Thank you for your concern (and the very entertaining links which I shall enjoy reading), and your reply once again.
I have a suspicion that you are judging us (me in particular) based on our age. I feel as if I hadn't mentioned it, you would have a bit more faith and respect in our relationship. I now regret mentioning our rough ages, since you seem to be certain that our opinions mean our relationship is now doomed (and have linked me to a study confirming that couples who marry young often divorce). I can't help but feel as if you're judging us a bit, and implying that we're lacking mental maturity. Of course, most people would agree with you, and state that you are just being realistic.
I don't think I will be able to properly relay that my SO and I have gone over this multiple times and never considered this to be a reason to end our relationship. It's unrealistic of me to expect that people on the internet would not have doubts about this, especially since relationship tragedies are widespread and common.
Do keep in mind that everyone has different views on "marriage". To me, marriage is a physical and mental commitment to your partner every day, and not a contract. I don't believe that people have to legally enter into a marriage to be in a marriage. Any and every relationship is like this. You don't have to sign anything to be committed. In that sense, I feel as if you're projecting your different views on marriage here, which is fine and dandy, as long as you know that not everyone shares them.
No one is going to "give in". The biggest mistake one could make is "give in" and have children while they don't want to. That is possibly the most irresponsible and despicable choice one could make. On the other hand, "giving in" and not having children will indeed make the other partner miserable. My partner and I both wish to make choices that will make us happy. None would wish for the other to do something that would make them unhappy. I simply wish to stimulate my partner to think about his reasons for wanting children (which are not very valid at the moment, and I'm sure he's not aware of all the "shoulds" and "musts" that he is shouldering at the moment). Him and I will come to a mutual and well-informed decision. I just want to make sure that my partner is not hurt by this process, and doesn't end up having regrets.
The reason why we are taking this "lightly" (although I wouldn't be posting about this if it wasn't) is because children never has been a priority to us. They aren't at the moment, and they aren't considered a "must" in our lives. My SO doesn't consider them a must, but has expressed that he would want them one day. On the other hand, he has expressed that he's alright with it if we don't have children either. In other words, it doesn't seem as if children were ever all that relevant (or at least aren't at the moment), but I don't want him to regret this.
Thanks again for the reply, I know it takes effort to put a reply together for someone you barely know. The fact that you care enough about my issues to reply is really a cheer-me-up! I will also check those links out, on "what NOT to do" in this kind of situation. Again, please understand that neither of us want anyone to be miserable in our relationship, and we go to great lengths to accomplish that.