Page 3 | To not let DD (13) watch Love Island

ChocolatewithWine · 2023-01-22T19:00:09+00:00

She keeps asking to watch it, she kept asking last year as well. DH thinks she’s ok to watch it but I disagree, AIBU? I’ve never watched it so don’t know what it’s like really. I just think that 13 is a bit young for something like Love Island, this is only based on the little that I know about it though.

BritainsGotTalons · 22/01/2023 19:59

Mummyoflittledragon · 22/01/2023 19:36

Agreed. Half of all 11 to 13 year olds have encountered porn.

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May as well give up then. 🙄

I suppose if my kids had ever wanted to watch it as young teens, I’d have watched it with them and discussed issues as they happened so that’s what I’d do in OPs position. At least then she can talk about it at school to fit in, if that’s the issue, but you can try to ensure she knows the show is full of superficial crap and she should value herself more. It’s a lesson in things to avoid in life. If she’s hanging around with kids that are impressed with the people in the show, I’d want to put a more sensible take on it.

AlwaysCountYourPennies · 22/01/2023 20:00

I watched it with my dd at that age... It led to many really good discussion about sex, influencers, bidy image etc

I wouldn't havw let her watch it alone.

Viviennemary · 22/01/2023 20:01

I've never seen it. But if she wants to watch it let her. Just builds resentment if you stsrt censoring.m

IheardYouButDontWantToAnswer · 22/01/2023 20:01

It's crap. It's false, shallow and ridiculous. Totally unsuitable for a child to watch

Newmum0322 · 22/01/2023 20:01

Like everyone has said it is shite… but all her friends are probably watching it and talking about it. If you have genuine concerns then that’s fair, but maybe at least watch it and make an informed decision. It’s a few episodes in I think so watch them and see if you still think it’s inappropriate.

Inastatus · 22/01/2023 20:02

My DD and I have watched it together since she was that age. I’ve found it a great source for sparking discussion about all the issues that come up in the series - the relationships between the boys and the girls, the sex (yes, 13 year olds know about sex), the bitchiness, the make-up. She is 18 now and we have just started watching the new series.

ThreeblackCats · 22/01/2023 20:02

Let her watch it but be there to explain why nobody should be codependent, desperate or a tart just for the sake of a quickie!
no man is worth heartbreak etc.

Newmum0322 · 22/01/2023 20:02

AlwaysCountYourPennies · 22/01/2023 20:00

I watched it with my dd at that age... It led to many really good discussion about sex, influencers, bidy image etc

I wouldn't havw let her watch it alone.

This is a really good idea!

Legotiger · 22/01/2023 20:02

If that’s the kind of people you want her to hero-worship and emulate, let her watch. If you want her to have higher aspirations, watch something else!

Shoemadlady · 22/01/2023 20:03

I wouldn't want my 13 dad to think that filler, lip filler, Botox etc are normal at 21! I think LI totally normalises unread list of body ideas and for that reason I'd not let her watch it

EarringsandLipstick · 22/01/2023 20:03

My 13 & 11 yo DS are obsessed with it; they aren't allowed watch it but have done so at times behind my back.

I am clear why I don't like it, what my issues with it were. Even when they didn't watch it, they gleaned the main aspects from YouTube shorts etc

I think overall it's fine to let her watch it, once the relevant conversations have been had, your viewpoint expressed etc

Newnamenewname109870 · 22/01/2023 20:03

It’s possible some of the more explicit stuff may go over her head, but I don’t know. You are very vulnerable at that age and could give her horribly unrealistic ideas about her body and dating. I’d watch it with her tbh. As then you can see how she finds it and talk about the issues with it. She will see clips at school anyway.

EarringsandLipstick · 22/01/2023 20:04

EarringsandLipstick · 22/01/2023 20:03

My 13 & 11 yo DS are obsessed with it; they aren't allowed watch it but have done so at times behind my back.

I am clear why I don't like it, what my issues with it were. Even when they didn't watch it, they gleaned the main aspects from YouTube shorts etc

I think overall it's fine to let her watch it, once the relevant conversations have been had, your viewpoint expressed etc

Oh, I hate it, I should add. I think it's the dregs of TV, and is so problematic in terms of attitudes to women, bodily appearance etc

porpy · 22/01/2023 20:04

Mumdiva99 · 22/01/2023 19:25

Because they discuss what they did or didn't do the night before and when they go off to the 'love shack' etc.

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Tbf they generally talk in innuendos about what they’ve been up to sexually, I remember one year it was passing ‘NVQ level 1, 2 or 3’, nothing outright sexually explicit was said at all.

That said I’m not sure how I’d perceive the show as a 13/14-year-old. I watched the last few series and enjoyed the mumsnet chat/Twitter/memes (probably more than the actual content!) but I can’t be bothered with watching this year. I watched a reality show recently called Traitors on BBC and it made me realise how much I miss the older reality TV stuff with less obviously scripted stuff, people of different ages/sizes/occupations.

Love Island is so incredibly false and scripted and it’s got to the point where it really puts me off and I love a bit of crap TV. Particularly annoying when every year it materialises so many of the contestants already know each other and mix in the same circles. I worked with 16/17-year-olds and they always seem very surprised when I mention this and the scripted reality elements, I think some teens really lap it all up and see it as 100% real, so I’d only watch it together to explain these things.

BritainsGotTalons · 22/01/2023 20:06

Inastatus · 22/01/2023 20:02

My DD and I have watched it together since she was that age. I’ve found it a great source for sparking discussion about all the issues that come up in the series - the relationships between the boys and the girls, the sex (yes, 13 year olds know about sex), the bitchiness, the make-up. She is 18 now and we have just started watching the new series.

Best if you can discuss those issues before a series like Love Island though and these sorts of conversations need to start much younger than 13.

Aworldofmyown · 22/01/2023 20:06

I do not understand why everyone thinks the programme is OK. We talk about Instagram and previously magazines creating unachievable body images then go mad over a programme where the only prerequisite is to be 'Love Island Beautiful'. My 13 year old won't be watching it.

LottoLaura · 22/01/2023 20:11

Newnamenewname109870 · 22/01/2023 20:03

It’s possible some of the more explicit stuff may go over her head, but I don’t know. You are very vulnerable at that age and could give her horribly unrealistic ideas about her body and dating. I’d watch it with her tbh. As then you can see how she finds it and talk about the issues with it. She will see clips at school anyway.

What explicit stuff?

She is 13, most likely hears about peers giving blowjobs at school, why would anything go over her head? 13, not 3

Flapjackquack · 22/01/2023 20:13

Aworldofmyown · 22/01/2023 20:06

I do not understand why everyone thinks the programme is OK. We talk about Instagram and previously magazines creating unachievable body images then go mad over a programme where the only prerequisite is to be 'Love Island Beautiful'. My 13 year old won't be watching it.

I don’t think people on here think it’s ok at all. It is about acknowledging that in the age of smartphones and the internet, you can’t shield your child completely, so instead of making it a taboo and something they will watch behind your back, you turn it into a learning experience and use it as a tool to discuss issues around relationships and body issues. I wish my parents had done this with me.

madeyemoody · 22/01/2023 20:13

Way too explicit and the premise that women exist to make men happy and sexually satisfy men is basically the premise of the show. The show is vile.

LottoLaura · 22/01/2023 20:16

madeyemoody · 22/01/2023 20:13

Way too explicit and the premise that women exist to make men happy and sexually satisfy men is basically the premise of the show. The show is vile.

Tell me you haven’t watched love island without telling me you haven’t watched love island

QueSyrahSyrah · 22/01/2023 20:18

Honestly I would let her, but watch it with her and use it to open conversations about what is and isn't healthy behaviour / reality / normal.

QueSyrahSyrah · 22/01/2023 20:19

(I was watching Eurotrash secretly about that age, which was far more explicit than Love Island!)

Ludo19 · 22/01/2023 20:20

By all means let her watch it. The average par for every contestant is having the morals of an alley cat. Life lesson right there.

PicklesAndTequila · 22/01/2023 20:22

QueSyrahSyrah · 22/01/2023 20:19

(I was watching Eurotrash secretly about that age, which was far more explicit than Love Island!)

Same, and The Word.

WhoNeedsSleepNotISaidMyBody · 22/01/2023 20:22

thirdtimeluckyorwhat · 22/01/2023 19:20

She will just watch it at her friends houses if you don't allow it. She's 13 not 3

I'd let a 3 year old watch it before I let a 13yo watch it. The 3 year old would just see bright colours and a swimming pool, fun fun fun.

the 23 yo would be absorbing the body image bullshit, misogyny, bed hopping & completely dreadful behaviour from both sexes about both sexes.

it's virtually impossible to stop teenagers watching something they're determined to watch these days.

I can't stomach the show, but if she's determined to watch it, I'd watch it with her. At least then you can have some input into how she views it. How unhealthy their outlooks are and the fact they're as shallow as a puddle. How fake it is.

urghhhhhh. It's grim.