ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Ages of consent in Oceania

Okay, so you know how some things are only okay for you to do when you're a certain age, like ride a bike without training wheels or watch certain movies? Well, the age of consent is kind of like that. It's the age when someone is allowed to say "yes" to doing certain things with another person.

In Oceania, which is a group of islands in the Pacific Ocean, different countries have different ages of consent. For example, in Australia, the age of consent is usually 16 or 17 years old, depending on the state or territory. This means that people who are younger than that aren't allowed to agree to do certain things with someone else, like have sex or engage in sexual activities.

However, if one person is older than the age of consent and the other is younger, there are special laws in place to protect the younger person. These laws are meant to make sure that the older person doesn't take advantage of the younger one, because it wouldn't be fair or safe.

It's really important for everyone to know what the age of consent is where they live, and to always respect the laws and the other person's wishes. And remember, just because someone is older than you or says they love you, it doesn't mean you have to do anything you're not comfortable with.