I'm 23, single and I can't see that changing. I agree with much of what the OP said in that there is a social pressure to be in a relationship and a perception that when you're not in one you are some how incomplete. This leads to people settling, rather than only dating someone they adore and all I see from people in relationships is misery, moaning, arguments and a total lack of freedom. Then they stay together because they are scared they wont find anyone better and can go out and smile to the world whose social expectations they are fullfilling. I haven't been really interested in a girl for about a five years and I will not just settle for someone who is 'ok' just to meet social expectations and have someone to take the family occasions.

I'm also not interested in playing games or taking part in monkey branching. For those of you who don't know what monkey branching is, it's when a girl in a relationship flirts with other men while in a relationship to see if anyone better comes along, then when someone does leaving their boyfriend and immediately getting with the new man. This is completely dishonest as they are pretending to be invested in a relationship, stringing a man along and emotionally cheating. This seems to be the way most girls get into relationships these days as like the OP notes people are becoming addicted to relationships and can't cope being single. When any girl tries to branch onto me I quickly distance myself from them as I follow a simple rule in life that is 'if I wouldn't like it happening to me, don't do it somebody else.'

The only negative is of course it means you don't get regular sex but I enjoy it a lot more when it's with someone new anyway and it feels like more of an achievement when you have had to work for it. I can't dress and have sex this way but that wouldn't be guaranteed in a relationship anyway.