How to Watch Love Island with Your Kids: Expert Advice from a Psychologist
Educational Psychologist Dr Ahmar Ferguson shares tips for guiding teens through reality TV, promoting media literacy, and navigating comparison culture.
With Love Island back on screens for another season, parents may be asking: “Can my teens watch this? And if so, how should I handle it?” Educational Psychologist Dr Ahmar Ferguson says the key isn’t simply whether it’s “good” or “bad,” but how teens are making sense of what they see.
“Shows like Love Island are generally more appropriate for older teens,” Ferguson explains. “They deal with relationships, sex, appearance, and adult social dynamics, which younger adolescents aren’t always ready to process.”
While older teens can often engage critically, younger viewers may take everything at face value. “It doesn’t create pressures around looks or popularity from nothing,” Ferguson notes. “But it can amplify them, especially for teens still developing emotional maturity or already sensitive about self-esteem and body image.”
Why Comparison Culture Matters
Adolescence naturally comes with comparison. Reality shows focused on looks, competition, and public judgment can make teens question their own worth, attractiveness, and belonging. Ferguson says this is especially true for younger teens, who may feel the pressure more personally.
Watching Together—or Not
For older teens, watching episodes together — or at least keeping the door open for conversation — can be the healthiest approach. “Outright bans can close down dialogue, while constant monitoring can feel intrusive,” Ferguson explains. “A balanced approach works best: curious rather than critical.”
For younger teens, it may be better to explain why the show isn’t appropriate yet, setting clear boundaries while encouraging discussion.
Simple Questions to Encourage Reflection
Parents don’t need to interrogate their teens after every episode. Ferguson suggests a few gentle prompts:
- “What do you think is edited out of that conversation?”
- “How realistic are those relationships?”
- “How do you think being filmed changes behavior?”
- “What do you notice about how people are valued on the show?”
These questions help teens step back and think critically rather than absorb the messages unfiltered.
Supporting Media Literacy at Home
Ferguson encourages parents to explain the production process, editing, and the influence of producers, along with the narrow standards of beauty and success often promoted. At the same time, teens should have access to diverse role models and experiences that reinforce self-worth beyond appearance or romantic validation.
Reflections on Influence
“Love Island reflects broader cultural ideas teens already know about, while also reinforcing them,” Ferguson notes. Teens aren’t passive viewers, but they are still learning to critically evaluate what they see.
Ultimately, Ferguson says, your relationship with your teen matters more than controlling what they watch. When young people feel safe to talk, ask questions, and be accepted as they are, reality TV shows lose much of their influence. The goal isn’t to control viewing, but to guide teens toward understanding what they see — and themselves — with clarity and compassion.
Elena Leo is the Arts & Lifestyle Editor of Ikon London Magazine.
