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Did the iPhone stop the babies?
iPhone阻碍了生育吗？
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Did the iPhone stop the babies?
iPhone阻碍了生育吗？
自2007年以来，美国的 birth rate 大幅下降，一位经济学家将 iPhone 视为主要原因。由于智能手机的普及，人们更多地在网上度过，而非 meet in person，这种社交模式的转变影响了人际关系。研究结果显示，iPhone 服务普及较早的地区， birth rate 下降也更为剧烈。技术的发展正在从根本上改变我们组建家庭的方式。
US birth rates fell by 22% since 2007.
自2007年以来，美国 birth rate 下降了22%。US birth rates 美国出生率 / fell 下跌 / since 2007 自2007年以来
Economist Caitlin Myers says the iPhone is the reason.
经济学家 Caitlin Myers 认为 iPhone 是其原因。Economist 经济学家 / says 说 / the reason 原因
She believes smartphones explain half of this big drop.
她相信智能手机解释了这种剧烈下降中一半的原因。smartphones explain 智能手机解释 / big drop 巨大跌幅
For years, experts blamed a weak economy for fewer babies.
长期以来，专家们将婴儿数量减少归咎于经济疲软。experts blamed 专家归咎 / weak economy 经济疲软 / fewer babies 婴儿减少
But the economy got better and births still fell.
然而，即使经济好转， birth rate 依然在下降。economy got better 经济好转 / still fell 依然下跌
Myers found a pattern using early phone networks.
Myers 利用早期的电话网络发现了一种模式。found a pattern 发现了一种模式 / early phone networks 早期电话网络
In 2007, iPhones only worked with AT&T service.
2007年当时，iPhone 仅支持 AT&T 服务。only worked 仅运行 / AT&T service AT&T服务
Births fell fast in areas with that service.
在提供该服务的地区， birth rate 迅速下降。fell fast 迅速下跌 / in areas 在这些地区 / with that service 包含该服务
Areas without iPhone service did not see this drop.
没有 iPhone 服务的地区则没有出现这种下降趋势。Areas without 没有...的地区 / did not see 没有看到 / this drop 这种下降
Expert Jean Twenge supports this interesting idea.
专家 Jean Twenge 也支持这一有趣的观点。Expert 专家 / supports 支持 / interesting idea 有趣的想法
She says phones changed how teenagers spend their time.
她说手机改变了青少年分配时间的方式。changed 改变了 / teenagers 青少年 / spend their time 花费时间
Teens spend less time hanging out with friends now.
如今的青少年与朋友一起闲逛的时间变少了。spend less time 花费更少时间 / hanging out with 与...闲逛
They stay online instead of meeting in person.
他们不再 meet in person，而是待在网上。stay online 在线 / instead of 而不是 / meeting in person 面对面交流
Without meeting in person, people have less sex.
由于缺乏面对面的交流，性行为也随之减少。meeting in person 面对面交流 / have less sex 性行为减少
Also, phones give easy access to birth control info.
此外，手机也让人能够 easy access 避孕信息。easy access 容易获得 / birth control info 避孕信息
Some students use adult websites instead of dating.
一些学生不再 dating，而是使用 adult websites。adult websites 成人网站 / instead of dating 而不是约会
Today, almost everyone has a smartphone.
如今，几乎人人都有一部智能手机。almost everyone 几乎每个人 / smartphone 智能手机
This means birth rates might stay low forever.
这意味着 birth rate 可能会永久保持在低位。birth rates 出生率 / stay low 保持低位 / forever 永远地
Technology is changing how we start families.
技术正在改变我们 start families 的方式。Technology 技术 / changing 改变 / start families 组建家庭
Quiz 🧠
Q1. Spending more time on phones usually means spending less time meeting friends in person.
查看答案
✅ True
当花在看手机屏幕上的时间增加时，与人面对面交流的时间自然就会减少。
When people spend hours looking at screens, they have less time to hang out face to face.
Q2. What does 'drop' mean in 'birth rates dropped'?
查看答案
✅ Go down
'drop'指的是数量、程度等出现减少或下降。
A drop means a decrease or fall in number, amount, or level.
Q3. Why does spending less time together in person lead to fewer babies?
查看答案
✅ People date less
如果人们不常当面接触，恋爱机会就会减少，生育的新生儿数量也会随之下降。
When people do not meet in person, they start fewer relationships and have fewer children.
Dialogue 🎧
James: Charlotte, did you read that US birth rates fell by 22% since 2007?
James: James，你看过那篇关于美国 birth rate 自2007年以来下降了22%的文章吗？
Charlotte: I did. Economist Caitlin Myers says the iPhone is actually the reason.
Charlotte: 看过，经济学家 Caitlin Myers 说，究其原因其实是因为 iPhone。
James: Wait, seriously? How can a smartphone cause a big baby bust?
James: 等等，你当真的吗？智能手机怎么会导致 birth rate 骤降呢？
Charlotte: She believes technology explains half of this drop. It is a striking idea.
Charlotte: 她认为这种下降趋势的一半要归因于技术。这确实是个惊人的想法。
James: That sounds wild. For years, experts blamed a weak economy for fewer babies.
James: 这听起来不太可能。过去专家们不是一直说婴儿减少是因为经济不景气吗？
Charlotte: But the economy got better and births still fell. The pattern changed.
Charlotte: 但即便经济好转， birth rate 依然在跌。这种模式已经改变了。
James: So the economy wasn't the problem? What was the pattern Myers found?
James: 也就是说这不完全是经济问题？那 Myers 到底发现了什么规律？
Charlotte: She looked at early phone networks. In 2007, iPhones only worked with AT&T.
Charlotte: 她研究了早期的移动网络。2007年时，iPhone 只支持 AT&T 的网络服务。
James: Oh, wait. Did those specific service areas have fewer babies?
James: 哦，天哪。你是说在那些特定的服务区，出生的婴儿变少了吗？
Charlotte: Exactly. Births fell fast in areas with AT&T service. It was quite fast.
Charlotte: 没错。在提供 AT&T 服务的地区， birth rate 下降得非常快。
James: What about areas without iPhone service? Did births stay the same there?
James: 那没有 iPhone 服务的地区呢？那里的 birth rate 没变吗？
Charlotte: Areas without service did not see this drop. It is very specific.
Charlotte: 在没有服务的地区，并没出现这种下降趋势。差异非常显著。
James: Wait, that doesn't make sense. How do phones stop people from having families?
James: 等等，我不明白…… 手机是怎么阻碍人们 start families 的？
Charlotte: Expert Jean Twenge says phones changed how teenagers spend their time.
Charlotte: 专家 Jean Twenge 认为，手机改变了青少年利用时间的方式。
James: Teens spend less time hanging out with friends in person now, right?
James: 是指现在的青少年 meet in person 和朋友一起玩的时间减少了吗？
Charlotte: They stay online instead. They are meeting each other much less.
Charlotte: 是的，他们转而在网上度过。线下见面的情况少了很多。
James: So without meeting in person, people are just having less sex.
James: 既然见面的机会少了，自然性行为也就减少了。
Charlotte: That's her point. Also, phones give easy access to birth control info.
Charlotte: 这正是她的核心观点。此外，通过手机 easy access 避孕信息也变得更方便了。
James: I guess students use adult websites instead of dating each other now.
James: 这么说，也有一部分学生不再 dating，转而使用 adult websites。
Charlotte: Exactly. Technology is fundamentally changing how we start families today.
Charlotte: 完全正确。技术正在从根本上改变我们如今组建家庭的方式。
James: It is serious to think about. Almost everyone has a smartphone now.
James: 这么一想确实挺严肃的。毕竟现在几乎人人都有智能手机。
Charlotte: This means birth rates might stay low forever. It is a different world.
Charlotte: 这意味着 birth rate 可能会一直维持在较低水平。世界已经和以前不一样了。
James: I never thought the phone in my pocket could do all that.
James: 真没想到我口袋里的手机竟然有这么大的影响力。
Charlotte: It is powerful. We have to keep watching to see what happens next.
Charlotte: 确实令人惊叹。我们要继续观察未来会发生什么。