[btbc92]

@Barry88

It is very much illegal in all 50 states for an adult to be dating a minor. A 20 year old cannot have sex with minors under 18. And 18 year old cannot have sex under 18. I am pretty sure the same laws applies even in those countries. It is still illegal and unacceptable. It's not legal. If reported. You can go to jail. Don't twist up the laws.

[btbc92]

@juicyjessie

We can also marry under parental consent at 16. Once married it is legal. Unmarried you can go to jail. Dating does lead to sex eventually. Romance is not the mind. It's what you do with it. And it's not romance if it's sex involved.

[btbc92]

Europe on countries are np different. A 20 year old cannot legally have sex with teen under 20. Even in some places like Japan. The legal age for sex is 13. That still doesn't mean a 18 year old can touch them. Get your sick perverse minds out of the gutter.

[juicyjessie]

This may answer the question.

en.m.wikipedia.org/.../Ages_of_consent_in_the_United_States

[btbc92]

I know the laws. A 20 years old cannot date and have sex with a 16 year old. And I know about cops who would arrest people if caught. It is not legal. People so it, but nobody reports it, which is why domestic rape is very common amongst teens and young adults.

[juicyjessie]

I should say that this is for intercourse and marriage. Not pure dating. The two are not the same.

[btbc92]

The point of the laws is to supposedly safe guard unwanted sexual relations with minors and between minors. An example. Dating is still very much the same as with sex. the dating however is under reported. If found out, adults would encourage a break up civilly. Or else it can happen legally by action.

[btbc92]

Nobody "pure dates" anymore not even some Christians. Let's be honest. They touch each other sexually (finguring, etx) that is still illegal. I am pretty sure so many done this if not practically all. Still can land you in jail. Hence why it is not encouraged. That is why it is not legal. Many people have already done all those things. They don't report it because they don't want to get caught. It's only as common as long as people don't report it. Plenty of people lie about their age also so they won't get caught. It's not as legal as people make it out to be. It is still very much illegal. As long as it's not reported, they don't do much about it. Doesn't mean they can't if it changes. The minor can always report rape. And that will be a wrap. So I say any sucker wants to be stupid enough to go out and try to date with a minor you go ahead and do it, and think they won't get caught. There is enough sick pervs on this site to admitting having sex with minors as young as the Asker, and 14 at 20 or even 23. Don't believe me, ask around. There now older adults so you can't even get such people arrested. They don't care.

[juicyjessie]

Seec also here

legalbeagle.com/6834192-laws-underage-dating.html

"If you're concerned about breaking laws on underage dating, the first thing to know is that no such laws exist. "

[juicyjessie]

@btbc92 In this question, we are talking about dating. Not sex, or sexual activity. We are talking about legal facts, without taking into account moral issues. Some families consider it isn't moral to have sex outside marriage. Others think marriage is outdated, like I do.

[Barry88]

@btbc92 In my country, age of consent is 16 years and anyone of 16 years and older can have sex with other persons of 16 years and older. So e. g. 20 and 16, or 25 and 17, or whatever as long as both persons are 16 or older and when it's consensual, is legal. Only for prostitution the minimum age is 18, as prostitution is forbidden for 16- and 17-year-olds even if they are legally allowed to have sex with whomever is 16 or older.

Similar rules apply for many European and Latin American countries as well, and also for countries where you're considered an adult at a younger age, such as China where you reach adulthood at age 16.

[btbc92]

@juicyjessie

It's doesn't matter what people think. What matters is what the laws say.

[btbc92]

@Barry88

I know you are absolutely incorrect. A 16 year old cannot have sex with anyone that's above the age of 18. It doesn't matter if it's consensual it is considered sexual abuse. All countries have the same laws and I'm pretty sure the other user just Express them even for the USA. I looked at all the consent laws before. They have the same rules as we do.

[btbc92]

Consent laws are for teens who are allowed to give consent with other teens as long as the same teens are also above the age limit but no more than 18 years old.

[Barry88]

@btbc92 If there is one thing which is different in every country (and very complicated), it's the law. Don't pretend you know the laws of all countries and territories. As said, the age of adulthood isn't even the same around the world.

It also would be idiot if laws say that the age of consent can be 16, but that it's not allowed for someone of age 18 (or older) to have sex with someone below the age of 18. That would imply that if I were 17 and my girlfriend would be 16, we could have sex. Both minors, but both reached the age of consent. But if we're both one year older (18 and 17), it would be impossible because one of us is an adult. I don't exclude the possibility that there are countries and territories with such rules, but it wouldn't make much sense.

[asshole_]

I think morally, it's wrong

But, legally, it's ok in some states/countries

[jjj101010]

16 is the age of consent in the UK so they can date any age they want

[1truekhaleesi]

That's predatory behavior.

[Flower7]

They can date, but not have sex.

[Wise4myage]

No. I don't think that's right.

[Iron_Man]

No too young she’s not 18

[Waz2020]

It's only 4 years but you should maybe wait a year

[Cryptic-Game]

They can but the law may not like it.

[Nachowedgie]

Yeah that's fine

[Anonymous]

no i hope not