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China bans AI “boyfriends” and “girlfriends” over addiction and birth rate concerns
(www.dexerto.com)
this post was submitted on 19 Jul 2026
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Technology
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The one-child policy was abolished in 2015, but birth rates have continued to decline after that. They currently have one of the world's lowest fertility rates.
It's crazy, like overpopulation, stress, and pollution mean people don't want kids or something.
Well yes, but also no. I think it was only really heavily policed in the 70s and early 80s then was lifted so regional and rural could have a second child (wiki says by '84 the single child policy only impacted 35% of the population). Still goes to show by forcibly dropping birthrates how much it destroys future planning
Looking at all the other countries, it may not have had an impact on future birthrates at all.
Yeah true regarding birthrates.. but I think it probably catapulted median age
This website states that in 1960 median age was around 20 (comparable internationally), median age in 2025 was 42( international was 31)
Yes, and if they didn't have the policy in the past, then today's birth rates would be even more devastating for the demographic