Scott Douglas Jacobsen and Rick Rosner discuss Gen Z’s deep reliance on digital devices, reduced face-to-face interaction, and declining sexual activity. Using the “hermit crab” analogy, Rosner suggests Gen Z feels vulnerable without phones but functions well in a tech-supported world. Data shows historic lows in partnered sex, masturbation, and romantic relationships among young people, driven by over-entertainment, anxiety, and social challenges. While this trend could lower birth rates and ease environmental pressures, it also raises economic concerns for consumer-driven capitalism. The conversation explores potential societal shifts, AI integration, and acceptance of future human modifications as adaptation strategies.

Scott Douglas Jacobsen: Alright. Here is the next topic—one we have touched on in recent days: younger people and their apparent ineptitude when not addressing the world through their devices.Any thoughts?

Rick Rosner: It is not too bad yet, but it appears in moments like the Gen Z blank stare. If you try to speak directly to a Gen Z person, some may be disoriented because they are unaccustomed to face-to-face interaction. This could worsen over time. Is it a problem?

My analogy is hermit crabs. A hermit crab seeks empty shells to protect its vulnerable back half, moving into larger shells as it grows. If removed from its shell, it is exposed and fragile. Similarly, Gen Zers who live entirely through devices seem like hermit crabs without shells—vulnerable and awkward without their phones.

However, they are not typically stripped of their devices. They live in a world supported by their phones, and that works for them. In the future, humans who rely on devices may seem weak without them, but since most will keep their devices, they will function fine. Older generations, accustomed to more direct interaction, may find it annoying, but that could be an “old person problem.”

If, for example, China launched an EMP attack, wiping out electronics, people would face serious trouble, but that scenario is unlikely. There are real-world implications, yet the dependence on devices is probably here to stay.

One of the topics we have discussed most is the decline in sex and reproduction. Forming relationships and connecting with others requires in-person interaction, which can be challenging for many Gen Zers. Hooking up can be mediated through dating apps like Tinder or other online platforms, but face-to-face intimacy remains a hurdle. According to recent surveys, the number of virgins aged 30 in America is at an all-time high, both in absolute numbers and as a percentage of the population. People are getting worse at connecting romantically and sexually.

Jacobsen: A 2022 Kinsey Institute and Lovehoney survey found that one in four Gen Z adults have never had partnered sex. Many high schools report low rates of sexual activity; in 2023, only about one-third of teens said they had sex, down from 47% in 2013. It is not just partnered sex that is in decline—masturbation rates are also falling. Forty percent of Gen Z say they have never had sex, and only 37% report having sex at least once a month, according to youthsense.com. Romantic relationships are also less common: 44% of Gen Z men reported no romantic relationship experience during their teens, double the rate of older generations.

Among young French women, 19% identify as non-heterosexual: 10% bisexual, 5% pansexual, 2% lesbian, and 2% asexual. These trends—high virginity rates, low teen sex rates, declining solo sexual activity, and limited romantic experience—coexist with emotional pressures linked to body image, technology use, and performance anxiety. This is increasingly being described as a mental health toll from modern culture on young people.

Gen Z refers to those born between 1997 and 2012, now aged 13 to 28. They appear less interested in sex for several reasons: over-entertainment via video games, streaming, and phone-based activities; the difficulty of in-person hookups; social anxiety; and anxiety about the state of the world. 

Rosner: You could list three or four leading causes. It can make Gen Z seem timid, but the trends are understandable. On the other hand, this decline might be beneficial for the planet. A reduced birth rate could slow climate change. If the global population peaks in 2060 at about 9.4 billion instead of in 2100 at 11 billion, that means roughly 15% fewer people contributing to environmental strain. The challenge will be figuring out how to manage shrinking economies in a world with a declining population.

Capitalism thrives on growing populations because more people mean more consumers, and that allows producers to sell lower-quality goods without losing profits. In a shrinking population, we will have to figure out how to sell to fewer people while still maintaining economic viability.

Could this lead to an abundance society? Right now, much of the United States faces a housing shortage. If the population levels off, shortages in housing and other goods might ease. On the other hand, if you collect art or rare items, values could stagnate or decline because there will be fewer buyers in the future.

Is Gen Z, with its deep attachment to devices and limited interest in in-person interaction, better positioned to integrate into an AI-driven world? I was 35 when I first got the internet. My daughter has had it her entire life, and smartphones since she was 12. Kids growing up today will never remember a time without AI. That constant exposure might make them better at coexisting with it—and possibly reduce the chances of AI becoming an existential threat.

The generation after Gen Z, and the one after that, will likely be more comfortable with physical modifications and technological enhancements to the body. Older people already accept medical implants like pacemakers or titanium joints when necessary for survival. While society resisted wearable tech like Google Glass two decades ago, acceptance is growing for devices like fitness watches. Future modifications will be more functional and practical, increasing willingness to adopt them. Modified humans may have a better chance of surviving in a world dominated by AI and other enhanced beings. If you want humanity to remain competitive, human modification could be essential.

Rick Rosner is an accomplished television writer with credits on shows like Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Crank Yankers, and The Man Show. Over his career, he has earned multiple Writers Guild Award nominations—winning one—and an Emmy nomination. Rosner holds a broad academic background, graduating with the equivalent of eight majors. Based in Los Angeles, he continues to write and develop ideas while spending time with his wife, daughter, and two dogs.

Scott Douglas Jacobsen is the publisher of In-Sight Publishing (ISBN: 978-1-0692343) and Editor-in-Chief of In-Sight: Interviews (ISSN: 2369-6885). He writes for The Good Men Project, International Policy Digest (ISSN: 2332–9416), The Humanist (Print: ISSN 0018-7399; Online: ISSN 2163-3576), Basic Income Earth Network (UK Registered Charity 1177066), A Further Inquiry, and other media. He is a member in good standing of numerous media organizations.

Photo by Scott Jacobsen on Unsplash

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