Do teenagers fall in love? Though I don’t mean to say that all relationships are not real, do teenagers understand the word “love” nowadays? Today, many such teenagers get into a relationship after a conversation of two or three months on social media. They believe that mid-night conversations with each other is love. First, they say, “I have a crush on them,” then they start flirting, and after few days they contact on social media.
According to research, around 50% of the teens say they have friended someone on Facebook or another social media site as a way to show romantic interest. In comparison, 47% have expressed attraction by liking, commenting on or interacting with the person on social media. Texting is by far the most frequent way teens interact with their romantic partner. Nearly 72% of teenage daters say they spent time texting with their partner daily and at second 39% talking on the phone every day.
Even in my hostel, I have seen many girls talk on the phone, continuously, for 4-5 hours daily and every weekend they go an outing with their partners. After all this, they easily explore their physical intimacy and sexual feelings. In their age, they are going through physical, social and emotional changes. Not all teenage relationships include sex, but most teenagers will experiment with sexual behaviour at some stage.
At this stage, many girls experience unwanted sexual behaviour from their partners. For example, “Do I not get a kiss?” If they are not ready, then respect their decision because it might make them feel uncomfortable. It can take place not only in a private place but also in more public places, schools, colleges, public transport, or the online sphere.
Sexual harassment is not just forced sex but also sexual comments, sexual gestures or actions, attempts to pressurise, sexual images and unwanted sexual advances. According to Section 375 in the IPC, sexual intercourse with a woman against her will is rape.
Many people have more than one relationship; they call it “time pass” or “I am not serious for her”. Teenagers don’t understand the necessity of sustaining a relationship over some time; therefore, frequent breakups occur. One of the most common reasons teenagers break up is due to a lack of maturity. It leads to several mistakes, and the concept of love is still alien to teenagers. On the other hand, sometimes, family members are also responsible for breaking a relationship.
However, as Monroe says, “sometimes good thing fall apart so better things can fall together!”