Reality TV has been around for years… 80 to be exact, and has become popular for its ability to expose real human experiences while providing viewers with a low-risk form of escapism from their daily routines.
But there is a dark side to this content. Particularly on the dating show Love Island.
Care to find out why? Read on, writes Film News Blitz’s Priya O’Reilly.
Background on reality TV
The first-ever reality TV show was released in 1948 and was titled Candid Camera.
It was a comedy series that used hidden cameras to capture ordinary people reacting to bizarre, surreal, or funny practical jokes before revealing the set-up with the famous catchphrase ‘Smile, you’re on Candid Camera’.
The show was exceptionally popular, ranking as a top 10 prime-time show and hitting #2 overall in 1963.
Since that point, thousands of Reality TV shows have been produced worldwide, and it is stated that around 70-80% of the adult population tune in.
For the UK version of Love Island, it is stated to bring in 10 million pounds per series.
The controversy
While Reality TV is very clearly in demand, it may not be all that wonderful.
Many have stated that Reality TV can be unhealthy for viewers due to its “fake drama, toxic behaviour and exploitation of cast members.”
Love Island, a popular dating show, has faced heavy criticism for what the BBC stated is “contestant mental health tragedies, reported instances of misogynistic and controlling behaviour and a historic lack of body and racial diversity.”
The show initially featured celebrities as the contestants in 2005 but was revamped with ordinary civilians in 2015, and has since spanned 13 seasons.
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Three cast members have unfortunately taken their lives across the duration of the show. This includes Caroline Flack, the former host and two contestants, Sophie Gradon and Mike Thalassitis.
The show has since been stated to put “severe mental health pressures on contestants from sudden fame”. Many of them, since leaving, have been subjected to severe social media abuse, trolling and intense public judgement.
A Cosmopolitan video featuring Love Island contestants sharing their thoughts on the villa experience argued that the “environment inherently risks psychological well-being” despite ITV updating their protocols to provide more mental health support.
Furthermore, an analysis from the U.S. National Library of Medicine explains complaints towards the show for allowing the normalisation of toxic relationship dynamics.
This can include dynamics such as gaslighting, manipulation, possessiveness and verbal conflicts disguised as entertaining drama.
For younger audiences viewing this content, it risks them learning this as a standard for relationships.
Is reality TV worth the risks?
While Reality TV is definitely entertaining, it proves to be a cause of concern for a multitude of problems.
From severe mental health problems to the romanticisation of dangerous, toxic relationship dynamics, should people even be watching?
So before you get settled in for the night and tune into Love Island, maybe consider if it is truly worth your time.
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