Adolescent Gender ID as Social Contagion

The article argues that the recent sharp increase in adolescents (especially natal females) identifying as transgender is best explained by peer‑group spread, media exposure, and diagnostic drift rather than a sudden biological change. It links specific datasets (e.g., Sweden's 2008–2018 rise) and the concept of 'rapid‑onset' gender dysphoria to policy implications for puberty blockers, hormone therapy, school accommodations, and legal protections. — If social dynamics explain a large part of the surge, medical, educational, and legal policies for minors should be re‑examined with careful causal methods and safeguards before broadly adopting irreversible interventions.