Amanda Parrish
Staff Writer
Have reality TV dating shows gone too far? I am sure we have all seen at least one reality TV dating show. From “The Bachelor” to “Love Island,” ‘Perfect Match,” etc. These types of shows tend to have high audience ratings. The question is why? Gen-Z loves these types of shows because they keep them on their toes and it allows them to be actively engaged in how the show will end.
The drama in these shows is something nobody wants to miss out on. The recent season of “Love Island” had everyone talking. The winning couple split up not even a month later and one of the top four contestants got cheated on. These shows have started to cast influencers as their cast members, which makes it harder to decipher if these people are truly in it for love or for fame.
“This season of Love Island felt completely different than the seasons before. It seemed as if the contestants were more calculated as well, trying to promote themselves rather than form a connection. I truly thought it was a chaotic and self-centered season,” said Senior Ashley Boyer. Throughout the season, you could quickly tell who the least favorite and favorite couple contestants were.
The show had slowly shifted from “Love Island” to the “Favorites Island.” People were starting to vote for one person, no matter who they were coupled up with, due to them wanting a specific person to win. With the rise of social media and influencer culture, it has allowed the votes to be skewed in the contestants with more of a following.
This shift in viewer behavior is what leads us to the question: Are these shows truly about finding a connection or are they building a person’s career? In previous seasons of “Love Island,” you could tell the cast was genuine and there for good reasons.
Meanwhile, viewers watching this season had quite a lot to say. Fans were beginning to think it was about alliances and social media clout.
“It feels like the show is deviating from its original purpose, to find love and turning more into a strategy game of chasing followers rather than genuine connections like participants claim,” Senior Lily Soukup said.
Obviously, if fans are starting to catch on to this fact, wouldn’t you think maybe it’s time to change the narrative? For instance, in the earlier seasons of “Love Island” or “The Bachelor,” the winning couples stay together for a long time.
This is because back before social media had taken over, the contestants were real people who wanted to find a genuine life partner. Now, social media influencers have found their way onto reality television, claiming to look for love. But later, fans go on to find out it’s simply for money or fame.
“Bachelor in Paradise” stars have made TikToks joking about being coupled up solely for the prize money, even though they are only friends. So, yes, fans love to watch these reality television dating shows for the plot, but at the end of the day, the answer to whether they will genuinely go on to find their life partner is a little harder to define.
Some couples are still going strong which goes to show that you can truly find your person. The question is up to you to decide on whether these dating shows are growing old or are still capturing viewers’ attention with drama and entertainment.
