Love Island contestants may have their social media accounts taken away at some stage in the upcoming winter season and obtain “guidance and training around mutually respectful behavior in relationships” following 1000’s of complaints earlier this 12 months.
For the primary time within the present’s historical past, the ninth winter season will oblige the contestants to pause all exercise on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram and nothing shall be printed on their behalf.
Ordinarily, Islanders’ accounts are overseen by mates, kinfolk or PR professionals throughout their time within the villa, with a purpose to drum up assist and construct up their model.
“The bold decision to pause Islanders’ social media activity during the new series is testament to ITV’s serious intent, especially as this input provides both a benefit to the appeal of the programme and a potential source of mental health problems,” stated Dr Matthew Gould, a Psychologist who consults on the Lifted Entertainment present.
The “enhanced safeguards,” as described by Gould, additionally embody the contestants “receiving guidance and training around mutually respectful behaviour in relationships” previous to the beginning of the present. They may even be provided useful resource hyperlinks to assist them determine unfavourable behaviors in relationships and perceive patterns related to controlling and coercive habits.
While complaints to regulator Ofcom over Love Island have been markedly down this 12 months in comparison with 2021, they nonetheless got here in of their 1000’s for “alleged misogynistic and bullying behavior” directed at feminine contestants, whereas Women’s Aid contacted execs following a number of episodes during which points have been raised. One episode was the most-complained about of the 12 months with 2,630 individuals contacting Ofcom.
All different safeguards stay in place for the ITV leisure juggernaut together with measures introduced in final 12 months that see contributors provided video coaching and steerage protecting inclusive language round incapacity, sexuality, race and ethnicity, and microaggressions.
Prior to showing on the present, potential Islanders may even watch a video fronted by the present’s Executive Producer and Head of Welfare, interviewing former Islanders about their experiences on the present.
A string of aftercare measures see every Islander provided a minimal of eight remedy periods upon their return dwelling and producers contact them for 14 months after the collection.
The UK TV obligation of care reckoning was sparked in 2019 when a contestant who had appeared on an episode of the now-axed Jeremy Kyle Show dedicated suicide. Two Love Island contestants additionally dedicated suicide inside two years of showing on the present, Sophie Gradon in 2018 and Mike Thalassitis the next 12 months.
Taking place in South Africa, the ninth season is simply the second winter providing of the UK’s Love Island revival and displays the continued success of the present. It may even be the primary to be hosted by Maya Jama, who replaces Laura Whitmore.
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