A mum seeking advice on whether to allow her 13-year-old daughter to watch Love Island sparked a huge debate with other parents. Love Island is a reality TV show where a group of men and women stay in a villa and participate in a series of tasks with a partner that they can swap throughout the series, until they find "the love of their life".
On the 'am I being unreasonable' thread, she wrote: "She keeps asking to watch it, she kept asking last year as well. DH [dear husband] thinks she’s ok to watch it, but I disagree. Am I being unreasonable?
"I’ve never watched it so I 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."
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The question sparked a huge debate with Mumsnet users, with over 200 comments on whether the show is suitable for young teenagers. Some users thought the show was "toxic" and not suitable for younger viewers.
One mum said: "It's a pretty unhealthy programme. I wouldn't want my daughter to watch it." Another agreed, saying: "It was reported to women’s aid last year because of the appalling treatment of the women by the men." While another parent added: "It’s a toxic show, no way I’d let a young teenager watch it."
However, some parents thought she was old enough to watch it and would be left out if her friends are watching and talking about it in school. One woman said: "She will just watch it at her friend's house if you don't allow it. She's 13, not three." Another commenter said: "I don’t see the issue to be honest and all of her friends will be talking about it!" Another added: "She'll probably feel left out among her friends if she doesn't get to watch it."
Other commenters said it could be a learning oppertunity to highlight toxic behaviours and suggested the mum watched it with her. One user said: "I would let her- it opens up discussions about what is and isn’t ok in relationships - watch it with her and see what she thinks."
Another added: "I think there is an argument for not watching it. But I think there are also arguments for watching it with lots of discussion around the toxic elements of it, why some of the relationships aren't healthy etc. Avoidance isn't the same as education."
Do you think the woman would be unreasonable to let her 13-year-old watch Love island? Would you let your children watch a reality TV show? Let us know in the comments beneath this article.
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