Decades ago, marriage was rarely a union of two hearts; it was an alliance between families. Parents acted as matchmakers, ensuring their children married into families that would secure their social standing, political power, wealth, or lineage.

Young people were expected to accept decisions made on their behalf, bowing to tradition and duty.

“You will marry Kweku next month,” a father could declare to her daughter, and there was no debate, no hesitation.

Weddings were less about romance and more about alliances. Families came together not to celebrate love, but to cement bonds, exchange dowries, and preserve family heritage. Couples often entered marriage as strangers, expected to grow into love after vows were exchanged.

Divorce, rarely happened. A woman who leaves her husband was shamed, sometimes disowned,  and even branded as a disgrace to her family. Most couples endured unhappy unions silently, prioritizing family honor over individual happiness. Marriage was duty.

Freedom and Defiance

Fast forward to today, and the story has shifted dramatically. The obedient children of yesterday have given birth to Gen Z the rebels for love. They are no longer willing to sit quietly while their parents dictate their futures.

A daughter like Adjoa, when told to marry her father’s choice, is more likely to snap back:
“No father! If you don’t allow me to be with who I want, I’ll elope or worse.”

This is the heartbeat of modern love, self-expression, freedom of choice, and the courage to defy tradition.

Marriage is no longer a family arrangement; it begins with a click, a swipe, or a heart emoji. Today’s love often starts in Instagram and whatsapp DMs, TikTok comments, or late-night video calls with strangers across borders.

Love in the Age of Illusions

But this freedom comes with its own traps. Technology has created a culture of packaging and performance. Online, people don’t always present their true selves they project the life they want others to believe.

Some pose beside luxury cars that aren’t theirs. Others flaunt fake designer clothes as though they live plush lifes. Married men and women act single online, hiding partners and children. Some even juggle multiple relationships, each partner convinced they are the only one.

Precious, a university graduate, tells it plainly;
“I have two boyfriends, one in the UK who sends me money,  and one in my neighbourhood who gives me intimacy. Each of them thinks they’re my only partner.”

Her story captures the tangled web of deception, survival, and desire that defines many digital era relationships.

When Illusions Collapse

The danger of illusion-based love is that eventually, reality strikes. A woman realizes her rich boyfriend is broke. A man discovers his online sweetheart is already married. What begins as passion, filtered and curated, often unravels under the weight of truth.

The consequences can be devastating. Some young people enter into depression after betrayal. Others lash out in anger, leading to heartbreak or even violence. A few, sadly, resort to suicide when the fantasy shatters.

The Double-Edged Sword of Modern Love

To some, this is progress as the GEN Z are not shackled to loveless unions. They have reclaimed the right to choose and to love passionately. But this freedom also exposes them to manipulation, deception, and emotional turmoil. Love today is thrilling but fragile.

As one GEN Z put it:
“Love today is not just about romance. It’s about choosing for yourself, expressing who you are, and still trying to make it work.”

The Bottom Line

Love in this era is louder, free, and more dramatic than anything the past knew.  But it is also fragile, easily shaken when the illusion mask falls.

Whether it will lead to stronger marriages or more broken hearts, no one can say. One thing is certain the new phase of love is here, and it looks nothing like before.