Marriage in the Age of Reels

How Likes, Views and Validation Are Redefining Relationships

Dr Vikas Sharma

drvikassharma20202020@gmail.com

We are living in a strange era. Never before in human history have people been so connected through technology, yet so disconnected from the essence of life's most important relationships. Everything today is designed to be seen, displayed, admired, and validated. We no longer simply live our lives-we perform them. Every meal is photographed, every vacation is documented, every achievement is posted, and every emotion is broadcast. Social media has transformed ordinary individuals into their own public relations managers. In this culture of endless display, marriage-the most sacred and meaningful institution of human civilization-has also become a victim. What was once considered a solemn promise between two souls is increasingly becoming a grand social media project. Weddings are no longer merely celebrations of commitment; they have become opportunities for content creation. The focus has shifted from building a marriage to producing material for Instagram, Snapchat, Facebook, and reels. One cannot help but ask: Are people marrying each other, or are they marrying the camera?

Anyone attending modern weddings can easily observe this transformation. During rituals that were traditionally regarded as sacred and spiritual, the loudest voice often does not belong to the priest but to the cameraman. While sacred mantras are being recited, photographers continuously interrupt the flow of rituals by asking the couple to pause, repeat actions, look at each other from a different angle, smile again, adjust their posture, lower their chin, or recreate moments for better footage. The sacred fire becomes a backdrop. Religious rituals become props. The wedding mandap turns into a film set. Instead of immersing themselves in the significance of the vows they are taking, many couples are more concerned about whether the drone captured the perfect aerial shot. It is difficult not to feel that something precious is being lost in this process. The spiritual depth of marriage is slowly being replaced by the aesthetics of social media.

The obsession begins long before the wedding itself. Today's wedding preparations often resemble the planning of a large-scale entertainment event. Months are spent organizing pre-wedding shoots, destination photography sessions, designer themes, choreographed dance performances, cinematic entries, luxury decorations, and viral social media content. Couples travel to mountains, lakes, palaces, and exotic locations to produce highly edited romantic videos. Thousands or even lakhs of rupees are spent creating images designed to impress strangers online. Ironically, many couples invest more time discussing their wedding hashtags than discussing essential topics such as financial planning, future responsibilities, conflict resolution, parenting expectations, emotional compatibility, and shared values. The wedding receives extraordinary attention; the marriage receives surprisingly little.

Social media has also created unrealistic expectations regarding how a newly married couple should live. Particularly for young brides and grooms, there is immense pressure to showcase a lifestyle that appears glamorous, luxurious, and constantly exciting. The newly married bride is often expected to possess an endless collection of new dresses, designer outfits, expensive handbags, premium cosmetics, and the latest jewellery designs. Every function demands a different appearance. Every gathering becomes an opportunity for comparison. Social media continuously promotes the idea that happiness must be visible. If a woman is not posting photographs of expensive gifts, luxurious outings, romantic surprises, and elaborate celebrations, she may feel that she is somehow falling behind others. The purpose of consumption shifts from personal satisfaction to public display. Purchases are no longer made because they are needed; they are made because they can be posted.

Perhaps one of the most absurd developments of recent years is the commercialization of anniversaries and milestones. Traditionally, anniversaries were occasions to reflect upon shared experiences, sacrifices, and growth as a couple. Today, however, every month seems to require a celebration. One-month anniversaries, two-month anniversaries, six-month anniversaries, proposal anniversaries, first-meeting anniversaries, first-date anniversaries-every occasion becomes another opportunity for expensive gifts and social media content. There is nothing inherently wrong with celebrating love. The problem arises when celebrations become obligations and gifts become proof of affection. Many young husbands enter marriage carrying the financial burden of wedding expenses, family responsibilities, housing costs, and career pressures. Yet within weeks they may find themselves expected to purchase gold jewellery, luxury items, expensive dinners, and elaborate surprises-not necessarily because their partner desires them, but because social media has normalized these expectations. Love slowly becomes measured not through understanding and sacrifice but through spending and display.

The culture of comparison further aggravates this problem. Social media continuously exposes individuals to carefully curated snapshots of other people's lives. A woman sees her friend's husband gifting a diamond necklace and begins questioning her own relationship. A man sees another couple vacationing abroad and feels inadequate. One couple posts a romantic surprise, prompting another couple to imitate it. Gradually, relationships become competitive projects. Instead of asking whether they are happy, people begin asking whether they appear happier than others. The desire to keep up with online standards creates dissatisfaction even within otherwise healthy relationships. Comparison becomes a poison that quietly erodes gratitude and contentment.

Equally concerning is the growing tendency to publicly exhibit every private aspect of married life. Gifts, romantic gestures, celebrations, arguments followed by reconciliations, vacation details, bedroom decorations, and intimate moments are increasingly shared online. Some couples appear unable to experience happiness unless it is witnessed by an audience. Every surprise must be recorded. Every gift must be photographed. Every celebration must be uploaded. Validation no longer comes from the partner; it comes from likes, comments, and reactions from hundreds of acquaintances and strangers. The line between private and public life becomes increasingly blurred. What was once sacred becomes content.

Another interesting phenomenon is the emergence of performative lifestyles after marriage. Couples are encouraged to create an image of constant excitement and luxury. Pet birthdays are organized with decorations, cakes, photographers, and themed parties. Every weekend must involve an outing. Every festival must feature coordinated outfits and professionally edited photographs. Every ordinary moment must appear extraordinary. There is nothing wrong with celebrating pets, hobbies, or special occasions. The issue arises when these activities are motivated primarily by the desire to impress others. Experiences are no longer valued for the joy they provide; they are valued for the attention they generate.

The irony is that many of the strongest marriages in society are rarely visible online. The couples who quietly support each other through illness, financial difficulties, family crises, professional setbacks, and life's inevitable challenges often remain unnoticed. They may never post anniversary videos or expensive gifts. They may never become viral. Yet their marriages endure because they are built on patience, loyalty, respect, compromise, and emotional maturity. Social media excels at showcasing romance but struggles to showcase commitment. Cameras capture smiles but cannot capture sacrifice. Reels capture celebrations but cannot capture resilience. Likes can celebrate appearances but cannot sustain relationships.

Perhaps the greatest casualty of this culture is the sacredness of marriage itself. Marriage was traditionally viewed as a lifelong partnership grounded in duty, responsibility, mutual respect, and spiritual commitment. Today, however, it is increasingly treated as an extension of personal branding. Weddings become productions. Relationships become performances. Partners become content creators. Sacred rituals become photo opportunities. In the pursuit of visibility, society risks losing sight of meaning.

As we move deeper into the age of filters, likes, comments, and online validation, it is worth asking ourselves a simple but profound question: Are we building marriages, or are we building social media profiles? Because eventually the wedding decorations are removed, the photographers leave, the reels stop trending, the likes disappear, and the audience moves on to the next spectacle. What remains are two individuals facing the realities of life together. In that moment, no camera angle can solve a conflict. No expensive gift can replace trust. No viral post can substitute for genuine companionship.

A successful marriage has never depended on how impressive it looks on a screen. It depends on how sincerely it is lived behind closed doors. And perhaps that is a truth worth remembering in an age that has become obsessed with appearances while slowly forgetting the value of authenticity.