Ellie Colson, a 37-year-old from the United Kingdom, has gone viral on TikTok after posting a video that outlines 10 reasons she’s proud to stay childfree. The clip, shared to the account @echojulietcharlie88, has drawn nearly a million views and tens of thousands of likes. Colson and her partner, Karl, who have been together for eight years, have decided they do not want to get married or have children, framing the choice as a joint, early decision rooted in their introverted lifestyle and long-term plans.
In the video, Colson lists a range of considerations that influence her stance, from finances and personal autonomy to the mental load associated with parenting. She says she spends her money on herself and on her dogs, and she doesn’t want to be ‘affording’ children. She also says she does not fancy childbirth, arguing that risking her life to bring a child into the world doesn’t seem worth it. She notes her dogs are enough companions, and that holidays and everyday life feel more relaxed without children. Colson describes a home life with candles, reading, and quiet routines as bliss, and argues that motherhood would constrain her career and training in hobbies she loves, like netball, powerlifting, and hiking. She adds that she is the “fun auntie” who spoils others’ kids while keeping her own life intact, and she emphasizes she doesn’t see motherhood as the right path for her. The video racked up nearly 1 million views and about 47,000 likes, illustrating the resonance—and backlash—around the idea of choosing a childfree life.
Reaction to the video has been mixed, with critics labeling Colson as selfish or questioning who would care for her in old age. Colson says the backlash comes with the territory, and she maintains that the mental load of juggling household responsibilities, work, and potential children would take a toll on both her and Karl’s mental health. Her experience ties into broader demographic trends: fertility rates in the United Kingdom have fallen to historic lows. Office for National Statistics (ONS) data show the average total fertility rate was 1.44 children per woman in 2023, the lowest since records began in 1938. Studies from the UCL Centre for Longitudinal Studies also highlight cost-of-living pressures—housing and childcare emerged among the top reasons millennials delay or opt out of parenthood. The same downward trend appears in the United States, where the CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics shows a fertility rate of 1.621 in 2023, and 1.599 in 2024, marking a continued decline from the Baby Boom-era highs.
Colson says she has connected with thousands of other childfree people online, reinforcing that a life without children can be fulfilling for many. She cautions that societal expectations remain strong but notes that attitudes are slowly shifting, even as some voices still question the choice. “Societal pressures aren’t quite as bad as they were in times gone by, but still very old-fashioned,” she said, adding that “the best and worst comments” she has heard revolve around why women exist if not to birth children. The timeline surrounding her video underscores a broader cultural conversation about family, career, and personal happiness in a world where traditional paths are no longer viewed as the only route to fulfillment.
For Colson, the choice is about preserving autonomy and focus on personal goals, and she plans to continue sharing her perspective with others who feel similarly. Her story, paired with the data on fertility trends in the UK and the US, highlights the ongoing negotiation between individual choice and societal expectations in Culture & Entertainment reporting about modern life and family norms.
Meanwhile, another image of Colson—captured from her TikTok profile—shows how she presents herself in the public-facing space where this discussion started. The blend of personal testimony and statistical context reflects the evolving conversation around childfree living in contemporary society.
