Russian regional lawmaker demands internet ‘abstinence’ for childless couples
(MENAFN) A regional lawmaker in Russia has proposed restricting nighttime internet access for childless couples as a way to counter the country’s declining birthrate. Mikhail Ivanov, a member of the Bryansk regional parliament and head of the Orthodox Russia movement, suggested that excessive online activity is replacing meaningful human interaction among young adults.
Ivanov told the Abzats news outlet that digital distractions like social media, video games, and streaming are causing couples to disengage from real-life relationships and avoid starting families. He labeled the internet an addictive force that undermines traditional family values and poses a threat to Russia’s demographic stability.
As a possible solution, Ivanov recommended launching a “voluntary experiment” involving internet providers, social workers, and family psychologists. The initiative would encourage couples to prioritize in-person communication and consider parenthood more seriously.
Russia’s birthrate has been falling steadily, with only 1.22 million births recorded in 2024—a 3.4% drop from the previous year and the lowest figure since 1999, according to Rosstat. Projections suggest the trend may reverse by 2028.
Ivanov’s idea joins a series of unconventional proposals aimed at boosting population growth, such as reviving a Soviet-era tax on childlessness, limiting access to abortion, offering early prison releases for women who give birth, requiring employers to track birthrates, and encouraging women to wear miniskirts. Many of these suggestions have sparked controversy.
Nina Ostanina, who heads the State Duma Committee on Family, Women, and Children, has cautioned lawmakers against promoting ideas that could be seen as offensive.
International studies have linked declining birthrates to rising technology use, including findings from the US-based Institute for Family Studies that suggest reduced sexual activity and delayed relationships among young people due to tech reliance, academic pressure, and later transitions into adulthood.
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