THE AGENDA – Inspired by a recent Financial Times article on falling birth rates, Mark Brooks joined Georgia Tolley on “The Agenda” radio show to discuss whether technology is making it harder for people to couple up, settle down, and start families. Despite concerns about fewer couples, Mark pointed out that the desire for long-term relationships remains strong. Data from MillionaireMatch, based on ~1M female profiles and 440K male profiles, found that 67% of women and 76% of men say they are looking for a long-term relationship.

At the same time, marriage rates are falling, people are marrying later, having fewer children, and spending less time in committed relationships. Mark said technology has given people more choice than ever before, but it has also introduced new challenges around distraction and decision-making. His advice was straightforward: put the phone down, turn off notifications, join communities, attend events, throw parties, and create more opportunities for real-world connection.

The conversation also touched on concerns raised by Elon Musk about the economic impact of population decline. Mark noted that immigration-positive countries such as the UAE may be better positioned to adapt, while robots are likely to play a growing role in addressing future workforce gaps.

Mark noted that dating apps have become one of the primary ways people meet today, with the majority of new long-term relationships now beginning online. He also emphasised that the best dating platforms are focused on helping people build BLRs (Beautiful Loving Relationships), because successful relationships are ultimately the measure of success for the industry.

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