AIBU To think boyfriend/girlfriends shouldn't be encouraged before the age of 16?

[CadburyChocolateCrunchie]

My niece is 11, nearly 12 and has a "boyfriend". Her parents seem to encourage this by allowing him over for "date night" where they watch movies in her room. They refer to it as date night. They've been allowed to go to the cinema alone, eat out alone (Mcdonalds..) etc.

Someone else I know allows their 14 year old's girlfriend to stay the night (separate rooms)

Surely this is too young?

I think there's a big difference between encouraging and accepting. Most of my parenting decisions are based on my kids being honest with me and how responsible I felt they were at the time. I would not encourage 13 and under to be actually dating but my 13 yr old does have a boyfriend and I accept it. They do go out to dinner or movies sometimes or they just hang out at our house. My advice is just to keep the lines of communication open.