A new season of Love Island, now hosted by Maya Jama, has sparked some controversy recently. Producers announced that, unlike previous seasons, Islanders will no longer be allowed to have a social media presence during their time on the show.
Their statement reads: “As part of extended measures to protect both the Islanders and their families from the adverse effects of social media, participants will be asked to pause handles and accounts on their social media platforms for the duration of their time on the show.”
Since 2015, Love Island has cast the sexiest group of singles in the UK looking for love and fun in the sun. Although phones are banned in the villa, contestants were allowed to grant family and friends access to their social media accounts to publish on their behalf. However, Love Island producers have imposed a strict ban on social media usage this season nine. With the life-changing opportunity of social media, will this ban stop hotter, sexier contestants from entering the villa in the future?
Bums galore, sexual tensions and a social media ban
First, it’s important to understand why the ban was implemented. Love Island contestants are known for their heavy social media presence during and after the show. Although Love Island does not compensate participants, many islanders have found viral success on social media, leading to lavish brand collaborations and sometimes even life-changing careers. The most notable being season five’s runner-up, Molly Mae, who went on to become Pretty Little Thing’s Creative Director.
However, this constant online presence has led to some serious consequences for contestants, including bullying and harassment online, and mental health issues. The producers of Love Island have now taken duty of care measures to mitigate these risks by enforcing a social media ban.
So, what exactly does this ban entail? Contestants will not be allowed to have an active presence on any social media platforms, including Instagram, Twitter and TikTok, during their entirety on the show. Their accounts will not be able to post updates or interact with followers in real time.
It’s a move to safeguard everyone’s mental health
For many contestants, this ban will likely come as a shock. Social media has become an integral part of reality TV and many participants rely on it to keep in touch with their fans and build their brands. However, this ban may also serve as a much-needed break from the constant pressure young people face to maintain a presence online.
Love Island’s executive producers understand the adverse effects of social media. From a production perspective, the ban may also have some benefits. By restricting social media usage, producers can better control the narrative of the show. Additionally, it will allow contestants to fully immerse themselves in the experience, rather than constantly worrying about how their online presence is being portrayed back home.
Following the passing of season two’s contestant Sophie Gradon in 2019 and season three’s Mike Thalassitis in 2019, producers implemented a 14-month-long ‘proactive aftercare package’, which includes eight sessions with a therapist and receiving guidance and training around mutually respectful behaviour in relationships.
Season six winners, Finn Tapp and Paige Turley praise the show’s new social media ban saying, “what I found was that it’s your family on the outside who are seeing all the commotion and what everyone is saying online, and they’re being left on cliffhangers with the show too. So our families had more of a rollercoaster than us with it.”
But what about the bag?
While some past contestants are praising the ban on social media, fans are less than enthusiastic about the new rule change. Many fans say while they appreciate the commitment to pause Islanders’ social media activity during the new series, they would much rather build a relationship with contestants before the season’s inevitable ending. This can be seen from current Islanders already having a much lower following than their predecessors during their seasons.
While the ban may help Islanders in establishing healthy relationships once they return online, what will come of future Islanders’ post-production without an established relationship with fans during their time on the show?
Love Island’s social media ban is a bold move that could have far-reaching consequences for both the contestants and the show as a whole. While it may be a difficult adjustment for some, the ban is a necessary step towards promoting a healthier online environment for contestants and ensuring that the focus remains on the show itself. Whether the ban proves to be a success or not remains to be seen, but one thing is for certain – Love Island will never be the same again.
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Written by Lindsay Francois
Illustrated by Francesca Mariama
