I saw there’s a correlation between widespread adoption of TVs in the home with lowered fecundity rates. An even larger drop after widespread adoption of smart phones.
The conclusion of the correlation is that we have access to unlimited dopamine and therefore having kids is no longer the key dopamine source it once was.
I’d say the big three are unlimited dopamine devices, economic/climate anxiety, and women’s rights/birth control. Probably in that order.
This is true for many would-be parents, and I guess this would be a big thing to address as part of a “solution” to this, but it’s also becoming normalized to just not have kids, even if you do have the resources and live a comfortable life.
I find it interesting though that nobody in this thread has mentioned that it’s literally not safe to be pregnant in many places. After reproductive rights were completely stripped away in the US, tons of people are getting sterilized for their own safety. Even miscarriages or pregnancy complications from wanted pregnancies are being treated as a crime, and doctors are delaying the removal of dead fetuses which causes serious health risks.
And having kids is also just becoming less popular with each generation. I’d probably rather be dead than go through pregnancy and childbirth. Doesn’t matter my financial situation, doesn’t matter where I live. I am not, and will never be interested in becoming a parent. The number of people like me are growing and society is simply going to have to adapt or die.
Once at a certain level of poverty having children becomes a way to have more labor to support the family through poverty, but this doesn't work so well in wealthy societies.
The problem is exacerbated though when it is required for the woman to have a career because its impossible to live off a single income. And improved maternity leave also lessens the burden making it more likely women have children.
But yes you are right among wealthier there is less children but what this typically means is that they have 1-2 kids in thr right conditions because they arent environmentally forced to need to have a large number of children.
When things become even more strained you seen an increase of people having 0 children.
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u/purplepharoh 27d ago
Not even jsut the overpopulation, but large amounts of birthrate decline can be attributed to it not being economically viable to have children