Birthrates and the Smartphone

Society

Correlation or Cause?

Updated: 2026.07.01

3 min read · Intermediate

Birthrates and the Smartphone Correlation or Cause? 출산율과 스마트폰 상관관계인가, 인과인가? Articles Can smartphones help explain the drop in birth rates? Videos Are smartphones killing birth rates worldwide? \| DW News Smartphones to blame for declining birth rates? Discussion Questions Q1 In your own words, please briefly summarize the article. 여러분의 언어로 교재를 간단히 요약해 주세요. Q2 What part of the reading resonated with you most? 이번 교재에서 가장 공감하는 내용은 무엇인가요? Q3 Birthrates fell in 2007, the year the iPhone arrived. Why isn't matching timing enough to prove cause? 출산율은 아이폰이 등장한 2007년에 떨어졌습니다. 시점이 맞는다는 것만으로 인과를 증명하기에 왜 부족할까요? Q4 How did Myers use the AT&T network to study the iPhone? Does it convince you? 마이어스는 아이폰을 연구하기 위해 AT&T 통신망을 어떻게 활용했나요? 설득력이 있나요? Q5 Areas with better networks are also richer and more educated. Why does that make the theory harder to prove? 통신망이 좋은 지역은 더 부유하고 교육 수준도 높습니다. 이 점이 왜 이론의 증명을 어렵게 만들까요? Q6 What does it mean to call a theory "speculative"? 어떤 이론을 "추측에 불과하다"고 말하는 것은 무슨 뜻일까요? Q7 The second study covered 128 countries. Why does going global make the argument stronger? 두 번째 연구는 128개국을 다뤘습니다. 전 세계로 넓히는 것이 왜 주장을 더 강하게 만들까요? Q8 Have phones changed how young people meet and date? What have you seen? 스마트폰이 젊은 세대가 만나고 연애하는 방식을 바꿨을까요? 무엇을 보셨나요? Q9 The claim is "uncomfortable to dismiss." Do you find it convincing, or are economic causes bigger? 이 주장은 "떨쳐내기 불편하다"고 합니다. 설득력이 있다고 보시나요, 아니면 경제적 원인이 크다고 보시나요? Q10 If you have a question or questions that you'd like to discuss during your class, please write them down. 궁금한 점이 있거나 수업 중에 얘기해 보고 싶은 질문이 있으면 적어주세요. Expressions contraception methods or devices used to prevent pregnancy Example 1 Access to contraception has improved public health in many countries. Example 2 The doctor explained different forms of contraception to the patient. quirk an unusual or unexpected feature of a situation, system, or event Example 1 A quirk of the law allowed some residents to avoid paying the fee. Example 2 A quirk of geography makes this region warmer than nearby areas. conceive to form an idea, plan, or image in your mind; to become pregnant Example 1 It is difficult to conceive a world without the internet. Example 2 The engineers conceived a new design for the bridge. linger to stay somewhere or continue for longer than expected Example 1 The smell of smoke lingered in the room for hours. Example 2 The effects of the storm continued to linger for weeks. speculative based on guesses or ideas rather than known facts Example 1 Many of the claims in the article are highly speculative. Example 2 At this stage, any prediction about the outcome is purely speculative.
본 교재는 당사 편집진이 제작하는 링글의 자산으로 저작권법에 의해 보호됩니다. 링글 플랫폼 외에서 자료를 활용하시는 경우 당사와 사전 협의가 필요합니다.

Birthrates and the Smartphone

Correlation or Cause?

출산율과 스마트폰

상관관계인가, 인과인가?

Articles

Can smartphones help explain the drop in birth rates?

Videos

Are smartphones killing birth rates worldwide? | DW News Smartphones to blame for declining birth rates?

Discussion Questions

In your own words, please briefly summarize the article.

여러분의 언어로 교재를 간단히 요약해 주세요.

What part of the reading resonated with you most?

이번 교재에서 가장 공감하는 내용은 무엇인가요?

Birthrates fell in 2007, the year the iPhone arrived. Why isn't matching timing enough to prove cause?

출산율은 아이폰이 등장한 2007년에 떨어졌습니다. 시점이 맞는다는 것만으로 인과를 증명하기에 왜 부족할까요?

How did Myers use the AT&T network to study the iPhone? Does it convince you?

마이어스는 아이폰을 연구하기 위해 AT&T 통신망을 어떻게 활용했나요? 설득력이 있나요?

Areas with better networks are also richer and more educated. Why does that make the theory harder to prove?

통신망이 좋은 지역은 더 부유하고 교육 수준도 높습니다. 이 점이 왜 이론의 증명을 어렵게 만들까요?

What does it mean to call a theory "speculative"?

어떤 이론을 "추측에 불과하다"고 말하는 것은 무슨 뜻일까요?

The second study covered 128 countries. Why does going global make the argument stronger?

두 번째 연구는 128개국을 다뤘습니다. 전 세계로 넓히는 것이 왜 주장을 더 강하게 만들까요?

Have phones changed how young people meet and date? What have you seen?

스마트폰이 젊은 세대가 만나고 연애하는 방식을 바꿨을까요? 무엇을 보셨나요?

The claim is "uncomfortable to dismiss." Do you find it convincing, or are economic causes bigger?

이 주장은 "떨쳐내기 불편하다"고 합니다. 설득력이 있다고 보시나요, 아니면 경제적 원인이 크다고 보시나요?

Q10

If you have a question or questions that you'd like to discuss during your class, please write them down.

궁금한 점이 있거나 수업 중에 얘기해 보고 싶은 질문이 있으면 적어주세요.

Expressions

contraception

methods or devices used to prevent pregnancy

Example

Access to contraception has improved public health in many countries.

Example

The doctor explained different forms of contraception to the patient.

quirk

an unusual or unexpected feature of a situation, system, or event

Example

A quirk of the law allowed some residents to avoid paying the fee.

Example

A quirk of geography makes this region warmer than nearby areas.

conceive

to form an idea, plan, or image in your mind; to become pregnant

Example

It is difficult to conceive a world without the internet.

Example

The engineers conceived a new design for the bridge.

linger

to stay somewhere or continue for longer than expected

Example

The smell of smoke lingered in the room for hours.

Example

The effects of the storm continued to linger for weeks.

speculative

based on guesses or ideas rather than known facts

Example

Many of the claims in the article are highly speculative.

Example

At this stage, any prediction about the outcome is purely speculative.

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