The rise in infidelity is leading to an increase in criminal activities and ethical dilemmas in society. It calls for immediate attention and intervention

Marriage is one of the universal institutions in the world. It is found in every society. It was established by human society to control and regulate the sex life of individuals. Its basic function is to integrate individuals into society. It is enforced as a social rule in some societies. However, in recent times, this institution has been losing its significance due to various factors, especially the increasing trend of extra-marital affairs. While this trend is very low in rural areas, it is rising at an alarming rate in urban areas, largely due to increased internet access.
According to a recent survey by Gleeden, India’s first extra-marital dating application, about 55% of married Indians have been unfaithful to their partners at least once, of which 56% are women. Gleeden reported 740,000 new Indian subscribers in 2023, bringing its overall consumer base in India to 2.8 million. Interestingly, 48% of Indians believe it is possible to be in love with two people at the same time, while 46% think it is possible to cheat on someone while still being in love with them.
Social problems exist in every society. No society, whether in Europe or Asia, is perfect. These problems evolve over time due to various factors, as has happened in modern society. Whenever society changes its structure, its social problems also change. After the invention of the Internet, the structure of society changed, leading to new relationships. This phenomenon is referred to as the Network Society by sociologist Manuel Castells. The Internet has made it easy for people to communicate with each other without hindrances through various social media platforms. The communication gap has been significantly reduced. Extra-marital affairs exist in every society, whether religious or secular, but their increasing rate is not a good sign for a balanced society. They give rise to other criminal activities such as murder. The Madras court has expressed concern over this trend. According to an NCRB report, love affairs are the third-largest motive for murders in metro cities. This is why various institutions, including the Madras High Court, have labelled extra-marital affairs a contributing social evil in crime.
Several factors are responsible for this social problem. From a sociological perspective, one of the main factors is the gap between material and non-material culture, referred to as Cultural Lag, a concept introduced by sociologist William Ogburn in 1922. In every society, material culture has advanced significantly. Everyone is accessing technology without understanding its limits and negative impacts. On the other hand, non-material culture (morals, values, religions), which is the most basic and influential factor of social control, is not growing or being transmitted among individuals at the same rate. This creates a gap between material and non-material culture, leading to moral and ethical dilemmas and a rise in social conflict, which we are witnessing in these post-modern times.
One major part of material culture is the Internet, which has created different platforms like YouTube, Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram, LinkedIn, Snapchat, and porn websites. People watch videos and pictures on these platforms, which impacts their consciousness in the long run. They compare their own culture with the cultures they see online, leading to high expectations that are not possible to fulfill within their own culture. These online cultures are often utopian and not reflective of reality. This creates a gap between expectations and realizations, leading individuals to seek other partners despite having one. To settle with that partner, individuals may commit crimes, creating an anomic situation in society, as seen in cases like the Zaloora Sopore murder case (2024) and the case of Riyaz Ahmad Mir from Baramulla (2024), where spouses were accused of killing their partners with the help of their lovers.
At the family level, a culture exists in almost every society where people aim to look more attractive, particularly when attending parties, ceremonies, or public gatherings. This tradition is followed by both men and women. While there is nothing inherently good or bad in society—it’s all about culture—this type of culture can exacerbate extra-marital affairs. Yes, individuals should remain neat and clean outside the home, but a culture that encourages looking attractive at home can create more solidarity and satisfaction between partners, both biologically and socially since home is where they encounter each other most.
Some societies and countries consider infidelity a crime, while others regard it as a taboo. However, it needs immediate attention because it leads to other heinous social problems like murder and the killing of children. No social problem can be eliminated from society, but it can be minimized. Institutions like religion, education, and family can play a significant role in reducing its prevalence.

The writer teaches sociology at the college level and can be reached at [email protected]

Adil Hussain Bhat