Is it illegal to date someone a lot younger than you?

Answer 1

This question is asked often with different ages and different states. I'm not going to try to address the specific legalities of each situation, but here are some important things to think about if you're going to date anyone under the legal age of consent:

Professionals (social workers, psychologists, etc) generally consider relationships withing a six year time frame to be "peer relationships" and not inappropriate because of age if both have reached puberty. Obviously, 6 and 12 is not appropriate.

Unfortunately, in some states the wrong six month time span can get you busted and ruin your life.

If the older person doesn't have sexual relations with the younger one, it's "legal". It's also very dangerous unless parents approve, they stay in public places, etc...

If the younger person cries "wolf" or "rape" she or he could ruin the life of the older person if they were charged and found guilty of sexual abuse of a minor. It won't matter if the younger person was "asked for it", the older one will get busted.

The older person would go on a list of offenders and have to report to law enforcement possibly for the rest of his or her life. They would find it hard to go to school, get a job, could lose custody of children by a later marriage, get busted for something they didn't do, and I could go on and on.

If the older person really loves the younger person he or she should talk to the parents, get written permission to be with the younger person, and then stick to church socials and groups of six or more for "dates".

To put it bluntly, Society will shun you if you date someone older. Expecially if the difference is between ages are young or old enough to fit in a generation. Not to mention sometimes (with ages under 18) against the law... just wait until your older.. how hard is that?