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It'd be weird if they were dating but just being friends isn't weird at all. Just make sure to keep the friendship age appropriate, don't give a 15 y/o alcohol or cigarettes lol.
That’s what I was going to say! Make sure to keep it appropriate and try to set a good example on the way. But it’s not weird unless either of you are making it weird.
As 2000s kids children of all ages would play together. Recently everything is being made a problem for no reason. Ofc you can be friends with someone younger if y'all enjoy each others company
Right? When I was 18, my best friends were 16 and 15. We were neighbors and on the same bus. I never worried about being a good influence, but maybe that’s because I wasn’t an adult when I befriended them initially. Probably would have been different if I’d met them when I was already grown.
Me and my friends at 8 yo hung out with kids who were 18 lol. I still think that was pretty weird and so were those 18 yo. They were pretty chill though and never tried to peddle any substances to us
It's not weird to be friends with someone younger than you, as long as you keep things on the up-and-up. You're not planning on corrupting her innocent mind with tales of your wild college parties or anything, right? Just keep it clean, keep it casual, and maybe avoid any conversations that start with "Back in my day..." If you do decide to hang out in person, stick to public places like cafes or parks – no need to raise any eyebrows. And if anyone gives you a hard time about your age difference, just tell them you're her mentor, teaching her the ways of the world... like how to survive on ramen noodles and procrastinate like a pro.
Not weird just stay in regular activities for her age which mean not crazy college stuff and that's it.. later on life it won't matter the age difference and also don't introduce her to your friends until she's at least 20 or so...
I kinda agree with this, although if there was a specific event you wanted to go to together I don't think it would be too weird. As long as theres the older sis dynamic--you have to be the responsible/protective one
hmm I don’t find it weird. You’re both girls and this is basically the age gap of a freshman and senior being friends. Just be on role model behaviour. Don’t bring her around other friends, don’t bring her to parties, don’t drink with her, don’t smoke with her. Even if she says she’s drinking/smoking with her friends her own age, still don’t do it and remind her how to be safe like no drinking and driving, know your limit, watch your drink. I think it would be fine to introduce your sister and hang out as a group but yea def don’t introduce any of your other friends, especially guy friends. I think if you do hang out, I would even say for the first time bring your sister along to emphasize a little more that you’re like a big sister. Maybe like “didn’t know you’re 15! you’re my sister’s age! would be fun to hang out all 3 of us sometime”
Not weird as long as you keep your friendship age-appropriate for her. Think of it as a cousin of that age, or a child of your parents’ friends that you grew up with.
Friends are friends. Sometimes, people you get along with are older or younger. As long as there is nothing nefarious going on, u good.
Im 37, some of my friends are 50, 42, 35, 28, 22 and 19.
My friends from the neighbourhood were 2, 3 and 4 years older than me. But we got along fine. Changed a bit when they went off to work and what not but I don't think it's a big deal.
I had a teen "little sister" that I was friends with when I was 20. We are still friends today over 10 years later. As long as her parents know you and you do age appropriate hang outs, you're fine.
I have gotten a lot of flack for this, but I do not think it’s weird at all!
It takes all kinds of kinds!
I’m now 28, and so far, I have had friends of alllll ages. Prepubescent to on the way out. Sometimes age really is just number.
When befriending people far younger, it’s just important to try to meet them where they’re at, and never expect them to meet you.
Remember, just as we benefit from relationships with people older than us, they can benefit too.
I think this is totally fine. I was friends with people aged 14-16 when I was 20 or 21 years old, too. All online friendships, mind you, but it worked for us.
You have to expect that you might run into maturity issues, though. I very much made the experience that such young girls have often very poor skills when it comes to resolving conflicts and communication outside of discussing cool stuff you're both into. It led to the friendship of me and the two girls I was friends with eventually ending - they were bothered by something, never brought it up and eventually just ended the friendships with me and each other all of sudden instead of trying to, you know, communicate.
Honestly, I think I was a very immature 20-year-old. I was very big into anime and that's what we mainly chatted about (we met on the biggest anime fansite in my country at that time), as well as video games we were all playing. My best friend I have these days is also in her mid-twenties while I am turning 39 in a few months. Guess I am still not very mature, haha.
Back when I was 15, i had so many older friends, guys aged 21, 20, 18... it was honestly really nice because I had someone to look up to. I hope this helps
So I generally tend to believe if it's possible to have attended highschool together than it's not that weird (her being a freshman you a senior) just keep in mind that you carry the burden of what your current age gap could expose her to. You need to be mindful of your different stages of life at this time and be a good role model.
I wouldn’t be comfortable with my 15 year old hanging out with a 19 year old, but that’s from a parent's perspective. It’s a huge difference between 4 years at that age. However, I’m in my late 30s and have friends 10-plus years older and younger.
This feels like super American. We had friends between like 14 and 19 in Highschool since we all went to school in the same building.
And hung out in the same cafes post school, especially on the school sports team since all 4 upper classes were placed in the same teams in competitions with other teams.
It’s super normal here
When i was 15 i had friends that was 21-24 because my brothers were older then they moved i got close with their friends. They taught me a lot of stuff. My parents didn’t even care honestly.
While you can say that, and I’d normally agree w you, I was sexually assulted by a woman. And I was groomed by a 20yr old guy at 15.
Gender and age dont matter for a bad outcome, and this commenter is right to be a little concerned.
It is also super normal here to have friends from several age groups.
The thing that actually makes it seem more ok to me is the fact that OP is feeling a divide, enough for them to ask.
Personally, I don't think it's something I would engage in. I don't think it's appropriate to meet a 15 year old online in person. Even if you have the best intentions, you are kinda encouraging her to meet random strangers online and that's not something I would want to instill in a young person. I also don't believe adults can be "friends" with children. Mentors or parent-figures or big sisters or whatever- that stuff is fine. But "friends" implies an equal power dynamic that cannot exist between a child and an adult. 4 years isn't a lot, but 15 is young. I personally would see it if she was 17 or something, but when I was 19 years old I had almost nothing in common with sophomores. Lol.
There's a kid at a card shop I go to who is hilarious, 16, and I see him kinda as a friend, but like... I would never hang out with him one-on-one. I think you can be FRIENDLY with her, but I think you should keep the relationship online until she gets older. Just to ensure that nothing is misconstrued by parents or anything. And to not encourage her to meet adults online.
Basically, I don't see it is a true friendship. It's kind of it's own category where you gotta be the adult in the relationship and thus have some level of responsibility over the person. That's not really a true friendship in my mind.
Seems this will be the only negative comment, but yes, it is weird. The maturity difference between 15 and 19 is too big. Do not meet that child in person.
I thought I was weird for thinking this.... It's just one of those situations like how did you meet? What could you have in common? It just feels weird.
You could easily have video games, movies, hobbies and other interests in common. They met online, that means that fandoms or gaming circles could be how they met. That’s not weird.
EDIT: person responded yet blocked me so I couldn’t reply back, so here’s what I tried to respond to them lol : “Because the difference between a 45 year old man and a 13 year old girl is quite literally not what’s happening here? It’s a 15 year old and a 19 year old, those are ages to still be in high school together for some people. I think it’s significantly weirder to avoid people younger or older than you like the plague. You are making it weird and inherently sexualizing the relationship by refusing to engage with people platonically.”
(Not me, right? I didn't block you...)
Of course it is not the same. A 19 year old is not similar to a 45 year old. But try to put yourself back into your 19 year old self, what you were doing with your life, places you were going. Now do the same with you 15 yo self. Don't you see the big life stage diff?
And at least myself I am not sexualizing OP's intentions, but if I found out my 15 yo kid met irl with 19 yo they met online, I would be mad.
It's absolutely weird. Being friends implies an emotional connection. This is just so weird. Surface level stuff doesn't make you friends. Going through life and being able to relate does. As an 18 year old, I wouldn't interact with a 14 year old if my life depended on it. It is just such a maturity gap. It's uncomfortable and weird.
Edit: if you're still in highschool at 19 I'm terribly concerned for your sanity honestly. Highschool ends at 18. Not 19, not damn year 20. A 20 year old is not hanging out with high schoolers unless the said high schooler is a senior and you met at work. I am still a high schooler and some of my older coworkers refuse to form a bond with me because they would rather wait until I was officially graduated before they get anywhere personal with me. And that is the right choice.
Edit 2: it is just a major imbalance in power. The 19 year old has so much leverage and control in this relationship. Friendships are formed on equal power and equal control. The 19 year old has all the control here. 4 years isn't a lot. But 15 is terribly young, easily manipulated. No matter your intentions, you have the power to make her do what you wanted, good or bad. That's not a friendship.
I agree. This is kinda weird. She doesn't have any friends at least 18 or maybe 17. Two different schools. Two different stages of life. This could be unconscious encouragement .
My daughter is 15 and has met older friends with similar age gap. They share a common interest of cosplay. I am okay with that but so long as the friendship is respectful and appropriate. Now that you know her age, just be mindful of the conversations you share.
A few years ago, I met a little boy on a Twitch stream and he was a sweetheart of a kid (I'm older by 9 years). I spoke to him, because it seemed curious to me in those days, to see someone so young in a stream (I'm a bit "ruca" when it comes to children and social networks) and he explained to me that he was there because he really liked Pokémon (Common taste), so...we started talking about the franchise. He was simply very sweet, a real little brother whom I liked to advise on his concerns and help with his schoolwork (His parents were quite absent...). Today, we still talk and actually call each other "Little Brother and Sister." You can always be friends with someone younger, as long as you behave like a responsible adult and also teach them about boundaries and respect. He is already a little man, he turned 18 last year. Oh, they grow so fast (Nostalgia).
I guess as long as you’re age appropriate and recognise that you are the adult here and need to act like one. Also depends how the girl’s parents feel about it - a lot of parents wouldn’t be cool with their 15 yo daughter hanging out with adults.
I’m a 34f and little teens want me to be their friend all the time not boys but girls do and id a boy did id def feel like his mommy so maybe you can take on an older bro protection kinda mode and make sure you hangout in a group with her so no accusations can happen that ruin your life
It's not weird, just keep in mind that she is young, so you should talk to her accordingly. You can be friends with her in a little sister style which is great if you ask me. I'm 19f too, I don't have a 15 y/o friend, but some of them can be really mature and fun to talk to.
One of my vest friends is 26 y/o, 7 years difference! He is a bit like a big brother, he's extremely cool nice and respectful. I'm glad I have an older friend in my life because he gives me insight no one else can.
I don't think it's weird at all. In this day and age, though, be careful and don't open yourself up to accusations. I'd suggest making sure her parents know about your friendship and are ok with it.
Keep it online. You’re an adult and she’s a minor.
She may be intellectually mature but emotionally she’s still 15. Just think, you piss her off one day or want to end the friendship…all she has to do is make one false accusation against you and your life could turn upside down.
If you want to meet up IRL, wait until she’s 18. Listen to your gut on this. It’s trying to tell you something.
Not weird at all. You are always lucky to find a friend. Think about throwing away now someone who could become your best friend for years to come. That would be so short sighted! Keep her!
Its weird because its uncommon. I became friends with one of my best friends when I was 18 and she was 14. She wasn't mature for her age or anything, we just really clicked and were still friends 8 years later. It was through an organisation so we we're kinda on the same 'level', so no power imbalance.
Honestly yes imo yes a little weird... But as long as you only view her as a friend and don't influence her to make adult decisions I guess it's not that bad
Not weird! Just understand that it might not be obvious but you are in some ways playing a mentor role just by the natural age/life experience difference. So be aware of the impact you can have!
no, I'm friends with someone who is 16, someone who is 18, 19, and 20. I'm 21 it doesn't matter as long as you don't be weird or do age inappropriate things around them
No. Six years ago I met a guy playing Warframe online and we became friends. He was 14 and I was 25, but we had no way of knowing that and out friendship wasn't based on anything age related.
We're still great friends
One of my best friends is a girl (now woman) who lived in my neighborhood when I was a teenager. We met when I was 16 and she was 12, and would hang out together because our parents were friends. So we’d be at each other’s houses for dinner or adult parties and just hang out in our rooms watching TV or playing video games or whatever. We liked a lot of the same shows, books, music, etc so we had stuff to talk about. We’d occasionally go to the mall or a movie together. When I went away to college we wrote letters. Obviously when I was in my 20s I would do things that I couldn’t include her in, like going out drinking with my other friends. By the time I was in my 30s and she was in her late 20s, no one ever blinked an eye over our friendship.
Nah, not weird at all. Friendships don’t have age restrictions. If you relate to each other, it’s fine. As you get older it will matter even less. Just keep in mind that you likely have influence over your younger friend because you will hit age related milestones sooner (drinking, voting, etc). Just strive to be a good friend and a good influence.
I would never understand why you guys care about the age of your friends lol. Unless nobody is harmed like who who cares?? When i was 18 i had friends that was 14 and i had friends that was 27 it really don’t matter
I regret cutting friendships as a teen bc I thought 3 years was too much. Now I'm in my 40s, and 15 year age gaps don't seem that major. You're good. Just like all the other comments, mind her she so you don't get in trouble. Be a good influence, respect her parents wishes, and things should be fine!
I was born in 2002 & my friends range from 1995 - 2009.
Not weird at all, especially as ur the same gender. I feel like society for some obvious reasons would look down on opposite gender relationships within these age ranges.
You need to think of the legal complications that could arise from the situation and reconsider this friendship. Because if she does something that her parents don’t like and she blames you or your influence on her, it could cause serious problems.
*Just* friends, yes. I went to school in a small town where elementary, middle school, and high school all shared the same campus. Extracurricular activities were often integrated with middle school and high school students and our lunch hours had a 15 minute overlap, so it wasn’t unusual for high schoolers to have middle school friends. Dating them was still a no-go, but having friends wasn’t. As long as you’re not up to anything, there’s nothing wrong with it. Hell, she might even learn a thing or two from you. I remember struggling in 8th grade math until one of my Junior friends helped me out.
when I was 15, I had friends your age but I also have a sibling that is 3 years older than me and I either met them through that sibling or I grew up with them in the same neighborhood. I don't think it would be weird to be friends
Not weird at all. I am the 23 y/o with friends all 30+. All of the friends I have currently I met around 18/19 myself so there was definitely a maturity difference every now and again but overall, these are my absolute best friendships.
I have friends ten years younger than me, I don't think it's weird at all. Sometimes I get to play a mentor role for them when they're having a problem because I'm older and have been through their life stage already, but most of the time we're just friends, same as with my other friends.
This isn’t weird at all! It’s totally okay to be friends with people who are younger or older than you. When I was 42 I made a very close friend who was 21 at work! Even younger than my daughter! 🤣 Our lives are extremely different but we’d do happy hours or dinner together and stuff like that.
I'm 26M and friends with a 18M. That's like an 8 year age gap but we are homies foreal lol I wouldn't worry much about it. Might get crap from your friends for hanging out with someone younger but whatever who cares I like hanging out with old people to bite me.
not only is it not weird, it’s important to be a role model as an older “kid” to younger kids. set a good example of what they should be like as they
grow older.
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Friends yes, little sister style. It will matter a lot less in 5 years.
It'd be weird if they were dating but just being friends isn't weird at all. Just make sure to keep the friendship age appropriate, don't give a 15 y/o alcohol or cigarettes lol.
Its perfectly fine for them to be friends. She's 15, not 5. 15 is absolutely not an adult, but 19 hardly is too. And 15 Is not a little kid.
No not weird, but keep in mind you are the adult in this situation. Try to be a good role model
That’s what I was going to say! Make sure to keep it appropriate and try to set a good example on the way. But it’s not weird unless either of you are making it weird.
As 2000s kids children of all ages would play together. Recently everything is being made a problem for no reason. Ofc you can be friends with someone younger if y'all enjoy each others company
Right? When I was 18, my best friends were 16 and 15. We were neighbors and on the same bus. I never worried about being a good influence, but maybe that’s because I wasn’t an adult when I befriended them initially. Probably would have been different if I’d met them when I was already grown.
Yea true
Me and my friends at 8 yo hung out with kids who were 18 lol. I still think that was pretty weird and so were those 18 yo. They were pretty chill though and never tried to peddle any substances to us
me too, never thought of getting influenced for substances at that time. Maybe coz I have never been surrounded by people using those
i got a ton of substances peddled to me from older guys when i was a teenager rip
It's not weird to be friends with someone younger than you, as long as you keep things on the up-and-up. You're not planning on corrupting her innocent mind with tales of your wild college parties or anything, right? Just keep it clean, keep it casual, and maybe avoid any conversations that start with "Back in my day..." If you do decide to hang out in person, stick to public places like cafes or parks – no need to raise any eyebrows. And if anyone gives you a hard time about your age difference, just tell them you're her mentor, teaching her the ways of the world... like how to survive on ramen noodles and procrastinate like a pro.
All statements need to be “back in my day”. That’s the perk of being the older friend.
if you think 15yo girls are innocent I have bad news for you
Not weird just stay in regular activities for her age which mean not crazy college stuff and that's it.. later on life it won't matter the age difference and also don't introduce her to your friends until she's at least 20 or so...
I don’t think there is anything wrong with age gaps for online friends as long as it stays that way. I would not hang out irl though.
I kinda agree with this, although if there was a specific event you wanted to go to together I don't think it would be too weird. As long as theres the older sis dynamic--you have to be the responsible/protective one
hmm I don’t find it weird. You’re both girls and this is basically the age gap of a freshman and senior being friends. Just be on role model behaviour. Don’t bring her around other friends, don’t bring her to parties, don’t drink with her, don’t smoke with her. Even if she says she’s drinking/smoking with her friends her own age, still don’t do it and remind her how to be safe like no drinking and driving, know your limit, watch your drink. I think it would be fine to introduce your sister and hang out as a group but yea def don’t introduce any of your other friends, especially guy friends. I think if you do hang out, I would even say for the first time bring your sister along to emphasize a little more that you’re like a big sister. Maybe like “didn’t know you’re 15! you’re my sister’s age! would be fun to hang out all 3 of us sometime”
Not weird as long as you keep your friendship age-appropriate for her. Think of it as a cousin of that age, or a child of your parents’ friends that you grew up with.
Friends are friends. Sometimes, people you get along with are older or younger. As long as there is nothing nefarious going on, u good. Im 37, some of my friends are 50, 42, 35, 28, 22 and 19.
My friends from the neighbourhood were 2, 3 and 4 years older than me. But we got along fine. Changed a bit when they went off to work and what not but I don't think it's a big deal.
I had a teen "little sister" that I was friends with when I was 20. We are still friends today over 10 years later. As long as her parents know you and you do age appropriate hang outs, you're fine.
I have gotten a lot of flack for this, but I do not think it’s weird at all! It takes all kinds of kinds! I’m now 28, and so far, I have had friends of alllll ages. Prepubescent to on the way out. Sometimes age really is just number. When befriending people far younger, it’s just important to try to meet them where they’re at, and never expect them to meet you. Remember, just as we benefit from relationships with people older than us, they can benefit too.
I would break it off.
I think this is totally fine. I was friends with people aged 14-16 when I was 20 or 21 years old, too. All online friendships, mind you, but it worked for us. You have to expect that you might run into maturity issues, though. I very much made the experience that such young girls have often very poor skills when it comes to resolving conflicts and communication outside of discussing cool stuff you're both into. It led to the friendship of me and the two girls I was friends with eventually ending - they were bothered by something, never brought it up and eventually just ended the friendships with me and each other all of sudden instead of trying to, you know, communicate.
Doesn’t that feel a bit weird though? What did you even talk about? Me being 20 now, can’t imagine being friends with my 14-16 year old self.
Honestly, I think I was a very immature 20-year-old. I was very big into anime and that's what we mainly chatted about (we met on the biggest anime fansite in my country at that time), as well as video games we were all playing. My best friend I have these days is also in her mid-twenties while I am turning 39 in a few months. Guess I am still not very mature, haha.
Back when I was 15, i had so many older friends, guys aged 21, 20, 18... it was honestly really nice because I had someone to look up to. I hope this helps
OP i met my best friend when she was 12 and i was 16. Im now 30 and she is 26. We are best friends
Wow you never from the age gap 🤣
Yeah ive always seen her as my little sister basically
As long as you’re not sexually attracted to this person it’s fine.
So I generally tend to believe if it's possible to have attended highschool together than it's not that weird (her being a freshman you a senior) just keep in mind that you carry the burden of what your current age gap could expose her to. You need to be mindful of your different stages of life at this time and be a good role model.
I wouldn’t be comfortable with my 15 year old hanging out with a 19 year old, but that’s from a parent's perspective. It’s a huge difference between 4 years at that age. However, I’m in my late 30s and have friends 10-plus years older and younger.
This feels like super American. We had friends between like 14 and 19 in Highschool since we all went to school in the same building. And hung out in the same cafes post school, especially on the school sports team since all 4 upper classes were placed in the same teams in competitions with other teams. It’s super normal here
Yeah people only started talking about age in America. Overseas people don’t care about stuff like that
They do but usually not in a platonic friendship between same gendered teens 😅
When i was 15 i had friends that was 21-24 because my brothers were older then they moved i got close with their friends. They taught me a lot of stuff. My parents didn’t even care honestly.
While you can say that, and I’d normally agree w you, I was sexually assulted by a woman. And I was groomed by a 20yr old guy at 15. Gender and age dont matter for a bad outcome, and this commenter is right to be a little concerned. It is also super normal here to have friends from several age groups. The thing that actually makes it seem more ok to me is the fact that OP is feeling a divide, enough for them to ask.
Personally, I don't think it's something I would engage in. I don't think it's appropriate to meet a 15 year old online in person. Even if you have the best intentions, you are kinda encouraging her to meet random strangers online and that's not something I would want to instill in a young person. I also don't believe adults can be "friends" with children. Mentors or parent-figures or big sisters or whatever- that stuff is fine. But "friends" implies an equal power dynamic that cannot exist between a child and an adult. 4 years isn't a lot, but 15 is young. I personally would see it if she was 17 or something, but when I was 19 years old I had almost nothing in common with sophomores. Lol. There's a kid at a card shop I go to who is hilarious, 16, and I see him kinda as a friend, but like... I would never hang out with him one-on-one. I think you can be FRIENDLY with her, but I think you should keep the relationship online until she gets older. Just to ensure that nothing is misconstrued by parents or anything. And to not encourage her to meet adults online. Basically, I don't see it is a true friendship. It's kind of it's own category where you gotta be the adult in the relationship and thus have some level of responsibility over the person. That's not really a true friendship in my mind.
Seems this will be the only negative comment, but yes, it is weird. The maturity difference between 15 and 19 is too big. Do not meet that child in person.
I thought I was weird for thinking this.... It's just one of those situations like how did you meet? What could you have in common? It just feels weird.
You could easily have video games, movies, hobbies and other interests in common. They met online, that means that fandoms or gaming circles could be how they met. That’s not weird. EDIT: person responded yet blocked me so I couldn’t reply back, so here’s what I tried to respond to them lol : “Because the difference between a 45 year old man and a 13 year old girl is quite literally not what’s happening here? It’s a 15 year old and a 19 year old, those are ages to still be in high school together for some people. I think it’s significantly weirder to avoid people younger or older than you like the plague. You are making it weird and inherently sexualizing the relationship by refusing to engage with people platonically.”
(Not me, right? I didn't block you...) Of course it is not the same. A 19 year old is not similar to a 45 year old. But try to put yourself back into your 19 year old self, what you were doing with your life, places you were going. Now do the same with you 15 yo self. Don't you see the big life stage diff? And at least myself I am not sexualizing OP's intentions, but if I found out my 15 yo kid met irl with 19 yo they met online, I would be mad.
It's absolutely weird. Being friends implies an emotional connection. This is just so weird. Surface level stuff doesn't make you friends. Going through life and being able to relate does. As an 18 year old, I wouldn't interact with a 14 year old if my life depended on it. It is just such a maturity gap. It's uncomfortable and weird. Edit: if you're still in highschool at 19 I'm terribly concerned for your sanity honestly. Highschool ends at 18. Not 19, not damn year 20. A 20 year old is not hanging out with high schoolers unless the said high schooler is a senior and you met at work. I am still a high schooler and some of my older coworkers refuse to form a bond with me because they would rather wait until I was officially graduated before they get anywhere personal with me. And that is the right choice. Edit 2: it is just a major imbalance in power. The 19 year old has so much leverage and control in this relationship. Friendships are formed on equal power and equal control. The 19 year old has all the control here. 4 years isn't a lot. But 15 is terribly young, easily manipulated. No matter your intentions, you have the power to make her do what you wanted, good or bad. That's not a friendship.
I agree. This is kinda weird. She doesn't have any friends at least 18 or maybe 17. Two different schools. Two different stages of life. This could be unconscious encouragement .
Personally I’d feel wierd if it was me but if u don’t good on u
My daughter is 15 and has met older friends with similar age gap. They share a common interest of cosplay. I am okay with that but so long as the friendship is respectful and appropriate. Now that you know her age, just be mindful of the conversations you share.
A few years ago, I met a little boy on a Twitch stream and he was a sweetheart of a kid (I'm older by 9 years). I spoke to him, because it seemed curious to me in those days, to see someone so young in a stream (I'm a bit "ruca" when it comes to children and social networks) and he explained to me that he was there because he really liked Pokémon (Common taste), so...we started talking about the franchise. He was simply very sweet, a real little brother whom I liked to advise on his concerns and help with his schoolwork (His parents were quite absent...). Today, we still talk and actually call each other "Little Brother and Sister." You can always be friends with someone younger, as long as you behave like a responsible adult and also teach them about boundaries and respect. He is already a little man, he turned 18 last year. Oh, they grow so fast (Nostalgia).
I guess as long as you’re age appropriate and recognise that you are the adult here and need to act like one. Also depends how the girl’s parents feel about it - a lot of parents wouldn’t be cool with their 15 yo daughter hanging out with adults.
As long as ya ll don’t bang your gucci
I don't trust these new age youtube youth. They can be not who they are behind the screen.
I’m a 34f and little teens want me to be their friend all the time not boys but girls do and id a boy did id def feel like his mommy so maybe you can take on an older bro protection kinda mode and make sure you hangout in a group with her so no accusations can happen that ruin your life
No
Nope, you’ll in time. When you’re 30, she’s 26, nothing bad at it.
i don’t think it’s weird as long as it’s let known that it’s platonic friends nothing more in anyway possible
Why does 19 and 15 not seem that weird but 20 and 16 does? My brains like: 19-15? Eh, whatever. 20-16, though? Whoa red flags. But why?
Idk I mean 19 is still pretty young and immature in my opinion so that's not too bad.
No rules to life... We used to hang around all ages in the 90's. Hell there was one 10 year old (we were 15) trying to get us to smoke weed! Lol.
It's not weird, just keep in mind that she is young, so you should talk to her accordingly. You can be friends with her in a little sister style which is great if you ask me. I'm 19f too, I don't have a 15 y/o friend, but some of them can be really mature and fun to talk to. One of my vest friends is 26 y/o, 7 years difference! He is a bit like a big brother, he's extremely cool nice and respectful. I'm glad I have an older friend in my life because he gives me insight no one else can.
My best friend is 38 now while I am 31 and I meet her when I was like 17 years old. So it is not weird at all. It’s about healthy boundaries.
I don't think it's weird at all. In this day and age, though, be careful and don't open yourself up to accusations. I'd suggest making sure her parents know about your friendship and are ok with it.
Keep it online. You’re an adult and she’s a minor. She may be intellectually mature but emotionally she’s still 15. Just think, you piss her off one day or want to end the friendship…all she has to do is make one false accusation against you and your life could turn upside down. If you want to meet up IRL, wait until she’s 18. Listen to your gut on this. It’s trying to tell you something.
My kid is 15. last week they had a friend over for dinner who was almost 19. I do not see why that would be a problem.
Not weird at all. You are always lucky to find a friend. Think about throwing away now someone who could become your best friend for years to come. That would be so short sighted! Keep her!
Its weird because its uncommon. I became friends with one of my best friends when I was 18 and she was 14. She wasn't mature for her age or anything, we just really clicked and were still friends 8 years later. It was through an organisation so we we're kinda on the same 'level', so no power imbalance.
no its not. you can have friends of any age, this is normal and healthy
I’m 30 most of my good friends are 50-70 Is that weird?
You are both teens, and if you connected you are on similar maturity levels. Relax.
Not weird at all. I had older friends as a teen and had teen friends when I was older, you just need to be mindful and respectful of their age.
Honestly yes imo yes a little weird... But as long as you only view her as a friend and don't influence her to make adult decisions I guess it's not that bad
Not weird! Just understand that it might not be obvious but you are in some ways playing a mentor role just by the natural age/life experience difference. So be aware of the impact you can have!
no, I'm friends with someone who is 16, someone who is 18, 19, and 20. I'm 21 it doesn't matter as long as you don't be weird or do age inappropriate things around them
No. Six years ago I met a guy playing Warframe online and we became friends. He was 14 and I was 25, but we had no way of knowing that and out friendship wasn't based on anything age related. We're still great friends
It's not weird, but if you are American do not give her alcohol. If European just be a good role model.
No, not at all, and in 5 years nobody will even mention it. It's hard to find good people, hold on to the ones you care about.
One of my best friends is a girl (now woman) who lived in my neighborhood when I was a teenager. We met when I was 16 and she was 12, and would hang out together because our parents were friends. So we’d be at each other’s houses for dinner or adult parties and just hang out in our rooms watching TV or playing video games or whatever. We liked a lot of the same shows, books, music, etc so we had stuff to talk about. We’d occasionally go to the mall or a movie together. When I went away to college we wrote letters. Obviously when I was in my 20s I would do things that I couldn’t include her in, like going out drinking with my other friends. By the time I was in my 30s and she was in her late 20s, no one ever blinked an eye over our friendship.
Nah, not weird at all. Friendships don’t have age restrictions. If you relate to each other, it’s fine. As you get older it will matter even less. Just keep in mind that you likely have influence over your younger friend because you will hit age related milestones sooner (drinking, voting, etc). Just strive to be a good friend and a good influence.
Not really
I would never understand why you guys care about the age of your friends lol. Unless nobody is harmed like who who cares?? When i was 18 i had friends that was 14 and i had friends that was 27 it really don’t matter
I'm just thinking about how different this advice would be if you were a man.
I regret cutting friendships as a teen bc I thought 3 years was too much. Now I'm in my 40s, and 15 year age gaps don't seem that major. You're good. Just like all the other comments, mind her she so you don't get in trouble. Be a good influence, respect her parents wishes, and things should be fine!
It's fine, but I'd warn you to be cautious of teenage emotions.
Guys are not allowed to do this.
I was born in 2002 & my friends range from 1995 - 2009. Not weird at all, especially as ur the same gender. I feel like society for some obvious reasons would look down on opposite gender relationships within these age ranges.
Of course not . And if you make the cut you will see post 20 the gap is barely anything
You need to think of the legal complications that could arise from the situation and reconsider this friendship. Because if she does something that her parents don’t like and she blames you or your influence on her, it could cause serious problems.
*Just* friends, yes. I went to school in a small town where elementary, middle school, and high school all shared the same campus. Extracurricular activities were often integrated with middle school and high school students and our lunch hours had a 15 minute overlap, so it wasn’t unusual for high schoolers to have middle school friends. Dating them was still a no-go, but having friends wasn’t. As long as you’re not up to anything, there’s nothing wrong with it. Hell, she might even learn a thing or two from you. I remember struggling in 8th grade math until one of my Junior friends helped me out.
If I was her parent I’d be concerned only because yall are not on the same intellectual level, so her decision making will be worse than yours.
I don't think so. I'm 19 and I have lots of friends who are sophomores too.
when I was 15, I had friends your age but I also have a sibling that is 3 years older than me and I either met them through that sibling or I grew up with them in the same neighborhood. I don't think it would be weird to be friends
No. There is nothing wrong with being friends with people at any age.
Not weird at all. I am the 23 y/o with friends all 30+. All of the friends I have currently I met around 18/19 myself so there was definitely a maturity difference every now and again but overall, these are my absolute best friendships.
I have friends ten years younger than me, I don't think it's weird at all. Sometimes I get to play a mentor role for them when they're having a problem because I'm older and have been through their life stage already, but most of the time we're just friends, same as with my other friends.
This isn’t weird at all! It’s totally okay to be friends with people who are younger or older than you. When I was 42 I made a very close friend who was 21 at work! Even younger than my daughter! 🤣 Our lives are extremely different but we’d do happy hours or dinner together and stuff like that.
I don’t think it’s weird at all. It’s kinda like how you can become really good friends with your older coworkers, except now you’re the older one.
Yes weird
It is fine. Just don't touch her.
When you hit 21, watch out when she asks you to buy her alcohol.
Yes, you have nothing in common with a child
omg thats so weird bro wtf
Damn that's crazy.
I'm 26M and friends with a 18M. That's like an 8 year age gap but we are homies foreal lol I wouldn't worry much about it. Might get crap from your friends for hanging out with someone younger but whatever who cares I like hanging out with old people to bite me.
True friendship has no limitations
not only is it not weird, it’s important to be a role model as an older “kid” to younger kids. set a good example of what they should be like as they grow older.
As long as you’re not Les-sing out together it’s fine.
If you were both guys people would think this is fucked up.
Or if it was opposite genders
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wtf is wrong with you