i think topspin's argument is that the age set by the government is arbitrary. it is the age old (well, maybe a century or two old) of when a person reaches majority for decision making, consenting to sex or what not. only recently have governments mandated the arbitrary age of 18. in some states, it is 16. in some countries it is even younger.
while the 16 year old is a victim under the law, as SF rightly noted, it is unlikely he will suffer any kind of traumatic damage. he may suffer some damage, but he is likely bragging to all his friends about his conquest.