America's birth rate has plunged. Are smartphones to blame?
Researchers said smartphone adoption may explain 33% to 52% of the decline in births among women ages 15 to 44.
- Middlebury College economists Caitlin Myers and Ezekiel Hooper released research this month linking the iPhone's 2007 introduction to declining U.S. fertility, suggesting the device explains 33% to 52% of the birth rate drop among women aged 15 to 44.
- The study argues smartphones fundamentally altered social behavior by reducing in-person interactions and sexual frequency. Researchers contend that increased pornography use and digital engagement drove the observed collapse in fertility.
- Utilizing data from 2007 to 2011, Myers and Hooper compared birth rates in areas with high AT&T mobile broadband coverage against those with minimal access. Apple's exclusive iPhone distribution through AT&T enabled this natural experiment.
- Fertility rates falling below the 2.1 replacement level pose a 'real concern for economic growth,' according to Myers. Current systems rely on younger workers to support older retirees, making declining birth rates a significant structural challenge.
- While the Trump administration has floated ideas like a 'baby bonus' offering up to $1,000 to eligible children, such financial incentives have largely failed to move the needle. Experts suggest reversing this demographic trend through policy alone remains unlikely.
19 Articles
19 Articles
The Independent
The Independent (US)Did the iPhone stop us having babies? New research suggests so
Birth rates decreased markedly around the time the iPhone and high-speed internet were rolled out; two new studies say this is the moment we stopped having children and started scrolling instead. Lydia Spencer-Elliott speaks to a fertility expert about whether our devices are really to blame
Killing the mood: smartphones reduce birth rate, studies say
Vermont Conversation: Are smartphones birth control? Economist Caitlin Myers on sex, abortion access and talking across divides
The Vermont Conversation with David Goodman is a VTDigger podcast that features in-depth interviews on local and national issues. Listen and subscribe for free on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get podcasts. Caitlin Myers is the John G. McCullough Professor of Economics at Middlebury College. Courtesy photo The birth rate in the U.S. has dropped by an astonishing 22% since 2007. Are smartphones to blame? Yes, according to a groundbreaki…
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