Andrew Selepak Comments on the Social Media Aspect of Reality Show “Love Island”

Andrew Selepak, University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications Media Production, Management, and Technology associate instructional professor, was quoted in “’Love Island’ Isn’t Real, but it Might Reflect the Way We Date” published in UF News on July 15.

Selepak comments on how social media plays a part in the popular reality television show.  The show features attractive men and women in their 20s, many with large social media followings, that compete for love and internet fame. The show is available for streaming on Peacock.

According to Selepak, the reality of reality TV is that it doesn’t reflect reality. The participants who are selected are cast similar to the process for a movie or scripted TV show.

Selepak compares “Love Island” to “TV Tinder.” Much like on dating apps, contestants size each other up based on looks and vibes rather than values or long-term compatibility

“This is where you have the social media aspect playing in, where people are looking to become influencers and to gain fame, notoriety, likes and follows,” Selepak said. “The people who are on the shows, these are people who intentionally have gone out and said, ‘I want my dirty laundry to be on TV.’ There’s a narcissistic aspect of wanting to be on a show like that.”

For contestants, this often means performing love rather than experiencing it – a behavior that echoes real-world dating on social media. For audiences, “Love Island” gives them the dissatisfaction of watching beautiful people experience the same dating struggles they do.

Category: Alumni News, College News
Tagged: Andrew Selepak MPMT Reality TV Social Media
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