Relationships & Consent

Personal relationships are a big part of growing up, but they also come with legal boundaries that many teens are never clearly taught. This guide explains how Florida law approaches relationships, consent, and personal boundaries—without judgment, assumptions, or unnecessary detail.

We break down what consent legally means, how age affects consent, and why “everyone agreed” isn’t always enough under the law. Many young people don’t realize that laws around sexual activity, sharing images, messaging, and even jokes can change depending on age, power dynamics, and circumstances. This guide focuses on understanding those lines before they’re crossed.

You’ll learn how Florida law treats topics like sexting, sharing private images, pressure or coercion, and dating situations where one person is under 18. We also explain how consent must be clear, ongoing, and mutual—and how being under the influence of alcohol or drugs can affect whether consent is legally valid.

This guide also covers related issues like harassment, unwanted contact, and when behavior can shift from a personal matter to a legal one. We focus on real-life situations teens actually face: group chats, screenshots, breakups, rumors, and misunderstandings that escalate faster than expected.

The goal of this guide is not to tell you how to handle relationships emotionally, but to explain the legal framework around them—so you understand your rights, your responsibilities, and the potential consequences of decisions made in private moments.