A new study links smartphone adoption with plummeting fertility rates, suggesting the iPhone might be more than just a distraction.

The National Bureau of Economic Research’s 'Is the iPhone Birth Control?' explores how smartphone diffusion could explain a 22% drop in US fertility since 2007. Theories include reduced in-person interactions and increased pornography use, leading to less frequent sex.

Among young adults, the decline is stark: 26% for those aged 15-19. In regions with higher smartphone penetration, fertility rates dropped more significantly, reinforcing the study’s findings.

Daniel John from Creative Bloq echoes this trend, adding a humorous note about smartphones’ next scapegoat – attention spans.