ITV boss Kevin Lygo has defended the broadcaster against criticism following a barrage of viewer complaints to Ofcom during the latest series this summer.
The dating show was the subject of more than 5,000 complaints to broadcasting watchdog Ofcom, many of which related to alleged misogynistic behaviour by some of the male contestants.
Yet Mr Lygo has defended the hit ITV2 dating show against criticism, claiming its duty of care process was “more rigorous than ever”. He also argued that certain scenes on the show which could be seen as inappropriate or uncomfortable could educate young people.
Speaking at the Edinburgh TV Festival, he said: "We are moving into a different era here and we have to be very mindful that there is a certain risk to going on television.
"It may not be exactly what you think it's going to be as a member of the public, but I don't think we should stop, because the logical conclusion is: 'you don't allow members of the public on telly'. That's the only way."
He continued: "When you see the attitudes of young people and what they say, you could say some of the things that go on in these shows shouldn't be shown.
"But from that comes the debate, the discussion and it's pointed out to contestants themselves and they often later apologise for the error of their ways.
“For example, there was research about why young boys watch Love Island so much. It found they'd never witnessed girls together talking about boys and they found it absolutely fascinating and, hopefully, informative to the fact that muscles aren't everything."
He admitted the show bosses had made mistakes in the past, but claimed the measures subsequently put in place on Love Island were more thorough than any other show on television.
He added: "If you look back only a few years, even the term duty of care was hardly used - now it's on everybody's lips all the time.
"Broadcasters are now very well informed and impose conditions on commissions that duty of care is uppermost in producers' minds.
"It's come on in leaps and bounds. It got its wake up call a few years ago, and now members of the public who are on shows, especially shows that are on for quite a while, are taking through rigorous controls of what it's going to be like.
"Their GPs are contacted, psychologists are involved beforehand. During the show there's access to psychologists and counsellors all the time, and producers are much more skilled in this as well. Then afterwards there's care for those who've come off television."
