In most of the westernized world it is 14-16. I think 15 or 16 is fine; you know what you're agreeing to at that point in your life. This map shows that only a few American states have the age of consent at 18.Turquoise = 13, light blue = 14, standard blue = 15, dark blue = 16, brown = 17, green = 18, pink = must be married.
13 or below
Vote A
14
Vote B
15
Vote C
16
Vote D
17
Vote E
18
Vote F
Higher than 18.
Vote G
Select gender and age to cast your vote:
GirlGuyPlease select your age
Updates:
+1 y
Blocked by @MountAverage who could not defend his arguments, and doesn't know what the word pedophile means... how embarrassing :/
+1 y
Check out the female MHO for a great lesson on how to dodge questions and substitute name calling for arguments! She is a master :)
Used to be 16 in my country; they recently raised it to 18 to meet "international standards".
Iron_ManMaster
+1 y
For what drinking beer or sex?
0011
Twinrova
+1 y
sex.
DiegoOGuru
+1 y
According to recent scientific studies, it should be 24-25y. If we go by the judicial system, it's 16-18y, for societal and practical reasons, why? Depending on where you live, at 16-18, everyone should finish highschool and start the adult life in college. Been the legal age for consent"14 years" sounds insane. Even though I don't agree it should neither be 16. From 18+ I think we develop a judgement good enough to find our way trough society.
1000
startingfitnessXper 5
+1 y
It depends on the culture and lifestyle. If young people get into the workforce and have adult rights and responsibilities early then they should also naturally be aware and able to give sexual consent. In some countries people enter the workforce much later. So they develop slower and are more irresponsible.
This, plus other relogious and cultural reasons are why the age of consent varies. In the past people started working in farms or industries younher, they would also get marimried and have children younger. Nowadays teenagers that age dont have that much responsibility or discipline so it makes sense that the age of consent should be higher. Generally speaking the age of consent should be along the same number as the age for alcohol consumption and the age required for a drivers license. Depending on the culture, in my opinion 16-18 is okay.
0000
naomihillariageXper 2
+1 y
It should depend on how ready a person is, not their age. When I was world building, I made the age of consent when they're in school studying the career they want. They're usually double digits when they get in and 17 when they graduate, sometimes older. I'm pretty sure they'd start having sex at about 14 whether the age of consent is lower or higher, doesn't matter.
0100
ArichipYoda
+1 y
I always liked older guys and was ready to date them at 16 and most of Europe is that age. I had to wait until 18 since most guys did not want to risk it.
0310
MarharayaXper 6
+1 y
It should be 18 or preferably above, in hindsight I was really immature and overall irresponsible as a teen, even when people were telling me I was mature for my age.
0001
zagorMaster
+1 y
Don't much care anymore as I'm not interested in teens anymore.
0000
Dchrls78104Master
+1 y
I say 18 and over. My beliefs say 18 and over and married.
1001
Liam_HaydenGuru
+1 y
Minors are easy to manipulate, so the Epstein-pedo crowd would support you. I personally think that one who cannot legally sign a binding contract should not be able to consent.
1101
Twinrova
+1 y
You aren't a pedophile if you are attracted to women who are 16. They are not prepubescent.
Liam_Hayden
+1 y
You're a perve if you want to have sex with minors.
zagor
+1 y
So a 19 year old interested in a 17 year old is a pedo perve? Yeah right.
MountAverageGuru
+1 y
It's interesting how no one seems to make a distinction between consenting to someone who's also under the age of 18 and consenting to someone who 18 or older. Those are two very different scenarios that need two different legal ages of consent.
0000
Twinrova
+1 y
They are not aside from the fact that society thinks one is weird and the other isn't.
MountAverage
+1 y
Not sure what you mean. I'm talking about the fact that two teenagers having sex is a very different thing than a teenager and a grown up having sex, obviously.
Twinrova
+1 y
How? Other than the fact that society finds it weird. I do know what you mean.
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MountAverage
+1 y
I'm not gonna explain to you the difference between a 14 year old's mental maturity and a, let's say 34 year old's. If you don't understand this, you're either playing dumb for whatever reason or are yourself on the mental maturity level of a 14 year old or something.
Twinrova
+1 y
Why would you be less able to appreciate the consequence of having sex with another person your age than you would be with someone much older? The possible consequences are the same. Also I don't think 14 should be the age of consent. I think it should be 16.
MountAverage
+1 y
Oh, so you really are that dense. Okay. Let's try it this way then - why should it be 16, not 14? What's the difference? You just said yourself it's the same. Also, everything you said sounds nice and neat and everything, but it also entirely dodges the real issue, and I'm still having a hard time you're really that dense. You speak of consequences, but you completely ignore someone's ability to judge the consequences. Again - why should it be legal for a 16 year old, but not for someone who's merely two years younger? You're drawing a line because it has to be drawn somewhere, but why there? And more importantly (because, since you're so dense, you need this pointed out) - why do we need to draw a line to begin with? I just asked you two questions: 1) Why do you draw the line at 16, why not earlier than that? 2) Why does there have to be a line to begin with? Just in case you forget to answer one of them.
Twinrova
+1 y
"Oh, so you really are that dense. Okay. Let's try it this way then - why should it be 16, not 14? " Why is it relevant to the question I asked you? I think it should be 16, because I think at 16 you understand the weight of the consequences. "You speak of consequences, but you completely ignore someone's ability to judge the consequences." No... I really don't. Lmao. Again - why should it be legal for a 16 year old, but not for someone who's merely two years younger? The line is arbitrary. I think at 16 you can judge the weight of the consequences in most cases, whereas in most cases a 14 year old cannot. " why do we need to draw a line to begin with?" Because we need to protect those who cannot make decisions for themselves in some cases, and this is one of those cases due to the potential dangers of sex. More... So now that I answered all your questions do you want to explain why you dodged the question I asked you? Why can someone who is 16 consent to another 16 year old, but not to someone much older? Please don't call anyone dense until your able to answer the question. XD
MountAverage
+1 y
So, you admid that at certain age people are too young to give consent. Great that you understand that! Now, you said you "think" that at 16 someone is mature enough while 14 isn't. Well, that's merely your opinion. You're entiteled to that. I don't see why I would take it seriously though. I prefer to go by what psychologists, especially developmental psychologists, as well as social workers have to say about this. And they disagree with you, random dude on the internet. So yeah, thanks for your input, but nah. And let me guess - you're into teens?
Twinrova
+1 y
It's okay if you can't answer my question that I've now asked you twice, dude. However, do you really need to resort to ad homenim attacks? It's laughable, really. I'll wait for you to answer my question before I bother responding to you. This can't be a 1-way conversation.
Twinrova
+1 y
Correction.: I've asked you the same question 3 times, and your efuse to answer, because you can't defend your position.
MountAverage
+1 y
Ah, the good old "ad hominem" butthurtness. Nah man, if you say stupid shit, I'll call you stupid. Plain and simple. If you get butthurt over that, maybe try not saying stupid shit? And there's a reason I haven't answered your question. I don't have an answer. It is a very tricky issue because we can't draw legal lines that are gradual. I'm not necessarily arguing against 16 as age of consent, but I'm also not entirely sure. But you - you're an idiot who doesn't even acknowledge the difference between a teenager consenting to someone in his 30s or whatever, to two teenagers consenting to each other. And that alone discredits you entirely. This is just beyond retarded, man. You think a teenager is anywhere near as mentally mature and experienced as a grown up. I give up. I can't argue with someone who's delusional about human development. So, please shut the fuck up now, ephebophile!
An_ImpulseXper 6
+1 y
18 is fine.. you can't even trust 18's but.. its fine.
0102
RebeccalionsXper 5
+1 y
No, you don't know what you're agreeing to when you're under 18 and the guy is over 18. You are still in high school... you dont even have the maturity to know what you're getting into
2100
DiscomfortZone
+1 y
The problem, in my opinion, isn't a 19 year old guy with a 17 or even 16 year old girl. It's a 30+ year old creep with a 16 year old. Laws are usually there to protect us from worst case scenarios like the guy who posted this rubbish.
Rebeccalions
+1 y
@DiscomfortZone true. But honestly, if an 18 yo boy were with a 16 yo girl, more than likely the courts would dismiss it
GCS24DiecastXper 1
+1 y
18+ any less your opening your self up to pedophiles...
2311
Daniel3035Yoda
+1 y
None and all of these it really depends on the person way way back people would have sex at 14 and even younger with the average age being 30 for death. It's pretty debatable I'd say 16 is fine you can't really tell anyone to do anything even if they are underage with a paedophile etc. But 16 is when competence sets in so they know better well in most cases anyway you do get kids getting pregnant at 16 etc. But I'd say for me at the age of 12 would be fine (probs wouldn't be with a girl though) anything below I was just too unaware of the world. The word consent though for your own body is subject to high criticism for the simple reason it's your body you can do whatever you want if you prevent them then you are arguably according to many scholars breaching human rights etc.
1010
JuxtaposeMaster
+1 y
18 is fine. Why go lower?
1202
Twinrova
+1 y
You shouldn't restrict people's freedoms without reason.
Juxtapose
+1 y
You gotta draw a line in the sand somewhere. 18 is a good age, old enough to move out of your parent's place.
Thatsamazing
+1 y
Because that's not how romance and human sexuality work. That's why.
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Juxtapose
+1 y
@Thatsamazing So you'd bang a minor if it was legal?
Twinrova
+1 y
@juxtapose it is legal to have sex with 14-16 year olds in most countries in the Western world, and in the entire world for that matter. Even in the United states, the age of consent is only 18 in 1/3rd of the country.
Because going to jail is no fun and it is crowded enough with real criminals. So you would send someone who fucks a 17 year old...
Thatsamazing
+1 y
... Are you somehow not understanding that the goalpost of what a "minor" even *is* is entirely subjective?
Juxtapose
+1 y
All I'm hearing is that you guys want to justify your lust towards minors..
Thatsamazing
+1 y
All I'm seeing is that you have no idea what you're talking about.
likelyOK
+1 y
That’s DISGUSTING they even let 14 be sold to 40 in Saudi Arabia but thank God we are not them 🤮🤮🤮🤮🤢🤢
Pete671Guru
+1 y
Most people don't know what the term paedophile means, it's a registered psychiatric disorder, not illegal to be one, illegal and immoral to abuse kids though,,,
0100
Torari
+1 y
It's also limited to pre-pubescent children. There is a different word for attraction to teenagers. Hebephile is early teen, ephebephile is late teens.
Pete671
+1 y
@Torari yo got it right!
007kingifritYoda
+1 y
16 makes sense. you're old enough at that point, that's what it is in most places even most U. S states
0000
DiscomfortZoneExplorer
+1 y
First you advocate creeps like you taking advantage if teenagers (probably because mature women see right through your pathetic facade) and then you actually edit your post to add an insult against someone who blocked you... You're an embarrassment, not just to your parents and to men everywhere, but to humanity.
1200
Rebeccalions
+1 y
Thank you!!!
Aiko_E_LaraMaster
+1 y
Depends on the average age of high school graduates.
0000
Aiko_E_Lara
+1 y
Or how about if I say 13+ BUT if you're 13 -17, your dating partner should only have at least 2 years or less age gap unless you're 18. If you're 18, you can date anyone way older than you or someone 2 or less years younger.
Sexual Relationships 
Sexual Health 
What Girls & Guys Said
31 73Sixteen.
Used to be 16 in my country; they recently raised it to 18 to meet "international standards".
For what drinking beer or sex?
sex.
According to recent scientific studies, it should be 24-25y. If we go by the judicial system, it's 16-18y, for societal and practical reasons, why? Depending on where you live, at 16-18, everyone should finish highschool and start the adult life in college. Been the legal age for consent"14 years" sounds insane. Even though I don't agree it should neither be 16. From 18+ I think we develop a judgement good enough to find our way trough society.
It depends on the culture and lifestyle. If young people get into the workforce and have adult rights and responsibilities early then they should also naturally be aware and able to give sexual consent. In some countries people enter the workforce much later. So they develop slower and are more irresponsible.
This, plus other relogious and cultural reasons are why the age of consent varies. In the past people started working in farms or industries younher, they would also get marimried and have children younger. Nowadays teenagers that age dont have that much responsibility or discipline so it makes sense that the age of consent should be higher. Generally speaking the age of consent should be along the same number as the age for alcohol consumption and the age required for a drivers license. Depending on the culture, in my opinion 16-18 is okay.
It should depend on how ready a person is, not their age. When I was world building, I made the age of consent when they're in school studying the career they want. They're usually double digits when they get in and 17 when they graduate, sometimes older. I'm pretty sure they'd start having sex at about 14 whether the age of consent is lower or higher, doesn't matter.
I always liked older guys and was ready to date them at 16 and most of Europe is that age. I had to wait until 18 since most guys did not want to risk it.
It should be 18 or preferably above, in hindsight I was really immature and overall irresponsible as a teen, even when people were telling me I was mature for my age.
Don't much care anymore as I'm not interested in teens anymore.
I say 18 and over. My beliefs say 18 and over and married.
Minors are easy to manipulate, so the Epstein-pedo crowd would support you. I personally think that one who cannot legally sign a binding contract should not be able to consent.
You aren't a pedophile if you are attracted to women who are 16. They are not prepubescent.
You're a perve if you want to have sex with minors.
So a 19 year old interested in a 17 year old is a pedo perve? Yeah right.
It's interesting how no one seems to make a distinction between consenting to someone who's also under the age of 18 and consenting to someone who 18 or older. Those are two very different scenarios that need two different legal ages of consent.
They are not aside from the fact that society thinks one is weird and the other isn't.
Not sure what you mean. I'm talking about the fact that two teenagers having sex is a very different thing than a teenager and a grown up having sex, obviously.
How? Other than the fact that society finds it weird. I do know what you mean.
I'm not gonna explain to you the difference between a 14 year old's mental maturity and a, let's say 34 year old's. If you don't understand this, you're either playing dumb for whatever reason or are yourself on the mental maturity level of a 14 year old or something.
Why would you be less able to appreciate the consequence of having sex with another person your age than you would be with someone much older? The possible consequences are the same. Also I don't think 14 should be the age of consent. I think it should be 16.
Oh, so you really are that dense. Okay. Let's try it this way then - why should it be 16, not 14? What's the difference? You just said yourself it's the same. Also, everything you said sounds nice and neat and everything, but it also entirely dodges the real issue, and I'm still having a hard time you're really that dense. You speak of consequences, but you completely ignore someone's ability to judge the consequences. Again - why should it be legal for a 16 year old, but not for someone who's merely two years younger? You're drawing a line because it has to be drawn somewhere, but why there? And more importantly (because, since you're so dense, you need this pointed out) - why do we need to draw a line to begin with? I just asked you two questions: 1) Why do you draw the line at 16, why not earlier than that? 2) Why does there have to be a line to begin with? Just in case you forget to answer one of them.
"Oh, so you really are that dense. Okay. Let's try it this way then - why should it be 16, not 14? " Why is it relevant to the question I asked you? I think it should be 16, because I think at 16 you understand the weight of the consequences. "You speak of consequences, but you completely ignore someone's ability to judge the consequences." No... I really don't. Lmao. Again - why should it be legal for a 16 year old, but not for someone who's merely two years younger? The line is arbitrary. I think at 16 you can judge the weight of the consequences in most cases, whereas in most cases a 14 year old cannot. " why do we need to draw a line to begin with?" Because we need to protect those who cannot make decisions for themselves in some cases, and this is one of those cases due to the potential dangers of sex. More... So now that I answered all your questions do you want to explain why you dodged the question I asked you? Why can someone who is 16 consent to another 16 year old, but not to someone much older? Please don't call anyone dense until your able to answer the question. XD
So, you admid that at certain age people are too young to give consent. Great that you understand that! Now, you said you "think" that at 16 someone is mature enough while 14 isn't. Well, that's merely your opinion. You're entiteled to that. I don't see why I would take it seriously though. I prefer to go by what psychologists, especially developmental psychologists, as well as social workers have to say about this. And they disagree with you, random dude on the internet. So yeah, thanks for your input, but nah. And let me guess - you're into teens?
It's okay if you can't answer my question that I've now asked you twice, dude. However, do you really need to resort to ad homenim attacks? It's laughable, really. I'll wait for you to answer my question before I bother responding to you. This can't be a 1-way conversation.
Correction.: I've asked you the same question 3 times, and your efuse to answer, because you can't defend your position.
Ah, the good old "ad hominem" butthurtness. Nah man, if you say stupid shit, I'll call you stupid. Plain and simple. If you get butthurt over that, maybe try not saying stupid shit? And there's a reason I haven't answered your question. I don't have an answer. It is a very tricky issue because we can't draw legal lines that are gradual. I'm not necessarily arguing against 16 as age of consent, but I'm also not entirely sure. But you - you're an idiot who doesn't even acknowledge the difference between a teenager consenting to someone in his 30s or whatever, to two teenagers consenting to each other. And that alone discredits you entirely. This is just beyond retarded, man. You think a teenager is anywhere near as mentally mature and experienced as a grown up. I give up. I can't argue with someone who's delusional about human development. So, please shut the fuck up now, ephebophile!
18 is fine.. you can't even trust 18's but.. its fine.
No, you don't know what you're agreeing to when you're under 18 and the guy is over 18. You are still in high school... you dont even have the maturity to know what you're getting into
The problem, in my opinion, isn't a 19 year old guy with a 17 or even 16 year old girl. It's a 30+ year old creep with a 16 year old. Laws are usually there to protect us from worst case scenarios like the guy who posted this rubbish.
@DiscomfortZone true. But honestly, if an 18 yo boy were with a 16 yo girl, more than likely the courts would dismiss it
18+ any less your opening your self up to pedophiles...
None and all of these it really depends on the person way way back people would have sex at 14 and even younger with the average age being 30 for death.
It's pretty debatable I'd say 16 is fine you can't really tell anyone to do anything even if they are underage with a paedophile etc.
But 16 is when competence sets in so they know better well in most cases anyway you do get kids getting pregnant at 16 etc.
But I'd say for me at the age of 12 would be fine (probs wouldn't be with a girl though) anything below I was just too unaware of the world.
The word consent though for your own body is subject to high criticism for the simple reason it's your body you can do whatever you want if you prevent them then you are arguably according to many scholars breaching human rights etc.
18 is fine. Why go lower?
You shouldn't restrict people's freedoms without reason.
You gotta draw a line in the sand somewhere. 18 is a good age, old enough to move out of your parent's place.
Because that's not how romance and human sexuality work. That's why.
@Thatsamazing So you'd bang a minor if it was legal?
@juxtapose it is legal to have sex with 14-16 year olds in most countries in the Western world, and in the entire world for that matter. Even in the United states, the age of consent is only 18 in 1/3rd of the country.
aspe.hhs.gov/.../sexual-intercourse-minors
Because going to jail is no fun and it is crowded enough with real criminals. So you would send someone who fucks a 17 year old...
... Are you somehow not understanding that the goalpost of what a "minor" even *is* is entirely subjective?
All I'm hearing is that you guys want to justify your lust towards minors..
All I'm seeing is that you have no idea what you're talking about.
That’s DISGUSTING they even let 14 be sold to 40 in Saudi Arabia but thank God we are not them 🤮🤮🤮🤮🤢🤢
Most people don't know what the term paedophile means, it's a registered psychiatric disorder, not illegal to be one, illegal and immoral to abuse kids though,,,
It's also limited to pre-pubescent children. There is a different word for attraction to teenagers. Hebephile is early teen, ephebephile is late teens.
@Torari yo got it right!
16 makes sense. you're old enough at that point, that's what it is in most places even most U. S states
First you advocate creeps like you taking advantage if teenagers (probably because mature women see right through your pathetic facade) and then you actually edit your post to add an insult against someone who blocked you... You're an embarrassment, not just to your parents and to men everywhere, but to humanity.
Thank you!!!
Depends on the average age of high school graduates.
Or how about if I say 13+ BUT if you're 13 -17, your dating partner should only have at least 2 years or less age gap unless you're 18. If you're 18, you can date anyone way older than you or someone 2 or less years younger.