What is the suitable age gap when it comes to friends? What is the oldest friend you have?

[Sarah2007]

I make friends all the times and when it comes to age, it doesn't make any difference for me whether it's an old or young friend.

I have friends between the age 13 and 38 , most of my friends are 23 to 28 years old , while the oldest friend is 38 years old.

In your opinion, what is the suitable age gap when you're making new friends? And what is the oldest friend you have? Do you treat them all the same?

[Lliam]

I don't think there is an unsuitable age gap.

I don't even know most of my friends' ages.
I can't think of any close friends who are more than 10 years younger than me.

I know one particular friend is almost 10 years younger. We became friends after 2005 when he was playing bass in my band until 2020.

I had a friend who was my best friend ever. I met him at work in 1980 and we were good friends by 1985. He left the company but we stayed in touch. His wife, the love of his life, battled cancer for years and died in the mid 2000s. After that, he and I used to chat on the phone at least once and often several times a week. He was at least 6 or 8 years older than me, but we were totally on the same wave length. We talked a lot about music, about old times, and also about current affairs. He was just so much fun.
He died of heart problems a few years ago.

Starting when I was about 50, I had several really, really good friends who were 20 or 25 years older than me. They were some of the brightest, most informed, open minded, friendly and generous people I ever met. I respected them greatly and they respected me. We didn't even think about age difference.
They have all passed away.

[sawno]

If its purely platonic I don't see any limit but its the kind of friendship that will be very different. Like if you have a friend you play an online shooter with and he turns out to be 15 while your 25 and you both just like playing the game and find out after the fact I don't see what the issue would be. But you'd probably find the friendship to be surface level.

there's also a lot of tales of friendships between older men acting like a mentor for younger kids. They are friends but in a more father son kind of way where they teach and the kid apprechiates being thought a skill for example or having someone level with them if their own parents failed to.

So to me its the kind of friendship and intent that defines it not the age gap. Its creepy when someone deliberately seeks out children as friends instead of adults but if it forms organically thats fine in my book as long as its not sexual.

[Sarah2007]

Amazing answer 👏🏻👏🏻

[4ngelic]

are those grown adult friends of yours dudes? because if they are i can tell you right now they're creeps and definitely have certain intentions with you... grown men dont befriend teen girls for no reason..

anyways i think the acceptable age gaps depends on how old you are. like if you are a teenager, you should only be friends with people really close in age but if you're like in your 30s for ex it doesn't really matter, you could be friends with someone decades older and have it be prefectly fine. though i think in general people get on better with people who are closeish in age

all my friends are very close in age to me, so like 21-26yo. the oldest friend i ever had though was a 36yo woman when i was 18 (still in high school). it was a bit weird though didn't last too long, i got the feeling she was trying to live a second youth through me and was going through a mid life crisis

[Sarah2007]

It's a long story how the friendship happened, it's nothing to worry about for sure as they are trustworthy friends.

[Valdemort]

Most close friends are my own age- other people I connect with most easily are usually a lot older.

I used to work for a woman in her 80s for a year, when I was about 20. Her husband had just passed away right after I quit, so I asked if it was ok to pay a visit. I'd spend time with her every 2/3 months for the next few years, until she passed away last October. She was honestly one of the best people I got to spend time with.

That's to say, there's no "suitable" age gap between people who mean well... it's the bond you build, not the year you were born in.

[Sarah2007]

" it's the bond you build, not the year you were born in. "

Well said 👏🏻

[Valdemort]

Thanks for mho :)

[DishLady]

Oh… well I have VERY old friends my mom’s age and older, but I also have a few very young friends from the neighborhood, etc. And I’m the “designated mom” for my kids’ friends when they have questions or troubles about stuff they don’t ask their own parents for whatever reason. Then finally I have friends close to my age. We’re a crazy little bunch. There’s a benefit and drawback to each generation I’m friends with. But the goal is to just have better insight into how they see things. (Not a perfect science, but good enough that we enjoy each others’ company.)

[Blunky]

I consider people I become friendly with under the age of 28 and over 48 to be acquaintances. The younger ones tend to be very annoying and needy acquaintances, more often than not. But I'm the same as you. I befriend people of all age ages. I've always hung out with an older crowd though, mainly due to the differences in mentalities with how I grew up. Most of my friends are 5-10 years older than me but I definitely don't treat them all the same. Each friend and acquaintance have their own quirks I adjust to.

[Aakash_Hangargi]

Curious to know as you are just 16 and you are friends with twice your age people are you really friends or do think they are your friends.

Like how do you even connect with them like how much time do you spend and how do you engage with them?

[Sarah2007]

We are actually good and close friends, it's hard to say how the friendship happened as it's a long story. We talk a lot, hang out with other friends ( many different ages ), gather at special occasions and go on a trips / travel as a group. It's mostly with the group but sometimes I hang out or chill by myself with one friend and it can be any age, it's not a big issue at all.

The only exception is my oldest friend who is 38 y/o , I would say that for the past 2 years, I've spent around 3 days as an average per week while at times it's 1 day per week. Ofc there are times where we don't talk for few weeks. This friendship is unique considering the convos we talk about and what the friendship revolves on

[Babygirl_S]

I don’t care about their age but I feel like I feel weird if they’re more than 5 years younger/older because they usually have a different vocabulary and care about different aspects of life or have a different taste in music. I can’t be friends if I constantly have to prove that I’m “mature enough” or “fun enough”.

[Finchie40]

If it’s just friendship , then I don’t care what age they are , as long as they are respectful to me I will be respectful to them. I have older and younger friends’ that I enjoy hanging out with and talking to

[Likestorizz]

I don't have one I cared for kids for decades I'm 38 i have to talk to them to care for them better. I have friends I think the youngest 12. But I've cared for down to 1 Year olds their like 7 now some 8

[Joshydavid25]

For me, as long as you're in adult, I have no qualms about your age in terms of friends.. I could loosely be friends with teens, but only loosely.. I treat everyone the same, or at least try to..

[jamesgoldman]

Age gap isn't a set rule but my oldest friend well the close ones are probably only about 30 (best men at my hypothetical wedding) but good friends the oldest of mine will be 91 this year but my late antique dealer would have been 95

[Summeroflove]

Friends can come in all ages from young to elderly it really doesn’t matter. You can be friends with someone as old as 100

[bowenw]

No limits. People of all ages have interesting things to say. I try to treat everyone the same, but usually someone who is 90 will talk about different things than someone who is 18.

[TheSpaceGnome]

I don't think there are age limits on friends, you can be friends with people of any age, so long as they share your hobbies and interests. Its only relationships where age matters.

[LiamJHayden]

If I call some of the people I play in chess "friends" the oldest is over 80. And I am teaching a friend's son to play guitar. He's 8.

[exitseven]

I have had friends that were more than 20 years older than me. Unfortunately both have passed away, one very recently.

[glennos89]

I'm wondering why we aren't friends already? Lol🤔

I'm 35 and my oldest friend is 47 and the youngest is 19

[jjj101010]

I don’t think it matters it’s about how well u get on really. Do u prefer friends ur own age or older?

[Sarah2007]

I don't have a preference, I accept all ages to be friends with me.

[jjj101010]

I agree

[MrMichael69]

I was just thinking about this. I have friends a 19- year differential in both sides of me. We all have similar interests and outlooks. That is what is important to me.

[AviatorTom]

Any age gap will do. My oldest friend, a neighbor, is 88.

[Nikki1989]

My oldest friends are a married couple in their 70s. The youngest are around 30.

[MikeInHawaii]

I’m sixty. I had a friend who was 104 and I know toddlers I consider to be friends. I don’t see an age limit.

[DrPepper12]

After HS it just doesn't matter. Teens to 80s here

[Staximus]

The oldest friend I had was 97 and he died last year, my friend's grandpa

[Jay-_-]

For friends? Whatever age. As long as that person is a good person I wouldn't mind.

[AydenHazor]

There is no limit as far as I'm concerned. I've got friends from their teens to their 80s

[Anonymous]

I agree with you. My oldest friend is in her forties.

[Jerre]

I have no age gap. I have lady friends from 18 to 65.

[Jerre]

@sarah2007 Thank you for the Like

[shortster]

I need all the friends I can get; so I don't gatekeep based on age.

[retarb]

85 year old dude named Dan, was my friend's neighbor. Chill dude.

[wkhan_87]

No any age gapes for friends
My oldest friend is 55 yo
And youngest one is 15 yo

[Anonymous]

It doesn't matter, I have much older, and much younger friends.

[Stacy00]

4/5 especially when under 18. And 21 plus 10+.

[beefcakebradybatson]

My oldest friend is 74.

[Smile456]

30 years

[jimmy2]

65 to 42

[straponeate]

Yes.