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AIBU?

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Original poster

To think most people will be mostly single in future

92 replies

ladalover · 14/05/2025 11:59

I was reading some articles about more women choosing to be, and men remaining single. It struck me that with financial needs and procreation decoupled from traditional longterm relationships, the future could see people essentially choosing a single life, having children through science or an arranged interaction and agreement, and that possibly singlehood for all or most of adult life will become normal.

OP posts:
RowanMayfaire · 14/05/2025 15:25

In order to have a decent standard of living, dual income is a must for a lot of people.

So no, I don't think people will be single more often - quite the opposite, actually. I think people will stay in unhappy relationships rather than go back to live with their parents at 40 years old. I think DV will go through the roof and the mental health crisis will continue to escalate.

I do, however, think that people will have a lot less children.

LilDeVille · 14/05/2025 15:22

I think it’s nice to be in a good relationship. So maybe people will be less picky about it and less pressure by timing - getting together because they like each other rather than having fertility or financial need.

Tomatotater · 14/05/2025 15:19

I think, with people living longer there should be a 25 year ' contract' instead of marriage till death as well as divorce, so once you reach 25 years you have to choose to extend or not.

GivingUpFinally · 14/05/2025 15:18

Yabu, humans are pack animals essentially and do not thrive well in isolation.

And now here's where I get beat with sticks... but to summarise very briefly;

I personally feel that there is a correlation between increased singledom and the rise in poor mental health outcomes.

I am no way suggesting ypu can only be happy in a relationship by the way. Its a tad deeper than that.

(Running for cover...)

Simbaonedaythiswillallbeyours · 14/05/2025 15:16

I will most likely be single for the rest of my life (I'm 41). I don't have time to go out and meet people, I not prepared to be anyone elses carer/chauffeur/cleaner/cook and online dating is an absolute cesspit of mummy's boys, cheaters and man children.
Men my age that are single want maids, not meaningful relationships.

Women are empowered now and realise they have a choice and can be independent. Men don't like it. Its going to take a couple of generations for attitudes to change I think.

Dvdlove · 14/05/2025 15:16

I don't know. I was very happily single for a long time. Genuinely loved the lifestyle and didn't feel the need for a partner, certainly didn't want to live with anyone.

Then I met a man and here we are. The instinct is still strong. Even more so, I imagine, if you're of an age where rearing children is relevant..

UrbanMonstrosity · 14/05/2025 15:15

I think it will be split. There’s a big push for conservative values and most cultures still favour marriage. So, probably not.

SoloSofa24 · 14/05/2025 15:15

It's hard enough to afford to rent or buy somewhere to live for young couples these days, let alone as a single person, and there will always be a drive towards relationships for sex, companionship and so on.

But I agree there is less incentive for women who are single in later life to want/need a full-time live-in partner.

SpringGreenOnion · 14/05/2025 15:11

We’re gonna have robot companions/assistants.

ForRealThisTime · 14/05/2025 15:11

I think it will happen for a time. Women are realising they no longer “need” men for financial support, but many men seem to be slow on the uptake here and still expect to treat a woman like it’s the 1950s and so are bringing very little of value to the table.

I think eventually though peoples desire for company will win out and men are going to stop thinking bringing in a salary is the be all and end all. I think it will be a few decades of wrangling though.

TheBlueUniform · 14/05/2025 15:09

I don’t think so. I think most people seek a loving long term relationship. Whether they find it is a different story and some people end up permanently single because they don’t want to settle and quite right.

So if everyone had all of their box’s ticked in a partner, no I don’t think they’d chose to stay single.

Veganvenitia · 14/05/2025 15:09

Its a major reason for population decline. People work to hard to keep up with the cost of living to meet people. Then when they do meet people they can’t afford / don’t have time for kids.

CreationNat1on · 14/05/2025 15:07

I accidentally supported YABU, however I really do love the era of singledom.

BellyPork · 14/05/2025 15:05

Sounds like a brave new world.

Original poster
ladalover · 14/05/2025 15:03

Yes, why not. Perhaps the era of hetero coupledom is over. There's no law saying you have to be in a relationship.

OP posts:
EmpressaurusKitty · 14/05/2025 15:00

Single, with a cat & a network of friends. Heaven.

Original poster
ladalover · 14/05/2025 14:59

Just a little bump

OP posts: