New Phenomenon in Algeria: Special Teams Preventing Wedding Photography

Algeria has recently witnessed a new phenomenon related to weddings, where teams of young men and women have been established to prevent the capture of photos and videos during wedding ceremonies. This comes after the repeated spread of leaked videos and photos on social media platforms, especially TikTok, which include scenes that violate the privacy of the newlyweds and their families.

Every summer season, videos and photos of family weddings spread on social media showing the newlyweds in personal situations that may cause embarrassment and sometimes lead to conflicts between families and guests who capture these videos without permission.

Mourad Bouchebba, a wedding photographer with 18 years of experience, says that the proliferation of smartphones and social media platforms has increased the need to control photography during weddings. She explains that guests often intentionally or unintentionally share photos and videos, threatening the family's privacy and discouraging professional photographers who maintain the confidentiality of their clients' photos.

Mourad added that she has established specialized teams to prevent random photography at weddings, enlisting young men and women to carry out this task for a nominal fee equivalent to what they would earn for photography. The aim is to protect the privacy of the newlyweds and their families.

On the other hand, social expert Abdelhafid Sandouqi confirmed that weddings in Algeria remain private family events despite the large attendance, and there are red lines that families do not allow to be crossed, especially regarding the dissemination of photos or videos without permission.

Sandouqi emphasized the importance of respecting family privacy, pointing out that live streaming weddings on platforms like TikTok without consent can cause significant problems even between the spouses themselves. Therefore, families have the right to appoint teams to prevent photography to preserve their dignity and privacy.

This new initiative reflects a growing awareness of the importance of privacy in Algerian society amidst the widespread use of social media platforms, which have become a challenge to the customs and traditions of the community.