Condom availability seems to conjure up controversy in the classroom and in the household, thus questioning if there should be an age restriction of when it seems appropriate to buy condoms. 

                Currently, this idea of an age restriction is just a thought that has been toyed with- but still a true possibility. Both sides have their reasons; from encouraging adolescents to engage in sexual intercourse (a con), to protecting teens from life changing events such as pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases (a pro). Adults have their own views, but does this generation think that the pros outweigh the cons?

                “I don’t think that fourteen year olds should be allowed to be condoms, they shouldn’t even be thinking about sex! If you’re sixteen or seventeen, I would understand but I stand firmly by my views: kids shouldn’t be having sex,” said Kelli Barrios, a mother and elementary school teacher at Pines Elementary.

                After to speaking to various teenagers, and very few adults, I’ve come to a consensus: condoms should be available for all ages.

                “If they’re going to buy them they intend on using them, and it is better to be safe rather than sorry,” said Gabriela Lay, a junior who attends Doral Academy.

                Although conservatives may disagree, fact of the matter is that teenagers are having sex. By allowing a fifteen year old to buy condoms guarantees some security and safety.

                “Without being able to buy condoms, diseases could spread like wild fire and I'm sure pregnancy rates would sky rocket. One piece of rubber can make a huge difference, but some people are just too narrow minded to see that,” said Emilie Perez, a sophomore at American Senior High School.

                Perez shares the opinion of many adolescents, but what many don’t realize is that the problem is bigger than just that “piece of rubber.”

                The real ‘elephant in the room’ is sex. In the New Digital Age, sex has slipped into our daily lives making it more acceptable, yet it is still considered “taboo.”

                “I think sex is just a fact of life. The difference between then and now is social media which is able to capture and discover every moment of our lives,” said Amanda Hernandez, a junior at Hialeah Gardens Senior High School.

                Since there is more documentation of just about everyone’s daily life, then it could be that intercourse in this particular age range could be blown out of proportion. Maybe sex seems like a big deal because intercourse before marriage has become more acceptable, that adolescents have been maturing at a different rate and they are more knowledgeable than the previous generations when it comes to sex education.

                “I know they say that nowadays its "rare" to find a virgin but people are just making a big deal out of nothing serious. Statistically, there are more teen virgins than adults. People have sex and it shouldn't matter what age you are as long as you are mature about it and are willing to deal with the possible consequences,” said Perez.

                “Consequences,” meaning whatever the stork drops off at your doorstep. Biologically, kids aren’t fully mature until their early twenties, but in general, adolescents of this generation have matured at a rapid rate. Buying condoms at a Seven Eleven is no longer that awkward and does not deter teens from making such a purchase. Girls are no longer as afraid to ask for birth control, or fear the consequences. As a matter of fact, teens understand that sex is just another part of life and would rather take the measures to protect themselves than live with the consequences.

                “The way I think about it, two minutes of awkwardness [asking for a condom] beats a lifetime of raising an accidental child,” said Jonathan Diaz, a junior at Miami Lakes Educational Center.

                Yet, by saying that as long as one is “mature” and condoms and birth control are available to adolescents, some adults believe that it is encouraging sex.

                “I think with all the things people are saying it gets teens even more interested and curious. Kids always want to try new things, and it is hard to stop them. By blowing teen sex out of proportion adults almost promote it,” said Alexandra Rosemberg, an 8^th grader at George Washington Carver Middle School.

                Rosemberg proves a good point, kids will always be curious. It is almost like a trend, if someone says that a video game is cool and continues to talk about it; gamers will go out and buy it making it popular and something common. Why would sex be any different?

                “Sex is never going to be something we can control. I think people just to need to have more awareness and education, not sensationalizing stories. If we can make people more aware then we've accomplished what should be our goal,” said Hernandez, ”I do not endorse having sex early but if it does happen, you should be able to protect yourself no matter what age you are.”

                In other words, even gamers protect and take careful care of their games. Wrapping it up shouldn’t be an option, but mandatory. Fortunately, laws haven’t limited that option. What should be limited is all this sex talk because it might even be doing more harm than good.