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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

'Reality' TV shows

7 replies

tootiredtoocare · 24/04/2022 23:33

A friend commented that she and her daughter (aged 14) were waiting desperately for the next series of Love Island. I said I'd never allowed my DD (now 22) to watch it at home, it was banned in our house. I've watched a couple of episodes. It seems to me that it's basically televised prostitution. These young people are being paid to shag each other on prime time TV (and don't tell me that's not the desired outcome - of course that's what the producers are hoping for). I'm really not a prude and we have discussions in our home about sex and relationships. I have never judged or defined a person based on how many people they have sex with, we don't use insults based upon that in our house either, I won't tolerate terms like 'slut' or 'slag'. At the same time though, I have had a lot of discussions with both DD and DS about respecting both their own and their partner's boundaries and that rushing into sexual activity when they were very young wasn't necessarily best for their mental or physical health. I think it makes it really difficult to teach them about healthy sexual relationships when TV shows like this glorify sex for material gain. AIBU or am I more of a prude than I like to think?

OP posts:
worraliberty · 24/04/2022 23:41

Perhaps your friend knows it'd be virtually impossible to stop her 14 year old watching it, so the next best thing is to watch it with her. That way she can discuss and reinforce most of what you've said?

Seabreeze18 · 25/04/2022 06:31

Actually in love island they have very strict rules and it’s unlikely u will see any sex! But it may be useful to see how people work in relationships, the ups and downs.

palmplantcirca1980s · 25/04/2022 06:42

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Shoxfordian · 25/04/2022 06:49

There really isn’t that much full sex in love island so yabu. It can also be really helpful in spotting red flags and unhealthy relationship dynamics which you can discuss

fairylightsandwaxmelts · 25/04/2022 07:04

I've never understood banning TV shows like that.

At fourteen, she'll find a way to watch it anyway so it's much better to have a parent there who can answer any questions and point out any potential red flags or problems that the teenager may not otherwise notice.

So I'm going to say YABU.

ShirleyPhallus · 25/04/2022 07:08

I certainly don’t think it’s “televised prostitution”, but I do find it sad the number of people that watch this crap and basically make celebrities out of people who have absolutely no discernible talent.

its a terrible example to set to our children that you don’t need to work hard but can just go on a mindless reality tv show and take your kit off to become famous and wealthy. I’d much rather these shows were off the tv and we focused on stuff of some intellect

tootiredtoocare · 25/04/2022 07:27

@palmplantcirca1980s She's 22 now, but I didn't allow it from the day it started. She may have watched it elsewhere or even in her room, but she knew how I felt about it and why.

@ShirleyPhallus There's that too. I've always shown her how easy it is to photoshop 'perfection' and the IG fake of the perfect life.

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