For India’s young adults, marriage is no longer the first priority as they prefer to take their time to learn who they are, what they want and what the world can offer. Although many still abide by traditional life milestones, some conventions are being broken when it comes to young people's romantic lives.

Cheap handsets and low mobile data costs have helped India become WhatsApp’s biggest market, boasting more than 200 million active users. Yet while many use it simply to message loved ones or colleagues, group chats are proving to be fertile ground for political content and ‘fake news’.

To counter feelings of isolation and anxiety in lockdown, some people are finding comfort in animals, leading to an uptick in pet adoptions. And for those without the time or space for a real furry friend, virtual pet adoptions are giving them a sense of purpose and responsibility that they can focus on.

For many couples, lockdown has put a strain on their relationship – almost half of Americans say it’s been tricky to keep the spark alive. Canvas8 spoke to Ximena Garcia-Rada, doctoral candidate at Harvard Business School, to learn how relationship rituals can act as powerful commitment tools.