If someone older than the age of consent has sex with someone younger than the age of consent, its legally considered rape. If its illegal, you may feel like you need to keep your relationship with this person a secret.

Can you date someone younger than you when youre 18?

Sexual contact has always been illegal for both partners even if both of you are under 17. If one of you is over 18 and the other is under 17, the legal difference now is that the older person (almost always the male) would be prosecuted as an adult in criminal court and not prosecuted in juvenile court.