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By Nellie Salmon
Reality television continues to spark debate about its impact on young people’s mental health.
With Love Island returning to UK screens on 1 June for its thirteenth season, concerns have been raised again about the influence shows like this can have on younger audiences.
It can be argued that programmes such as Love Island may contribute to rising levels of anxiety in young people by promoting unrealistic beauty ideals and presenting highly curated versions of romance and relationships.
Growing concerns about reality television have also been highlighted by Channel 4’s Married at First Sight. Three former brides recently told the BBC they had experienced rape and non-consensual sexual acts.
Ofcom Report
In the most recent season of Love Island: All stars, which aired in January 2026 it welcomed back past cast members to South Africa for another season of finding love. Instead, it received over 11,000 Ofcom complaints for alleged bullying with 8,594 from a singular episode.
Ofcom reported the most complained about episodes of 2025, in which Love Island appeared 5 times and Celebrity Big Brother once. They found that in 2025 three in ten complaints were regarding Love Island.
This raises the question, why has Love Island remained on air despite repeated controversy?
Love Island title card (2025). Copyright ITV.
Like most reality tv shows, Love Island has a large social media engagement, especially with viewers aged 16-34, implying that audience is mostly from Generation Z (people born between 1997-2012), who are most active on social media platforms.
Reality television remains highly attractive to advertisers because of its ability to draw large audiences and reach specific demographic groups.
Parliament in 2019 stopped the showing of all advertisement regarding cosmetic surgery while Love Island was aired because of its potential effects on young people.
The volume of Ofcom complaints, alongside concerns over advertising and contestant welfare, has led many viewers to question why the programme continues to be commissioned.
The effects of reality tv on young people
For many young people, content consumed online can create unrealistic expectations surrounding appearance, relationships and lifestyle, potentially contributing to anxiety, depression and low self-esteem.
Reality television may further contribute to these issues, as heavily edited programmes can blur the line between authentic behaviour and content designed primarily for entertainment and audience engagement.
Emma Cox, second year psychology student at the University of Chester said: “I think reality tv can be harmful especially for young people as they can compare themselves to what they see on screen. This can lead to body image issues and low self-esteem to match these unrealistic standards of celebrities that young people see on reality tv”.
Interview with Preeya Abidi-Fallows about reality television and the impacts on young people.
Duty of care
Contestants can also face significant challenges after appearing on reality television, including online abuse directed at both themselves and family members managing their social media accounts.
After being on a reality tv show there is a duty of care that must be taken for its contestants such as therapy and counselling with how to manage the media.
ITVs duty of care after Love Island involves a minimum of eight therapy sessions when returning home, proactive contact for 14 months, and social media and financial management training.
Women’s Aid
Women’s Aid has spoken out about Love Island most years, and the behaviour on the show.
Women’s Aid made this statement in 2021: “We urge the producers of Love Island to recognise coercive control when it is happening on the show, as this is not the first time it has happened. Producers should step in when any form of behaviour is abusive, as abuse should not be used for entertainment”.
This appeal from Women’s Aid hasn’t changed as in the 2025 season they published similar (see picture below).
Glamour magazine also commented about the 2025 season stating: “Love Island isn’t just a silly, fun, dating show anymore- it’s a mirror to a deeply unsettling cultural shift. I can’t put my concerns aside while watching it anymore, because it genuinely makes me feel afraid. I’m not saying, “all men”, but I’m absolutely saying too many of them”.
Video further discussing Women’s Aid appeal against Love Island.
Social Media Response
People took to social media in 2025 and responded to Women’s Aid post by saying “Could not agree anymore! Just axe Love Island now”, and “Money should be given to Women’s Aid and the series cancelled”.
Love Island and reality television will continue to have people tune in. However, if it can be classed as harmless entertainment or a contributer to wider concerns surrounding body image, relationships and mental wellbeing remains a debate far from settled.
