The Michael Shermer Show Debra Soh on Why Men and Women Are Drifting Apart, Dating Apps, and Gen Z
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Apr 3, 2026 
Debra Soh, neuroscientist and science journalist who studies human sexuality, discusses the causes and consequences of the so-called sex recession. They explore how dating apps, social media, pornography, AI companions, and shifting expectations between men and women are reshaping intimacy. The conversation also touches on Gen Z mental health, the manosphere, fertility trends, and future-technologies replacing human connection.
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Sex Recession Is Real And Alarming
- The sex recession is real and widespread across developed countries, especially among millennials and Gen Z who show higher rates of sexual inactivity.
- Studies show about one in three men and one in five women had no sex in the past year, signaling a broader decline in intimacy and connection.
Multiple Forces Converge To Reduce Intimacy
- Multiple factors converge: social media, pornography, AI companions, sex robots, endocrine disruptors, low testosterone and reproductive technologies are reshaping intimacy.
- These interact with mental health trends and delayed family planning to compound sexlessness beyond single causes.
Social Media Warps Dating Expectations
- Social media warps self-image and dating expectations for both sexes, driving extreme behaviors like looks-maxing and cosmetic injectables among teens.
- Algorithms amplify hypermasculine and hyperfeminine ideals, increasing social comparison and body modification uptake.
