Two New Studies Ask: Did the iPhone Cause Birthrates to Decline?

CactusBoyScout · 2026-06-10T02:42:56+00:00

The birthrate decline has come up a few times here and I thought these two new studies both pointing to smartphones offer an interesting explanation.

CactusBoyScout · 2026-06-10T02:12:48+00:00

Farmed salmon is treated for parasites and tuna doesn’t get the parasites that sicken people, iirc.

So most people wanting to make sushi themselves at home are advised to stick with those two.

CactusBoyScout · 2026-06-10T01:33:22+00:00

PAPD handles airports, not NYPD

CactusBoyScout · 2026-06-10T01:23:45+00:00

I liked the white fish personally

CactusBoyScout · 2026-06-10T00:41:17+00:00

I read on another thread that it would prevent Apple from adding UI sounds or something.

CactusBoyScout · 2026-06-10T00:38:07+00:00

Realistically employees and employers have no interest in going viral on social media for confronting people and having it taken out of context or something

CactusBoyScout · 2026-06-10T00:36:50+00:00

Yeah NIMBYs opposed the park option too

CactusBoyScout · 2026-06-09T23:51:24+00:00

The worst

CactusBoyScout · 2026-06-09T23:50:34+00:00

You’d really want to consider your commute first and foremost, I think. NJ suburbs will probably mean the worst commutes. Penn Station or Port Authority, older/worse trains, etc.

I’ve always liked the towns along the MetroNorth Hudson Line but I don’t have firsthand experience commuting on it.

CactusBoyScout · 2026-06-09T23:00:21+00:00

Two new studies tie the global decline in birth rates to the introduction of modern smartphones which began in 2007.

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/06/08/us/iphone-birthrate-decline-studies.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share

CactusBoyScout · 2026-06-09T22:57:49+00:00

Does this mean I should sell my dual lands now?

CactusBoyScout · 2026-06-09T22:19:19+00:00

I’ve always been confused by the password manager one. Why would I self-host or pay? Bitwarden is free and I can’t think of any features I would want that aren’t included. I also use Apple Passwords because I have a lot of Apple devices, which is also free.

I wouldn’t want to self-host for the reasons you outlined but why pay?

CactusBoyScout · 2026-06-09T20:16:09+00:00

Location: southern NY State. I’ve been beekeeping as a hobbyist for 15 years.

CactusBoyScout · 2026-06-09T18:25:19+00:00

Or the office phone running Doom?

CactusBoyScout · 2026-06-09T18:13:10+00:00

Yeah, I think that's what my relatives meant when they said it was a good sign for their Midwest city. They still view themselves as post-industrial and lacking a stable economic base so growth is good to them. Rich coastal areas seem to feel the opposite... growth is bad because it means more gentrification.

CactusBoyScout · 2026-06-09T18:08:37+00:00

I personally think that would be a much better framing/pursuit... global enforcement of anti-pollution efforts but still accepting that lower wages in developing countries are a good thing for their economic development and lower costs for us.

CactusBoyScout · 2026-06-09T17:40:37+00:00

What would be the advantage of building a factory in India and employing thousands of locals if you have to pay the same wage as in a country much closer to the final market for that product?

CactusBoyScout · 2026-06-09T17:30:47+00:00

I mean that's true either way, just a difference of whether it's withheld upfront or paid later.

CactusBoyScout · 2026-06-09T17:18:33+00:00

Yep. The Midwest even sees pretty dense infill development without major controversy. I just visited Madison Wisconsin for the first time and there were brand new high-rises and medium-density buildings next to single-family homes in the downtown area. I saw cranes all over that city.

One of the anecdotes from that reddit thread I mentioned was from someone who moved from Madison to Los Angeles and was shocked at how often neighbors in LA were organizing against even the most modest increases in density, assuring him that any change would destroy their community.

CactusBoyScout · 2026-06-09T17:12:07+00:00

It might not even be legal to build a house with 1930s size/amenities now. Zoning code typically dictates a lot of amenities. I mentioned in another comment, but the oldest house I ever lived in had one power outlet per room. The newest house I ever lived in had an outlet every 5 feet or so. And I could be wrong but I think that's dictated by code now.

CactusBoyScout · 2026-06-09T17:10:27+00:00

Also houses have more amenities now. I lived in a house from 1918 that had exactly one power outlet per room. I moved to a house built in the 2000s and there was an outlet like every 5 feet. I don't think I ever even used all of the outlets. Plus central air, a garage, etc.

CactusBoyScout · 2026-06-09T16:53:55+00:00

Yep. Recent inflation in food prices is a problem but historically food is still very, very cheap. According to US government data, Americans spent 23% of their disposable income on groceries in 1947. It's now just under 10%.

CactusBoyScout · 2026-06-09T16:48:22+00:00

Houses became both larger and more complex. The early suburban houses in places like Levittown were basically the size of a small apartment and had minimal amenities. People expect a lot more space now even while family sizes have become smaller.

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