It's Not Just You. No One Wants Kids Anymore [video]

Personal experiences with parenthood

• Several commenters have kids and describe them as the most meaningful, transformative part of life; some wish they’d had more, others would not repeat the choice given current conditions.
• A number of people want kids but feel blocked by finances, housing, career timing, health issues, or country conditions.
• Some parents report strained relationships or deep struggles (e.g., disabilities, autism) and say they would not choose parenthood again.
• Childfree commenters say they simply don’t believe kids would make them happier and appreciate that it has become a genuine choice.

Economic and structural factors

• High housing costs, unstable jobs, long work hours, and expensive childcare/education are repeatedly cited as major deterrents.
• Some argue weak worker protections and fear of retaliation around pregnancy or caregiving make family formation risky.
• Others note that low fertility persists even in countries with strong social safety nets and parental protections, so economics alone is insufficient.

Cultural and psychological factors

• Perception that today’s parenting standards are impossibly high, with overprotective norms and intense social/media judgment.
• A pervasive sense of “doomism”: climate change, inequality, political instability, and loss of an optimistic future narrative make people hesitate to bring children into the world.
• Some compare humans to overcrowded rat experiments where stressed environments change behavior in lasting ways.

Ethics and “selfishness” debate

• One side: not having kids while benefiting from society is framed as free‑riding; reproduction is seen as contributing to future taxpayers and social systems.
• Opposing side: having kids is inherently self‑interested (desire for love, legacy, old‑age care) and adds to environmental strain; it’s not a noble act.
• Many agree that motives for kids (or not) are often rationalizations and that both regret having kids and regret not having them exist but are unevenly voiced.

Demographics, policy, and immigration

• Discussion of sub‑replacement fertility as a “demographic collapse” vs a desired easing of overpopulation; strong disagreement on which is the bigger risk.
• Some predict immigration will be used to offset low birthrates; others argue immigration both results from and reinforces high costs and can form a feedback loop.
• Video data point highlighted: a large share of the US fertility drop is due to fewer births among 15–19‑year‑olds, an intended outcome of better contraception and norms.

Future outlook

• Speculation ranges from “this is the best time to be alive” to “I wouldn’t want my hypothetical grandchildren facing the 2060s.”
• Unclear how societies will adapt: possibilities include greater reliance on immigrants, slower growth, or painful adjustment to aging, smaller populations.