iPhone almost like a birth control device, fertility rates falling after 2007
a day ago
- #Fertility Trends
- #Demographics
- #Technology Impact
- Global birth rates have declined since 2007, with research suggesting the iPhone's launch may be a contributing factor.
- A study using AT&T's exclusive US iPhone availability (2007-2011) found iPhone access reduced births by 4.5-8% among teens and 3.2-6.6% among women aged 20-24, explaining 33-52% of fertility decline in that period.
- Researchers propose smartphones reduced in-person socializing and sexual activity while increasing pornography consumption, with Google searches for 'porn' more than doubling during the study.
- A global study of 128 countries linked smartphone penetration to accelerated teenage fertility declines, indicating a 'common global technology shock.'
- Both studies note the iPhone isn't the sole factor, as birth rates are falling worldwide, with the US at record lows and countries like Canada, Japan, and South Korea facing shrinking populations.