Love Island blew up this summer as THE reality TV show to watch. With a new episode almost every night, audience members were fed new content daily and were quick to bring their thoughts online. But what are the ethical ramifications of this show’s intense following, especially surrounding the parasocial relationships developed? Are we complicit in the destruction of the stars’ lives via social media participation?
To start, Love Island is a show in which strangers, chosen for their conventional attractiveness, spend a summer at a resort “coupling-up” with each other until they find “love.” Cast members can be voted off and pairs rearranged by watchers and cast members. In the end, the winning couple receives a cash prize, which is either split evenly or taken completely by one partner.
Throughout the show, the couples are encouraged to explore new romantic connections by competing in drama-filled, raunchy challenges. In response to how cast members performed in challenges and handled interpersonal conflicts this summer, online discourse about the show quickly turned hostile.
One cast member, Huda Mustafa was labeled by viewers as crazy, bipolar and possessive across social media platforms. Hate comments grew into action as viewers made cruel edits of Mustafa’s worst moments, voiced how they wanted her off the show and even called Child Protective Services on her young child.
This kind of hatred has found new power and destruction in the body of social media. Whereas in the early seasons of shows like the Bachelor, it was still easy to hate on the stars from the comfort of your living room, death threats and life interference after the show are a new development.
Now, no one is safe. Every reality TV participant is susceptible to the adverse effects of social media on their daily lives. While some may take advantage of this factor, using the public platform to gain followers online, others unintentionally fall victim to cancel culture.
Love Island cast member Cierra Ortega had a large social media following before going on the show. Thanks to her friend managing her social accounts while she was away and her initial status as a fan favorite, her follower count only continued to rise over the course of the summer. That is until her digital footprint revealed she had been continuously using a slur propagating Asian hate and she was promptly sent home.
Immediately, she experienced death threats, mass unfollowing and interference in her personal life, including her parents being reported to ICE.
The result of many people developing parasocial relationships, one-sided, unreciprocated connection with a public figure, is a sense of entitlement over what happens in the cast members’ lives during and after their time on the show. This feeling of entitlement coupled with the power social media provides through access to information and anonymity is a very dangerous combination.
In a society of growing technology, what takes someone a minute to post behind the screen could be the difference between life and death. Three people from Love Island alone have taken their own lives due to cyber bullying and online hate. Therefore, it is imperative that technology users consider how their online behaviors can negatively impact strangers’ lives.
Reality TV shows are a great opportunity for dating experiments, glimpses into people’s daily lives, and good entertainment. However, increased accessibility to peoples’ lives via social media apps and the feeling of entitlement as a result of parasocial relationships between the public and cast members can lead to a dangerous environment for participants post-show. It is vital to practice media safety and consideration in an increasingly digital world, acting with empathy and understanding both in front of and behind our screens.
