New study finds smartphone proliferation significantly depressed U.S. fertility rates

—A new study concludes that the widespread adoption of smartphones correlates strongly with a measurable decline in U.S. fertility rates, with the timing of the iPhone's introduction aligning with the steepest part of the drop. Researchers suggest that screen time, social media, and the behavioral changes associated with smartphone use may have reduced the frequency of behaviors linked to family formation. The findings add a new dimension to longstanding debates about America's birth rate crisis.