So, I came across this article

12 songs from the ’80s that have aged really badly - AOL

Saying rock songs about sex with 17 year old girls are these days considered to be offensive. Got me thinking about I Love Rock and Roll by Joan Jett about her and a 17 year old boy. Why wasn't that on this list? So I googled to see if Jett's song is considered offensive today. Here's what Google AI said about the song.

"I Love Rock 'n' Roll," most famously performed by Joan Jett & the Blackhearts, is generally considered a classic rock anthem about the love of music, rebellion, and a flirtatious encounter, rather than an offensive song. 

Here is a breakdown of the context surrounding the song:

  • Context and Meaning: The song is about a young woman who spots a boy playing music in a bar, finds him attractive, and leaves with him. It is often interpreted as a celebration of rock music and a display of female empowerment and agency.
  • Controversy Regarding Age: Some discussions have questioned the line, "he must have been about seventeen," in the context of the singer's age. However, discussions surrounding this note that the lyrics involve dancing and leaving together, with no explicit, graphic, or inherently exploitative content.
  • Rebellious Persona: The song aligns with Joan Jett's image as a "badass rock babe" who challenges traditional gender norms, which was considered rebellious at the time.
  • Origin: The song was not originally written by Joan Jett. It was written by Alan Merrill of the Arrows and recorded in 1975, with Jett covering it to great success in 1981.

While some listeners might interpret the casual pick-up in the lyrics differently, it is not widely regarded as a controversial or offensive song, but rather a staple of 1980s rock culture.