Rabeeca Khan’s wedding wasn’t just a family affair; it was a years-long online event. Every step, from the mehndi and qawwali nights to the June nikah, barat, and walima, played out in front of an audience. Local media kept up with the endless stream of photoshoots and the internet’s wild reactions each time something new dropped.
It’s a pattern we know by now. Each outfit change, every fancy backdrop, all those carefully choreographed moments, they turned into viral clips and fresh headlines. Even a car fire outside one event sparked a whole new wave of attention, with critics piling on about just how long these celebrations dragged on compared to old-school traditions. Lots of people complained that weddings like these have stopped being private moments and turned into public entertainment, made for consumption rather than connection.
But really, this isn’t just about one influencer. Rabeeca’s wedding puts the whole system on display: the longer you keep people watching, the more valuable your brand becomes. Every post, every paid collab, every share gets you more reach, and more reach means more business. Entertainment sites and reviewers jumped in to point out how the couple’s big followings sent coverage into overdrive.
It’s not just about the hype, though. The deeper costs sneak up on us. Study after study shows that when young people see these sparkling, expensive celebrations online, it messes with their sense of self. They start to compare, to feel envy, to believe their own lives don’t measure up. The more they see these polished “norms,” the wider the gap between real life and what’s online, and the more anxiety and insecurity grow.
How staged weddings feed inferiority in youth
They push a narrow idea of success. These influencer weddings set a shiny, unrealistic standard for what a “perfect” celebration looks like. Teens and young adults start thinking this is the only way to do it. When their own families can’t match it, it feels like a personal failure.
They sell aspiration. This culture turns dreams into dollars. The more dazzling the event, the more desire it stirs up and the more pressure people feel to copy it, even if it means stretching their budgets or feeling guilty when they can’t.
They fake normalcy. All the short videos and curated photos make it seem like these over-the-top parties are just how life works. Viewers forget these are rare, staged productions, not everyday reality, and that fuels even more comparison and anxiety. Rabeeca Khan’s father claims that his daughter’s wedding will be more extravagant than Ambani’s son’s wedding. This builds up an inferiority complex among youth and young couples.
They pay attention to the prize. Influencers get their validation from views, likes, and trending posts. For young followers, attention starts to look like the only thing that matters. If your own family event isn’t public or popular, it suddenly feels less important.
What the evidence suggests for policy and practice
Public health experts say we need to treat heavy social media use as a real risk to young people’s well-being, not just harmless fun. That means changing the way platforms work, being clear about ads, and teaching media literacy so kids can see that a lot of what’s online is staged, not real life. Parents, teachers, and influencers themselves can help by talking openly about these issues and by celebrating more private, down-to-earth moments.
However, a few celebrities and influencers are breaking the so-called built tradition of an expansive wedding by separating work life from private moments of love and joy to maintain the serenity of such a beautiful bond between the married couple. For instance, Actor Ahmed Ali Akbar married Maham Batool in an intimate setting, celebrating their happiness among people they love and not for the digital fame.
A few constructive steps
- Creators should be upfront about what’s staged or sponsored. If something’s made for content, say so, it helps keep the illusion in check.
- Teachers need to teach kids about social comparison. When students understand why they compare themselves and how curated online lives really work, it hurts less.
- Families can set their own traditions and boundaries. Celebrating what’s real, not what’s showy, lets kids know their worth isn’t tied to outside approval.
- Platforms and regulators should make ads clearer and rethink how much targeted content minors see. The way these platforms work fuels comparison, so they need to take some responsibility.
At the end of the day, Rabeeca Khan’s wedding is just one example of a bigger shift. Personal milestones are now content, and that change comes with both business logic and real mental health consequences. More and more, young people measure their worth by what they see online. Fixing the harms will take a mix of honest creators, smarter media education, better platform rules, and a cultural reset about what actually matters in life. The real question isn’t whether this shift is happening; it’s what we’re going to do about it.
