By Akanksha Gupta:
A GRIM reality has surfaced in
the State capital as cases of
mutual divorce have witnesses
a sharp spike. Analysis by
experts and counselors at the
Bhopal Family Court has high
lighted a startling ‘digital
angle’—nearly every third couple seeking a separation initially met through matrimoni
al websites or social media plat
forms.
‘Fast-Food’ culture of
modern marriages
RECORDS from Bhopal Family
Court indicate that before 2020,
the average number of mutual
divorce filings stood at 100 per
month. By 2024-25, this figure
surged to 150 per month, implying that an average of five families are disintegrating every
day. Arbitration specialists suggest that of these daily cases, at
least two are directly linked to
digital matchmaking.
Experts point out that while
portals have simplified finding
a partner through filters like
salary, profession, and appearance, they fail to gauge emotional depth and familial compatibility.
The traditional ‘natural filters’—elderly relatives
and community vetting—have
been replaced by algorithms.
Consequently, couples often
realize within months of marriage that they are fundamentally incompatible.
Social Media:
Digital infidelity
and virtual intrusion
BEYOND online introductions,
the excessive use of social media
post-marriage has emerged as
a significant bone of contention.
In every second case reaching
counselors, partners complain
about their spouse’s social
media behavior. Common
grievances include prolonged
chatting with strangers, prioritization of virtual life over reality, and constant seeking of validation from online audiences.
This ‘digital distraction’ has
fostered emotional silence with
in homes. Couples often testify that while their partner
remains connected to the world
via smartphone, they feel completely ignored despite sitting
in the same room. This sense
of neglect frequently snowballs
into irreversible bitterness.
Haste and lack of
support system
PSYCHOLOGISTS warn that
relationships initiated online
often rush toward the altar. The
journey from the first chat to
the wedding ceremony is frequently so brief that couples
remain oblivious to each other’s temperaments, habits, and
expectations. Furthermore,
unlike traditional setups where
elders acted as mediators during conflicts, digital-age couples
often struggle in isolation, leading minor disputes to escalate
into divorce proceedings. City’s divorce trajectory at aglance:The landscape of marital dissolution in Bhopal has
shifted dramatically over the
last few years: Pre-2020: Avg.
100 cases/month (approx. 3
applications per day).
2024-2025: Avg. 150
cases/month (approx. 5 applications per day). Digital Link:
Approximately 33% of current
cases are rooted in online
introductions or digital behavior issues.