alt Hacker News> a large fraction of people really don't want to pair up.
Don't want to pair up, or can't meet/find someone with which to pair up?
Because from your massive oversimplification, you're making it sound like everyone has 50 potential partners knocking on their door daily asking to hook up or get married, and they tell them to get lost so he/she can keep play videogames in peace.
Have you asked single people why they're single to better understand the issue? I think you'll find that most people actually WANT some sort of loving partner in their lives. Otherwise the pet industry wouldn't be so massive in the west if people were so happy living alone without any company.
In my experience, financially savvy/well-off young people usually get an apartment before they get married - they either get it (or a large downpayment) from their parents or they buy one some time in their 20s - but don't get married until their late 20s to 30s.
People of my parents' generation got married way earlier, typically in early to mid 20s, so it was natural for them to build a life together.