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Marriage or Manipulation? A Criminological Exploration of Social Media Marriage as Emerging Deviance in the Lens of Ghanaian Youth

Albert Annang ; Ronald Osei Mensah ; Agyemang Frimpong ; Daniel Opoku (2026) — Human Behavior and Emerging Technologies

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DOI: 10.1155/hbe2/2457361 (opens in a new tab)

Country:   Ghana
Tags:   Catfishing, Digital Intimacy, Digital Literacy, Ghanaian Youth, Identity Deception, Romance Scams, Sexual Exploitation, Social Media Marriage
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Synopsis

            
This study examines how Ghanaian youth perceive and experience “social media marriage,” a form of union initiated or influenced by digital platforms, and whether these online connections function as legitimate relationships or spaces prone to exploitation. Using a descriptive phenomenological design in an interpretive framework, the researchers conducted in-depth interviews with 40 participants aged 18–35 who were active on popular online dating platforms in Ghana. The analysis drew on theories of cyber criminology, hyperpersonal online communication, symbolic interactionism, and social constructivism to ground the interpretation in participants’ lived realities. Findings reveal a dual reality. On one hand, participants described genuine aspirations—cross-border connections, cultural exchange, and the realization of transnational marriages—made possible by digital platforms. On the other hand, many accounts highlighted risks such as fraud, financial deception, sexual exploitation, and identity deception, with some platforms described as environments where trust can be manipulated. Traditional family disapproval and concerns about authenticity emerged as salient challenges, reflecting tensions between online intimacy and local cultural norms. The results also show how rapid online intimacy, coupled with limited face-to-face interaction, can contribute to fragile emotional foundations and conflicts after marriage. The study portrays social media marriage as a complex, hybrid phenomenon that can empower individuals and simultaneously expose them to crime and vulnerability. It underscores the need for digital literacy, platform accountability, and culturally sensitive interventions, while noting limitations related to participant sensitivity and sample scope.

          

        
                  

            
Identified Gaps

            
Research in Ghana has largely emphasized politics, education, journalism, and general social media use rather than digitally initiated intimacy. The paper identifies limited Ghana-focused research on youth interpretations of social media marriage, particularly its intersection with deception, exploitation, cultural expectations, and cyber-enabled deviance. It also identifies a lack of integrative research connecting social media dating and romance fraud, and limited attention to emotional, gendered, and relational fraud processes in African contexts.

          

        
                  

            
Methods

            
The study used an interpretive, descriptive phenomenological design. Forty Ghanaian social media users aged 18–35 with experience of online relationships or marriages were recruited through Facebook, Instagram, Match and Meet, purposive sampling, and snowball referrals. Semistructured online interviews were conducted in English or local languages. Transcripts were manually coded in NVivo 14 and analyzed inductively through Braun and Clarke’s reflexive thematic-analysis framework. Member checking, peer debriefing, reflexive memoing, and supplementary contextual sources supported credibility and interpretation.

          

        
                  

            
Limitations

            
Qualitative interview findings from 40 purposively and snowball-sampled participants cannot be generalized to all Ghanaian youth. Active social media users may be overrepresented, while less frequent users and rural youth may be underrepresented. The Ghanaian 18–35 focus limits applicability to other age groups and contexts. Sensitive subject matter may have constrained disclosure, and researcher interpretation may have shaped analysis despite reflexive procedures. The design was not intended to test demographic differences by gender, age, income, or education.

          

        
                  

            
Future Work

            
Use larger, more diverse samples across socioeconomic groups and regions; compare urban and rural youth; conduct longitudinal research on marital stability, trust, and conflict resolution; examine digital literacy and relationship competence; evaluate safety education and awareness interventions; study culturally responsive support from families, communities, and religious organizations; and assess platform identity verification, fraud detection, and reporting mechanisms.

          

              

    
    

        
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