Marriage has traditionally been seen as a milestone many young people aspire to achieve. However, content creator Sheryl Gabriella has ignited a lively online debate after admitting that the relationships she sees today no longer make her excited about getting married.
Her remarks, shared during a TikTok live session, quickly spread across social media, drawing hundreds of reactions from Kenyans with differing opinions on whether modern marriages still provide positive examples for young adults.
Sheryl clarified that she still believes marriage is a good institution, but said many of the relationships she observes leave her with more questions than confidence. According to her, public conversations around marriage are increasingly dominated by conflict, disappointment and broken relationships rather than companionship and stability.
During the live session, she remarked: “I know marriage is beautiful, but when I look at people in marriage, hata hamtupei motivation tena. Kama hizi ndio mko?”
Her comments resonated with many social media users, especially young adults who said they share similar concerns after repeatedly witnessing public breakups, domestic disputes and relationship controversies.
Some agreed with Sheryl, arguing that many couples today openly share their marital struggles online, making marriage appear more stressful than fulfilling. Others said the growing number of separations and public disagreements has naturally made some young people hesitant about taking the next step.
Several users, however, challenged her opinion. They argued that successful marriages rarely trend on social media because couples who are happy together often choose to keep their private lives away from public attention.
Others reminded her that marriage should not be judged by viral stories or celebrity relationships, saying every relationship is unique and built on different values, personalities and circumstances.
The discussion soon expanded beyond Sheryl’s remarks, with many Kenyans debating how social media has transformed expectations about love and family life. Some noted that previous generations largely learned about marriage from parents, relatives and community elders, while today’s generation is constantly exposed to online relationship content that often highlights conflict more than stability.
A section of users also encouraged young people to avoid making life decisions based solely on what they see online. They argued that healthy marriages still exist, even if they rarely attract public attention or become trending topics.