Britain's Falling Birth Rate: Why are Young People having less Sex?

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Fertility rates across England and Wales has fallen to 1.49 children per woman in 2022, down from 1.55 in 2021, according to the ONS. To maintain a stable population, the “replacement rate” needs to be at least 2.1 children per woman. This alarming number brings forth an important question: Why are young people having so little sex?

The proliferation of dating apps and hookup culture would lead us to think that young people are having more sex than ever. But this is not the case. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Youth Risk Behavior Survey found that from 1991 to 2017, the percentage of high school students having sex dropped from 54% to 40%. Why has sex gone from something most students have experienced, to something most haven’t?

Dating apps have made organic meetings seem less and less viable: asking for someone’s number feels like an awkward and courageous move. They have also become more of a distraction than a matchmaking tool; they are another source of entertainment. So many options can lead to “choice overload”—and ultimately, less sex.

Jean Twenge, a San Diego State University psychology professor, explains that the slowdown in sexual activity is due to what she calls the “slow-life factor.” Our generation is less rushed and tends to delay big milestones, such as moving out of the parental home, going to college, and getting a driver’s license. As she states, “In times and places where people live longer and education takes longer, the whole developmental trajectory slows down,” thus implying a slower approach to relationships and sexuality.

Another aspect to consider is the increasingly easy access to porn. In 2024, 36% of men say they watch pornography at least once a week, including 13% who watch it daily. This easy, on-demand access has made real intimate interactions seem tedious and decreased the desire to pursue relationships. This porn epidemic has taken the edge off desire and reduced the craving for physical intimacy.

It has also led to anxiety and insecurity. Most people consume porn before even having had any relationships, thus being presented with a fantasy that can make them feel inadequate, ashamed, or self-conscious.

It’s even causing an increase in painful sex, which could be contributing to a reluctance among young women to engage in relationships. In 2012, 30% of women reported that their last vaginal intercourse was painful. Teenage boys look to these degrading, highly scripted images to understand sex. Modeling their behavior on what they see online has led to “spectatoring”—a pressure to emulate porn actors and actresses, creating less intimate and less physically pleasurable relationships.

But porn itself has become another digital activity, like watching TV—another way to relieve stress. The internet has made it simple to satisfy basic sexual and social needs, lessening the incentive to pursue real-life interactions. There is an alarming lack of curiosity and mystery around sexuality nowadays. Today’s young adults feel that they’ve seen everything and are therefore less motivated and curious to explore it.

Thus, we are faced with a complex dilemma: today’s world is both hypersexualised and yet apparently no one is having sex. In an era where sexual expression is celebrated openly, we must find a way to rekindle the elements of mystery and personal connection that make intimacy meaningful. This means fostering spaces where people can explore sexuality freely but also thoughtfully, without losing sight of the emotional bonds and self-discovery that enrich our experiences. Achieving this balance may require redefining sex positivity to include both empowerment and reverence, recognizing that intimacy thrives not only in openness but also in a sense of wonder and deeper connection.