but I would still wonder what is driving younger women into the arms of older men at increasingly higher rates.
I don't see evidence if 'increasingly higher' rates. I just see a very large cohort (50+ men) chasing smaller cohorts.
Why are the youngest women (18-34) not pairing with men closer to their age to begin a family?
Women with older men is, of course, not a new thing. In addition, the age of marriage is getting older, data all around.
Are they having families with the older men, or not at all?
The 18-34 is a very large cohort so perhaps 30+ are closer to their age or >35.
I would still think social media is having a selection effect of some sort.
The problems with young men confusing Porn with Real Life is apparent.
Dating sites suggest that only a small percentage of men get all the likes and matches, according to a video I watched recently.
20% of men usually IIRC. In addition, with women being increasingly the majority in Universities and higher education, they are having problems finding compatible partners education-wise.