Smartphones May Be Contributing to Declining Birth Rates in America.

WHO:

NPR - Caitlin Myers, professor of economics at Middlebury College in Vermont

NPR - Ezekiel Hooper, co-author of the paper with Caitlin Myers

NPR - Jean Twenge, professor of psychology at San Diego State University

Fox News - Steve Jobs, CEO of Apple

WHAT:

Fox News - A study suggests the iPhone may account for up to 52% of the decline in U.S. birth rates after 2007.

NPR - Birth rates in the U.S. have fallen by 22% since 2007.

NPR - The drop in birth rates has affected women of all ages, but is most pronounced among teenagers.

NPR - Myers argues that the spread of smartphones could explain between a third and a half of the decline in birth rates during that period.

WHERE:

NPR - Areas of the U.S. where AT&T had broadband coverage and where iPhones were available saw a greater decline in birth rates.

WHEN:

NPR - The year 2007 is identified as a significant point when birth rates began to decline.

WHY:

NPR - The study suggests that smartphones changed how young people socialize and date, leading to fewer in-person interactions.

NPR - Myers states, "You're probably not going to get pregnant if you're not interacting with people in person — if you're not having sex."

NPR - Smartphones may have made access to information about contraceptives and abortion easier.

HOW:

NPR - Myers utilized a natural experiment based on the availability of iPhones through AT&T's broadband coverage to analyze birth rate changes.

NPR - The study controlled for variables like population density and local economics to validate the results.

(UPDATED June 12, 2026 12:09 UTC)

A new study suggests that the iPhone may account for up to 52% of the decline in U.S. birth rates since 2007, with birth rates overall dropping by 22% during that time. Researchers, including Caitlin Myers from Middlebury College and Jean Twenge from San Diego State University, found that the decline is most pronounced among teenagers and is linked to changes in how young people socialize and date due to smartphones. The study indicates that areas with AT&T's broadband coverage, where iPhones were widely available, experienced a greater decline in birth rates, as fewer in-person interactions likely contributed to lower pregnancy rates.