Social media opening doors to child marriages?

In Chennai, a 15-year-old Nepali girl married a 28-year-old man she met on Instagram. After nine months of marriage, she was traced by her sister and police intervention led to her rescue. Social media and online dating platforms are exposing vulnerable girls to higher risks of child marriage, according to child rights activist Bhuwan Ribhu.

Ribhu states that digital communication advancements are changing the methods used in child marriages, making more children vulnerable. A Save the Children study found that girls in India faced a higher risk of child marriage and trafficking during the pandemic. The National Family Health Survey (2019-21) reported a national average of 23% child marriage in India, with a 10% decline.

The Central Government's Bal Vivah Mukt Bharat campaign aims to make India child marriage-free by 2030. Tamil Nadu, however, lacks dedicated Child Marriage Prohibition Officers (CMPOs) as recommended by the Supreme Court. The District Social Welfare Officer (DSWO) serves as the CMPO in Tamil Nadu, taking up an additional role. Tamil Nadu needs dedicated officials in districts like Salem, Dindigul, Namakal, and Cuddalore, which report the maximum cases of child marriages, to curb the practice.

State governments should draw up Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for eliminating child marriages. In 2025, a study by India Child Protection showed a 84% drop in cases in Assam following law-enforcement actions. The Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006 has been in place for decades, but enforcement needs improvement. Awareness must be supplemented with enforcement, accountability of institutions, and the use of technology for monitoring.

On September 4, 2026, the United Nations General Assembly designated November 27 as the International Day for the Elimination of Child, Early and Forced Marriage. In Kambar Colony, Anna Nagar, residents celebrated the designation with an oath-taking ceremony to strengthen their commitment to end child marriage.