Young adults in the US are having less sex

[Fundamental Law 2,885]

It appears that young adults are having significantly less sex over the past 20 years.

 

See https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2767066

 

and the editorial comment here:

 

https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2767063  with remarks on delayed social maturation and the rise of 'remote' relationships. 

 

Sad to read in many ways. And COVID is not going to help these statistics. 

[adamgunn 1,460]

Law, thanks for posting this, particularly the remarks. 

[njbm 2,871]

People seem more distant. Rather Zoom than touch and connect on a human level. Covid will not help. 

[cplnuswing 4,713]

3 hours ago, njbm said:

Rather Zoom than touch and connect on a human level

We've noticed the same thing among friends and family of that age.  Less interest in dating, less interest in trying to find a lasting relationship, and by extension of those two things, one would assume less interest in sex.  I do think it's a generational thing, and I do think the rise of social media has much to do with it, and I don't think it's healthy for either individuals or society.

 

Thanks for posting FunLaw!

[adamgunn 1,460]

Okay, Sunday morning meanderings . . . I wonder if this has anything to do with the current, less optimistic world view? Politics all over the world is a complete mess. It's tougher and tougher for a kid without advanced training to get a good job. Most kids, if they want advanced training, have to take out loans that eat into their earnings until they're well into their lives. Young men are (realistically) worried that if they make an advance on a woman, it could lead to charges of sexual assault. Yeah, I could see how my grandkids could just say, "Fuck it!"

[njbm 2,871]

Wonder if testosterone or estrogen levels are down? Any studies? When I was young (1970s, early ‘80s), getting laid was heavenly. Then herpes, AIDS came about. As comedian Eddie Murphy said, what’s next, you put your dick in and it explodes? Covid 19 is not encouraging for kissing, etc. Grim. 

[cplnuswing 4,713]

I'm sure all the recent factors with COVID, job market, etc. are all playing a factor now too, but we noticed it years before during "peacetime" when things were generally calm and what counts for good nowadays. 

 

It did seem to coincide though with social media really have gotten its hooks in deep, which seems more than coincidence to me.  It is also about the same time as you saw the decline of sites like this one, and the meteoric rise of Facebook et al.  I've always blamed that on most people being generally lazy - if they have to read/write more than five words and a few emojis to communicate, then they'd rather stick with quick and easy and run the risk of misunderstanding or being misunderstood than having to put at least a modicum of effort into it.  As a feature not a bug, that style of communication also allows you to fill in the blanks yourself, so lo and behold, you get to hear what you want to hear, or get to find what you want to find.

 

I think that same attitude runs rampant through other things, like finding someone who wants to have sex with you!  Back in our day, we put a whole lot of effort into that   Now for the younger generations, not so much it appears.

[njbm 2,871]

Having sex seems like a quaint practice from the distant past, like shaking hands. 

[couplers 4,641]

The young today have really good video games.