Abstract
From 2008 to 2010, Italy experienced a peak in its fertility rate at 1.44, the highest in three decades. Since then, it has steadily decreased to 1.24 in 2022, reflecting a broader trend in many developed Western nations where fewer people are choosing to have children. This shift towards opting to be childfree has become a focal point in both media and scholarly discussions. Despite the decline in fertility rates, it remains difficult to clearly differentiate between those who intentionally choose to remain childfree and those who are childless due to other reasons. Overall, while recognition of the childfree lifestyle is on the rise, much of the research still lags in accurately capturing the nuances of this demographic group. More in-depth studies are needed to understand better the characteristics and experiences of those who choose to be childfree compared to those who are childless for other reasons. Therefore, we extracted posts and comments from two different subreddits: r/childfree and r/childless, to understand, through topic modelling techniques, the most prevalent themes in online discussions and to observe the sentiment expressed by users on social media. It emerged that the childfree group focuses on autonomy, making proactive decisions not to have children, and discusses medical and financial planning to support their lifestyle. They also engage in broader societal dialogues about the implications of their choice. In contrast, the childless group emphasises the need for emotional and social support, grappling with feelings of grief and sadness, and explores alternatives like adoption and fertility treatments, suggesting that for some, being childless is not a desired or permanent state. Overall, the childfree individuals are characterised by their focus on personal freedom and choice, while the childless individuals are more concerned with the emotional and social challenges of wanting but not having children