Single people have long been less likely to report going without sex than married people or couples that live together. But the gap has been widening among young people in recent years. Rising computer use may play a role in the trend. Young adults increasingly form relationships through playing video games with people they do not physically meet. And they have access to free pornography online.
The percentage of young adults not having sex was rising even before covid made dating harder. Data and research suggest economic precarity, technology, and the warping effects of porn on sexual attitudes may play a role.