So, my good friend (18m) had a falling out with his ex (19m) because the ex bullied him and also because he is apparently dating a 16f, so my friend thinks he is a pedophile for obvious reasons (adult + minor).
I can see why this would be considered bad but also, when I turn 16, my girlfriend will be 19 too, as I am currently a young sophomore who is about 3 years younger than her girlfriend, a senior.
13 and 19 is really bad so the broad statement “it’s ok for teens to date teens” definitely needs a big asterisk. 16 and 19 is probably the biggest gap that’s not unequivocally creepy but can still be bad considering how different people develop
it doesn’t seem weird as an adult to think about that gap, but that’s a freshman and a senior and yes that is weird