[user104658]

I've always been in favour of a sort of two-tier system. 16 remaining the age of "global consent" I.e. you can have sex with a 70 year old at 16 if you're so inclined, but with a secondary rule on "teen sex" where from 14, it would be legal to have sex within a 2 year age gap window (i.e. a 14 year old can have sex with any 14 to 16 year old, and a 15 year old can have sex with any 14 to 17 year old). This works as a more "reasonable" age of consent (not many are having full sex under 16 but in my experience, many at 14+ are at least experimenting with sexual activity) but at the same time, avoids the problem of adults potentially exploiting younger teens.

Hard to implement though, I suppose... Would be a bit weird if a 15 year old had been having a sex life with her 17 year old boyfriend but then if he turns 18 before she turns 16, they'd have to give it up for a few months... .