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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

We have a rota, it's fine.

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

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

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.

Fake world or fake orgasam.

Everything in moderation.

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.

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.