ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Ages of consent in North America

Hi there! Do you want to know about the ages of consent in North America? Sure, let me explain it to you in very simple words.

In North America, every state and province has different laws that dictate when people are legally allowed to have sex. This is what we call the "age of consent."

The age of consent is the age at which a person is considered mature enough to decide if they want to have sex with someone else. It's important to note that this age can vary depending on who you talk to, as some people believe that it should be different for different situations.

In most states and provinces in North America, the age of consent is between 16 and 18 years old. This means that if you're under this age, you cannot legally have sex with someone who is older than you and is also underage.

For example, if you're 16 years old and your boyfriend or girlfriend is 20, it's illegal for them to have sex with you. This is because you're not considered mature enough to make that decision.

However, if you're both over the age of consent, then you can legally have sex with each other if you both agree to it.

It's important to remember that just because someone is over the age of consent does not mean they can have sex with anyone they want. If the other person does not want to have sex with them, then it's not allowed.

In summary, the age of consent is the age at which a person is considered mature enough to decide if they want to have sex with someone else. It varies between 16 and 18 years old in different states and provinces in North America. It's important to respect someone's decision if they do not want to have sex with you, no matter their age.