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    Categories>Cheap Sex: How Technology Transformed Modern Dating

    Cheap Sex: How Technology Transformed Modern Dating

    26 min
    |
    |
    Apr 2, 2026

    Lena and Eli explore Mark Regnerus's groundbreaking analysis of how contraception, pornography, and dating apps have revolutionized romance, creating new economic dynamics that explain why modern relationships feel so different from previous generations.

    Cheap Sex: How Technology Transformed Modern Dating

    This audio lesson was created by a BeFreed community member

    Input question

    A summary of the book Cheap Sex: The Transformation of Men, Marriage, and Monogamy by Mark Regnerus

    Host voices
    Lenaplay
    Eliplay
    Knowledge sources
    Cheap Sex Chapter Summary | Mark Regnerus - Bookey
    link
    https://www.bookey.app/book/cheap-sex
    Mapping the New Mating Market: A Review of Cheap Sex
    link
    https://ifstudies.org/blog/mapping-the-new-mating-market-a-review-of-cheap-sex
    Sociologist Mark Regnerus Takes on the Economics of Cheap Sex
    link
    https://www.ncregister.com/interview/sociologist-mark-regnerus-takes-on-the-economics-of-cheap-sex
    Q&A: <em>Cheap Sex</em> and why today's young people are postponing marriage
    link
    https://www.denvercatholic.org/q-a-em-cheap-sex-em-and-why-today-s-young-people-are-postponing-marriage
    Dollars and Sex
    Labor of Love

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    "Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."

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    "Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

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    "Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

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    "Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."

    @Raaaaaachelw
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    "Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."

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    "Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

    @Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC
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    comments
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    17

    "Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

    @djmikemoore
    platform
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    "BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."

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    Part of a Learning Plan

    Love, Desire, Tech & Life Stories

    Love, Desire, Tech & Life Stories

    LEARNING PLAN

    Love, Desire, Tech & Life Stories

    3 h 16 m•4 Episodes
    Sex, Desire, Tech & Relationships

    Sex, Desire, Tech & Relationships

    LEARNING PLAN

    Sex, Desire, Tech & Relationships

    3 h 18 m•4 Episodes
    Sexual Health, Body, Pleasure & Environment

    Sexual Health, Body, Pleasure & Environment

    LEARNING PLAN

    Sexual Health, Body, Pleasure & Environment

    3 h 7 m•4 Episodes
    Love, History & Behavioral Science Study

    Love, History & Behavioral Science Study

    LEARNING PLAN

    Love, History & Behavioral Science Study

    2 h 27 m•4 Episodes
    Body, Pleasure, Desire, Tech & Relationships

    Body, Pleasure, Desire, Tech & Relationships

    LEARNING PLAN

    Body, Pleasure, Desire, Tech & Relationships

    2 h 55 m•4 Episodes
    Explore Culture, Tech & Sexual Health

    Explore Culture, Tech & Sexual Health

    LEARNING PLAN

    Explore Culture, Tech & Sexual Health

    3 h 10 m•4 Episodes
    Sex, Tech, Culture & Environment Exploration

    Sex, Tech, Culture & Environment Exploration

    LEARNING PLAN

    Sex, Tech, Culture & Environment Exploration

    2 h 50 m•4 Episodes
    Sex, Tech, Identity & Social Skills

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    LEARNING PLAN

    Sex, Tech, Identity & Social Skills

    4 h 8 m•4 Episodes

    Key Takeaways

    1

    Opening and Introduction

    0:00
    0:15
    0:37
    2

    The Economics of Modern Romance

    0:57
    1:08
    1:23
    1:38
    1:53
    2:05
    2:13
    2:31
    2:43
    2:58
    1:23
    3

    The Technology Revolution in Dating

    3:23
    3:37
    3:49
    4:05
    4:21
    4:26
    4:40
    4:56
    5:11
    5:22
    4

    The Campus Laboratory

    5:38
    5:48
    5:59
    6:09
    6:22
    6:34
    6:52
    2:43
    7:22
    7:37
    7:42
    5

    The Digital Dating Dilemma

    7:54
    8:08
    8:24
    8:31
    8:47
    1:23
    9:16
    9:27
    9:27
    9:27
    9:27
    6

    The Transformation of Marriage and Commitment

    9:29
    9:42
    9:57
    10:04
    10:21
    10:34
    6:52
    10:59
    11:14
    11:26
    7

    Power Dynamics and Bargaining in Relationships

    11:39
    11:53
    12:07
    12:19
    12:34
    12:51
    13:01
    13:16
    13:25
    13:41
    8

    The Economics of Infidelity

    13:54
    14:06
    14:19
    14:25
    14:43
    14:55
    15:08
    15:21
    15:37
    15:48
    9

    The Labor of Love in Modern Dating

    15:56
    16:14
    16:27
    16:41
    16:55
    17:07
    17:21
    17:37
    17:51
    10

    The Political Dimensions of Going Out

    18:03
    18:16
    18:30
    18:44
    18:59
    19:16
    19:28
    11

    The Paradox of Sexual Freedom

    19:45
    19:59
    20:10
    2:43
    20:41
    20:53
    21:03
    21:17
    12

    Practical Applications and What This Means for Our Listeners

    21:31
    21:45
    21:56
    22:09
    22:22
    22:38
    22:50
    23:02
    23:14
    23:29
    23:38
    23:49
    13

    Wrapping Up and Looking Forward

    24:00
    24:14
    24:24
    24:38
    24:49
    25:04
    25:16
    25:29
    25:41
    25:50
    26:01
    26:13
    26:23

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