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No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms. Love Island, a UK reality TV programme, was watched in by over 3 million viewers, a majority of whom are young women aged 16β34, though a younger teenage demographic also watch.
Many of these younger viewers may be learning about what healthy relationships are like, and entering their first romantic relationships. Based on our experience of running a relationship education program in 24 schools, as part of the Tender national partnership and our research with young people on their perceptions of Love Island, the paper will examine the role reality TV programmes play in young people's understandings of healthy relationships.
It argues representations of relationships on Love Island are framed within normative heterosexuality, and enables the normalization of emotional abuse. However, we also argue that these programmes can be a catalyst for discussion amongst young people and open up spaces, especially online, to challenge dominant constructions of relationships. It also makes recommendations for education policy and practice around relationship and sex education in schools. Keywords: reality TV, domestic abuse, young people, gaslighting, relationship education.
The viewing is both gendered and generational. The series 3 of Love Island attracted more than half However, a younger audience also watches, with evidence of primary school children aged 8β11 viewing the post watershed programme BBC News, b.
