It is generally observed that as the standard of living of a country or society improves, That’s the border Birth rate decreases. This is a normal social norm. But in the last two decades, a strange thing has happened around the world. which Researchers are concerned. Since 2007, it has been observed that birth rates have declined at the same pace in almost all parts of the world, regardless of economic or social conditions. The study revealed a surprising fact about how this was possible without a major epidemic or war. Two recent research papers claim that there is no one behind this phenomenon, but the iPhone in your hand. According to researchers, smartphones have unwittingly served as a major birth control device in people’s lives.
A research paper published by the US National Bureau of Economic Research found that the birth rate in the US was almost stable from 1980 to 2007. Between 65 and 70 babies were born per 1,000 women. However, after 2007, the number began to decline sharply, and by 2024, the rate would drop to just 17 years, with the birth rate falling by about 22 percent. There was also a global economic recession during this period, which is why the researchers specifically examined the period between 2007 and 2011. At the time, the iPhone was only available in the United States through a dedicated mobile network. The researchers found that birth rates declined the most in areas with the most iPhone networks and usage.
According to the study, the motherhood rate among teenagers aged 15 to 19 dropped from 4.5 to 8 percent where iPhones were easily accessible. For women ages 20 to 24, the rate dropped from 3.2 percent to 6.6 percent. samGrBetween 2007 and 2011, the iPhone alone was responsible for 33 to 52 percent of the decline in birth rates among women ages 15 to 44 in the United States. Statistics also show that between 2007 and 2024, the birth rate among teenagers will drop by 70 percent. On the other hand, the fertility rate among older women such as women aged 35 to 39 has increased slightly.
There are psychological and social factors behind how smartphones affect birth rates, researchers say. As the iPhone and other modern smartphones become more popular, people are spending less time with friends or partners in the real world. This has reduced the tendency of physical or sexual intercourse among the young generation. People are now more busy in the virtual or internet world than the real one. Studies have shown excessive use of pornography as a substitute for sex. As in the internet during this time subject Search rates have more than doubled. In addition, smartphones have made it easier for young people to learn about different ways to avoid pregnancy or birth control pills, thereby making it easier to prevent unwanted pregnancies.
This change is not limited to the United States, it is a global technological shock. Economists at the University of Cincinnati conducted a survey of 128 countries around the world using data from the World Bank. It shows that even in countries with different health systems and cultures, such as Iran, Costa Rica, Mexico, Chile, and Turkey, teenage motherhood rates began to decline rapidly as smartphones became available. The decline was faster in places with high-speed internet and 4G networks. In 2003, people spent an average of 68 minutes a day face-to-face with friends, but in 2019 this time has dropped to just 38 minutes. On the other hand, people’s time on computer or mobile screens has increased from 22 minutes to 96 minutes daily.
Global population decline is now keeping governments awake. America’s birth rate is now at an all-time low. Canada, on the other hand, has dropped to 1.25 births per woman, putting the country in a major crisis. Countries like Japan, Spain or Singapore are also suffering from the same problem. Asia’s major economies are now reeling from shrinking populations. China has been forced to change its old one-child policy. Japan and South Korea have announced huge sums of money or support for couples to have children, but to little avail. Even in middle-income countries like India or Brazil, birth rates are now falling rapidly. Behind all this is the smartphone in hand, which is taking people’s attention and pushing real life relationships aside.