People Have Been Having Less Sex—whether They’re Teenagers or 40-Somethings

Ubbquittious · 04-01-2022 12:19PM #1

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/people-have-been-having-less-sex-whether-theyre-teenagers-or-40-somethings/

This is really terrible news. You might blame covid but this study only looks at the 10 years before the pandemic. I dont understand why people would eschew something as nice as sex in order to look at some pixels changing colour on a screen. I really hope that after covid dissipates that there will be a huge rebound in partying and shagging for the sake of peoples mental health

ancapailldorcha · 04-01-2022 12:22PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058225794/people-have-been-having-less-sex-whether-they-re-teenagers-or-40-somethings

I don't see what the problem is. If people are losing interest in sex, it logically follows that they'll on the whole be having either less sex or no sex.

Ubbquittious · 04-01-2022 12:33PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118415041#Comment_118415041

People are eschewing sex to live in a fake virtual world of pixels changing colour. Quite sad really

ancapailldorcha · 04-01-2022 12:35PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118415099#Comment_118415099

Whereas a fake world of alcoholism, unplanned pregnancies, STI's and Tinder is clearly utopia?

thefallingman · 04-01-2022 12:40PM

i blame fake tan and trout pout lips

JoChervil · 04-01-2022 12:45PM

Well OP, it's not so clear which is an egg and which is a hen in that scenario.

I think people lost interest in meaningless sex, like casual sex. Also they no longer release emotional tension through sex because many people on the receiving end don't allow them to be used for it. And there are many other options for releasing it like being heard on social media, or going to gym etc.

I believe it will develop in this direction: pure physiological sex will be left for realistically made sex dolls of all kinds and only meaningful sex will be experienced with people, when there will be enough emotional connection for it.

Padre_Pio · 04-01-2022 12:53PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118415113#Comment_118415113

What does that have to do with sex? Surely casual sex after a night on the beer is a minority among ALL sexual activities.

The study doesn't differentiate between casual sex and monogamous sex.

Honestly, I'd agree that most people seem happier watching Netflix than going out and meeting people. From my own limited pool of friends, most spend their time watching one screen or another instead of face-to-face contact.

I definitely think the increase in porn, Instagram, image obsession in general, has given people unrealistic expectations for a partner. The "me too" movement seems to cut both ways, with men less likely to make any advancement on women, and women more likely to reject advancement.

The birth rate is falling all over the world, having children is less appealing and governments are disincentivizing it, whether intentionally or not.

ancapailldorcha · 04-01-2022 12:59PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118415215#Comment_118415215

Well, the way most people pursue casual sex in my experience is nightclubs. Drunk people often act unwisely and, when it comes to sex, this can lead to unintended consequences. If we're operating at such a reductionist level that we're talking about pixels on screen, this seemed appropriate.

I feel like if governments waned to stop people having children without draconian legislation, this'd have been the way to do it. I feel like anyone without wealthy parents realistically won't be having more than one at the most and even that would be a significant struggle for most people.

OP, I forgot to ask why this is "really terrible news". Please elaborate on this if you would.

FintanMcluskey · 04-01-2022 01:20PM

A behavioral scientist chap called John B.Calhoun did loads of behavorial tests on mice living in conditions where all basics were plentiful eg food, water, comfortable environments. A simulation of people born into Westen societies.

What he found was that when the population of mice reached a certain level, a significant proportion, both male and female, withdrew from social interaction and spent all their timing grooming themselves, until their appearances were perfect. He called these the beautiful ones.

They had no interest in sex for some bizarre reason, only grooming and the males spent as long as the females maintaining their personal appearance.

Padre_Pio · 04-01-2022 01:28PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118415269#Comment_118415269

Sure, I get ya. STIs, unwanted pregnancies etc have always been there, probably less so since contraception is widely available.

I suppose maybe a lot of people have found ways to replace sex, or are just fulfilled in different ways. Again, some of my friends just can't be arsed with getting a partner, and all of the presumed hassle it would cause. People are busier with work, education, hobbies (even if the hobby is Netflix) and having someone else that needs attention might be an unwanted distraction.

I'd add that a majority of Irish are putting off families because of job and housing market. Hard to envisage having a baby while you're starting your career and living at home.

EmmetSpiceland · 04-01-2022 03:34PM

A lot of men, particularly online, come across as incredibly angry these days. Especially those in the over 35s bracket. Maybe if they were “getting some” they mightn’t be so frustrated?

I guess when you equate “masculinity” with right wing politics, misogyny and anything that pollutes the atmosphere you’re never really going to be attracting a mate.

Padre_Pio · 04-01-2022 03:41PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118415846#Comment_118415846

I would say in line with the rise of widespread internet use.

When was the last time anyone was bored? Like actually bored for a protracted length of time. Rarely if ever, since you have a constant source of entertainment and distraction in your pocket that didn't really exist in 2009.

I'm equating "busy" as being busy with something, including watching online content.

Hard to remember, but the iPhone only came out in 2007. James Bond didn't have a smartphone in Quantum of Solace 2008.

I'd be inclined to have a look at the rise in social anxiety, online bullying, and the more transient nature of human interaction. I'd say it follows closely to the decrease in sex statistics.

I Blame Sheeple · 04-01-2022 04:30PM

Reminds of the movie with Sylvester Stallone and the chick who wants to have VR sex with him.

BattleCorp1 · 04-01-2022 05:16PM

I blame porn.

Unless she's pegging me with something the size of a fire extinguisher, sawing at my nipples with a hacksaw, and clattering my nuts with a lump hammer, I just can't climax.

Richard Hillman · 04-01-2022 06:21PM

Testosterone is plummeting in men. The lower the testosterone, the less attractive to women.

Women just have get used to sharing their highly testosteroned men with other women.

wench · 04-01-2022 06:23PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118417310#Comment_118417310

We have a rota, it's fine.

BrianD3 · 04-01-2022 06:40PM

"Adolescents reports less solo masturbation" - that could be the most significant and fundamental finding here. Societal and lifestyle changes would be expected to influence the amount of sex people are having but masturbation is obviously a much more basic act. Lower testosterone? Influence of nofap idiots? Masturbating about women now regarded as "toxic masculinity" or some sort of thought crime?

riclad · 05-01-2022 03:34AM

It's hard to chat up a woman we are supposed to be woke and politically correct and not be sexist in any way. Some people will have unrealistic expectations from looking at people on instagram who look great using various filters . also there's plenty of free porn to look at and theres endless media to consume on tik Tok YouTube streaming apps.

I presume young people mostly meet up using dating apps not in a random pub or cafe

Princess Consuela Bananahammock · 05-01-2022 04:09AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118419532#Comment_118419532

I think the unrealistic expectations is the issue here. Especailly with dating apps because they tend to be very looks-orientated.

The woke/politicially correct thing is a bit of a misnomer. The people who fall into that catergory tend not to go for one-night stands and the people who don't tend to pick up on it and move on to someone else.

riclad · 05-01-2022 06:25AM

Or maybe women are looking for the perfect man who looks like a handsome, actor or influencer and there's always someone on tinder who looks better than the bloke who works in a phone shop Tesco

NSAman · 05-01-2022 07:17AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118419576#Comment_118419576

Or the guy who works down the chip shop who swears he’s Elvis ?

Kermit.de.frog · 05-01-2022 11:01AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118415269#Comment_118415269

Taken altogether it will become terrible news as the population starts to fall due to lack of children being born.

This is a far deeper problem than flippancy about casual sex or STI's.

There is an anti child bearing dynamic at work which is demographically very dangerous.

People will have to have more children or the population will decline and there will be ever less numbers of productive young people to support older people.

China is going through this disaster right now after it's idiotic one child policy, Japan has been fighting a losing battle for 20 years and now seems to have an entire generation of incels on it's hands while continental Europe is already teethering.

Birth rates across the board are falling below the needed replacement rate for those old, sick and dying.

People are not having enough children.

That is going to be a massive problem for society in the future.

ancapailldorcha · 05-01-2022 11:08AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118419956#Comment_118419956

The OP was about having less sex, not about having children. People getting into relationships who know they want children are going to have them. People having less casual sex probably isn't an issue and this implied to be the focus of the OP.

As for having children, the population can't keep increasing forever. The planet can't take it and neither can the welfare state. Human beings are pretty bad for the environment and a managed population decline is probably a boon. There are various reasons that some countries are seeing lower rates of childbirth and getting more equal and developed is one of them. People are having less sex because the interest is falling. Nothing is stopping them.

Ubbquittious · 05-01-2022 11:12AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118419532#Comment_118419532

Ignore the whole woke thing. Don't be too political correct yet don't show any extreme views or disrespect to anyone. I would say being a people-pleasing pushover who won't express his own opinions in fear of not being woke enough is far more of a turn off than someone who occasionally mutters "yerrah feck the whole woke movement"

Ubbquittious · 05-01-2022 01:01PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118419984#Comment_118419984

Its true that it's not about having children but an increase in the amount of casual sex can correlate to an overall decline in the amount of sex had

Back in the day it was common to get married in your 20s, have lots of sex with your spouse rather than spending years being single and depending on getting lucky in the pub for a shag. Increasing age of first marriage probably accounts for some of the decline and not all. Pixels, silicon and tech moguls are also to blame

AckwelFoley · 05-01-2022 01:11PM

Fake world or fake orgasam.

Everything in moderation.

ancapailldorcha · 05-01-2022 01:12PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118420609#Comment_118420609

I don't think they're to blame. It's just this generation's iteration of the perennial chimera that is going to ruin society. Previously, it's been novels, rock music, television and videogames.

I think it's great that people don't feel compelled to force themselves into situations where they're miserable just so they might meet someone. Maybe we should look at why Netflix, Youtube, social media or whatever are more attractive propositions than sitting in a crap pub on the off chance you might meet someone.

ancapailldorcha · 05-01-2022 01:19PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118419544#Comment_118419544

I've tried two apps and I found them dire. That said, the moaning about woke or whatever nonsense comes across as being very bitter.

05-01-2022 01:29PM

I think back to the 90,s when i was younger there was no internet to speak off, no Netflix, computer games not up to much etc. when the weekend came everyone was out in the pubs and nightclubs meeting their friends and the opposite sex. If you sat in the house back then on a Saturday night what did you do? It was boring as hell.

Now younger people have so many more option for entertainment that doesn’t involve leaving the house. Same for adults too. It must be having an influence on the numbers.

I Blame Sheeple · 05-01-2022 03:32PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118420961#Comment_118420961

Not chasing women doesn't equate to a lack of confidence. It could be a thousand other issues but I think social media is playing a big part of it. I know that I sometimes worry that what I say to a woman will eventually end up in a group chat and from there go on to TikTok/Instagram/Snapchat for ridicule by everyone. It's happened before and I'm sure it won't be the last time but it makes approaching people very daunting sometimes.

conorhal · 05-01-2022 05:12PM

You know what an absense of libido tends to be a symptom of?

Depression.

You only have to look at the absolute soaring rates of depression and anxiety amongst teens these days to see where some of this is coming from, the number of people on happy pills, including children, over the last decade has become frightening.

People Have Been Having Less Sex—whether They’re Teenagers or 40-Somethings

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