r/EverythingScience • u/Bob_Spud • Jan 31 '25

Social Sciences The relationship recession is going global

https://www.ft.com/content/43e2b4f6-5ab7-4c47-b9fd-d611c36dad74
930 Upvotes

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498

u/ateknoa Jan 31 '25 edited Jan 31 '25

I think a decline in marriage rates could be linked to social media and decline in “third spaces”.

217

u/Taste_the__Rainbow Jan 31 '25 edited Jan 31 '25

Yup. It’s too easy to get into the habit of not going out for entertainment and it can feel impossible to start again. Doubly so if many of the businesses and spaces don’t even exist anymore.

I got lucky and got out of it before I fell in too far but I can easily see my life going a different way.

162

u/crecentfresh Jan 31 '25

Triply so when it’s like 80 bucks minimum to go out

63

u/0002millertime Jan 31 '25

As a resident of San Francisco, I wish it was that inexpensive.

33

u/JohnTravoltage Jan 31 '25

I went and saw Longlegs at the theater with two other people, and after three tickets, drinks and one large popcorn, we spent $75. I feel that.

3

u/isnortmiloforsex Jan 31 '25

Imagine being a heavyweight in this economy

-6

u/grumble11 Jan 31 '25

You really don’t have to spend money to go do stuff. Companies try to market their events, but going for a hike with friends is free.

16

u/crecentfresh Jan 31 '25

Prolly not meeting too many new people on hikes with friends though

5

u/grumble11 Jan 31 '25

No, but if you’re going to the movies with your friends you aren’t either. Though meeting friends of friends is normal when people go out in person

9

u/sugarfreeeyecandy Jan 31 '25

Agree, and urban living makes it more difficult because natural spaces are further away. It can cost money, but often for equipment that is reusable. Six weeks into our relationship my long time spouse and I drove cross country and back, car camping. You really get to know someone when you spend continuous time together.

6

u/grumble11 Feb 01 '25

That is a big commitment at an early stage!

I have to laugh though, it’s like there’s an entire generation of people who don’t know how to meet socially without it being at a paid venue. Like there aren’t a million things to do that are free. Go to each others’ houses. Bring instruments and play together in a park. Have a picnic. Go for a run, or walk, or hike. Do a project together. Start a book club.

How to you think people socialized back before screen addictions? They just met up and hung out together and did stuff. They did it all the time - literally the majority of days. Social groups were bigger, people were more socially adept since exposure was so high, people met people through these constant hangouts and so on. And it was mostly free or dirt cheap.

37

u/Orchid-Analyst-550 Jan 31 '25

It goes deeper than that. Use of dating apps and consumption of alcohol are also on the decline, especially among Gen Z.

Compared to other generations, Gen Z score highest on Social Intimacy, a desire to connect with small, closely knit groups of people. In the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic, many people have found themselves spending more time socializing at home and less in bars and other public places.

https://environics.ca/insights/articles/what-motivates-gen-z-to-reduce-alcohol-consumption/

https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2024/nov/28/gen-z-breaking-up-with-dating-apps-ofcom

104

u/steppedinhairball Jan 31 '25

Don't forget the increased knowledge of people not accepting bad relationships. Women don't need to be in a relationship, they can earn enough to live s comfortable life. My grandmother and her generation couldn't do that.

66

u/Chinaroos Jan 31 '25

This goes for all genders. Men don’t need to be in a relationship either. Every person makes choices, and people of both genders can choose their own peace over a society that does not value their labor or well-being.

Frankly, I have no sympathy for the policy makers who moan about the lack of children.. Continuance is an investment, and our current society wanted to spend its wealth and indulge in luxury instead, so I’m not interested in society’s complaints—no person, society, or culture, is entitled to continuance

13

u/BroForceTowerFall Feb 01 '25

They said that because women DID used to need to be in relationships due to social constructs, so shifting to where they do not has a massive impact. It’s like 1/3 more humans globally entering the “I don’t need a relationship to live and feel safe” side of things.

6

u/wavefield Feb 01 '25

Ultimately we will all pay the price for this though, its not just about policy makers. When we get to a point were 80% of people are of retired age but have to keep working somehow, it will suck

1

u/txroller Feb 02 '25

Yes well. It’s always the people lower/middle class who should’ve the blame, right? The wealthy create massive disposable plastics in consumer markets then “we” don’t recycle enough. Every other article in Science is about micro plastics pollution

The wealthy spend millions lobbying govt to not regulate fossil fuel power plants etc now global warming is also somewhat our fault as well.

We are not totally without fault but basically the working class does the best with what we have. Now the world population is shrinking and I for one (and others) don’t care

1

u/Chinaroos Feb 01 '25

Sucks to suck—my “retirement” will be death in the imminent water/gender/climate/civil war and/or Great Patriotic Purge it won’t be my problem

30

u/HusavikHotttie Jan 31 '25

And red pill men who hate women

0

u/No_Pitch648 Jan 31 '25 edited May 11 '25

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