A recent study reveals that social media is reshaping marriage norms in Moroccan villages, influencing child marriage trends. However, deep-rooted traditions, economic hardship, and social factors continue to hinder efforts to eliminate the practice. A recent study has shed light on the persistence of child marriage in Moroccan villages, a practice that remains controversial despite legal and social efforts to curb it. The study, titled «Child Marriage in Rural Moroccan Communities: Society's Will and Legal Constraints», reveals a surprising trend—the growing influence of social media in reshaping traditional marriage customs, particularly regarding child marriage. Focusing on the Rehamna province, the field study, published in the Journal of African and River Nile Studies by the Arab Democratic Center, found that an increasing number of underage girls are using social media to connect with potential spouses. According to the research, 16.7% of the surveyed girls got married after meeting their husbands online, marking a shift in rural marriage dynamics. Social connections are no longer confined to family or community mediation. The findings suggest that more rural women now have the freedom to choose their life partners, signaling a shift in societal norms. Forced marriages are becoming less common, with all fathers interviewed stating that their underage daughters married by choice. «This indicates that many traditional attitudes toward marriage—such as modesty, shyness, shame, and the reluctance to openly express a desire to marry—are declining. The fact that 44.5% of marriages among underage girls occurred through social media, chance encounters, or acquaintanceship is clear evidence of a changing marriage culture», reads the study. The study's supervisors argue that social media is actively shaping local culture and accelerating this transformation. The research also found that the same percentage of girls (44.5%) reported knowing their husbands for at least a year before marriage. Similarly, many underage girls met their future husbands years earlier and waited until they turned 17 to apply for legal marriage. The Enduring Influence of Cultural Heritage Despite these shifts, the study highlights that deeply rooted traditions remain a significant obstacle to eradicating child marriage. In many rural communities, early marriage is still viewed as a means of protecting a girl's honor and ensuring her stability in society. According to the study, 88.8% of underage girls who married young came from families with a history of early marriage, illustrating how traditions reinforce the practice across generations. Early marriage is often seen as a solution to social concerns surrounding girls, such as «shame» or «deprivation». One of the key factors driving child marriage is the fear of «spinsterhood». The study found that 72.2% of surveyed girls believed that delaying marriage could lead to social stigma. When asked about the age at which a girl is considered «too old» for marriage, responses varied: 44.4% saw 18 as the threshold, 27.8% identified it as 24, while 22.2% considered it to be 30. The study concludes that while legal and social initiatives have sought to curb child marriage, the practice remains widespread in rural areas. Cultural and economic factors continue to drive its persistence, with early marriage still perceived as a way to uphold family reputation and avoid the stigma of remaining unmarried. Additionally, poverty and financial hardship further contribute to the phenomenon, making it difficult to eradicate.
