Fiona Yassin, founder and clinical director of The Wave Clinic, says: “Reality TV is one of the least real things on TV and it’s really important young people understand that. Love Island is a show that’s designed and produced for entertainment, not to portray reality. The danger is that these types of shows can give young people a false and unrealistic expectation of what their bodies and their lives should look like. It is completely unattainable for the majority and fuels anxiety, dissatisfaction, and insecurity.”

As Love Island continues, Yassin urges parents and carers to check in with younger viewers, who may be struggling with negative emotions as a result of comparing themselves to the Love Island contestants. 

“Spending two months in swimwear with the intention of engaging in as many flirty, banterful or sexual encounters as possible, is not, and will never be, the reality for most young people. Whilst this may sound obvious to adults, it may not be something that children or young people are able to grasp. It’s important to know that young brains continue developing until around the age of 26, which can impact rational thinking.

“We know that comparison, particularly to body shape and size, is a thief of fun and joy. I urge parents and carers to look out for signs that their young person is struggling with negative emotions such as insecurity, inadequacy, and low self-esteem as a result of comparing themselves to the contestants on Love Island.”

Love Island and its impact on body image

A survey by the Mental Health Foundation showed that almost a quarter of 18–24-year-olds say reality TV makes them worry about their body image. The same survey found that 23% of 18–24-year-olds have experienced suicidal thoughts and feelings because of concerns in relation to their body image.

“Many ‘reality’ shows, including Love Island, play into societal ideals of beauty and body image. The competitive nature of Love Island often promotes the idea that someone’s worth, likeability or value is skin-deep. 

“Every year, Love Island producers have an opportunity to build a show which celebrates diversity in body shape and size, and every year, they fail. So long as the media and influencers create content that reinforces unrealistic ideals, young people will continue to have a polarised view of body image.”

Yassin urges parents to look out for warning signs that their young person is struggling with body image: “The first visible sign of eating disorders and body disorders is usually dieting, with the intention of reaching a perceived body ideal. Parents and carers should also listen out for young people saying they are too fat, not attractive, or comparing their body in any way to someone else. It’s really important we teach young people that their value does not come from beauty or body image.”

How to protect young people from the dangers of reality TV

Yassin has shared five ways parents can help protect their young people from the dangers of reality TV:

1. Explain that reality TV is not reality. Despite its name, reality TV is actually not reality at all, and it does not represent most people’s lives, especially the lives of your young people. It’s really important for young people to understand that many reality TV shows are designed to be entertaining, with the intention of drawing as many viewers as possible. Sadly, they rarely represent the reality of our diverse societies and bodies.
2. Do not comment on body shape and size. Avoid commenting on or talking negatively about your child’s body shape and size. When parents make comments on a child’s appearance, whether that’s telling them they would look better in something else, or that a body part is too big or too small, what they’re really saying to the child is that they are not okay as they are. It’s also important that your child does not hear you talking about your own body in a negative way.
3. Give them positive validation about who they are as a person. If your child or young person is someone who focuses on body shape and size, give them positive validations about their personal qualities and avoid any validations that are related to their body or appearance. It could be that you validate them for being the most helpful in the house or praise them for being kind and considerate to their siblings.
4. Put boundaries in place around reality TV. If you’re worried about the impact Love Island, or any other reality TV show, is having on your child, it’s okay to respectfully ban it from your home. Reality TV is not fitting for every family and if it’s not something you want your child to engage in, reclaim your parental stance and put a boundary in place around it. It may help to explain to your child that you do not value people as whole people and instead focus on the importance of appearance. Do not sit with your family’s values.
5. Get professional support from a mental health expert. It’s important we promote nurturing acceptance in our young people and ourselves. If you think your child or young person is struggling with body image issues or is showing signs of an eating disorder or another body-related disorder, seek the help of your GP or a qualified mental health professional. Such disorders can be very complex and often require the assistance of a psychiatrist and mental health team.