The Family: An important social construct

    As humans, we are born into a family. Our typical family includes our mom, dad, and siblings. We might know of many who are celebrating their marriages. Although, fewer Americans are getting married. According to the 2015 census bureau, the median American bride was 28 years old. Meanwhile, the median groom was almost 30. There are many different factors that are affecting these trends. I am going to focus on one: media platforms. Social media platforms have changed the way individuals talk and meet each other. Different data has shown that the use of social media has had a negative effect on marriages and or romantic relationships. Many couples can experience jealousy and infidelity and this can lead to divorce. On the other hand, more than one-third of marriages in the United States have begun through Facebook or dating websites/apps. 

    Today, we see marriage norms and values drastically change. A recent survey conducted by the Pew Research Center found that 50% of individuals resonated with the following statement: Society is just as well of if people have priorities other than marriage and children.

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