Love Island (US) – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

Love Island (US)

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

show2019

12%

WISE Score

Reality dating show where hot people in swimsuits couple up, break up, and get voted off—basically a masterclass in superficial hookup culture.

Love Island (US)

show

TV-MA, 2019

12%

WISE Score

Reality dating show where hot people in swimsuits couple up, break up, and get voted off—basically a masterclass in superficial hookup culture.

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Screenwise Verdict

Love Island USA is reality TV junk food—empty calories dressed up in swimsuits. It's TV-MA for a reason: pervasive sexual content, revealing clothing throughout every episode, and a format that celebrates superficial attraction and relationship drama over anything resembling substance.

The show has zero educational or developmental value. It models unhealthy relationship dynamics, celebrates a narrow beauty standard (hello, 'trophy abs'), and teaches that manipulation and physical appearance are what matter in romance. The 5.2 IMDb rating tells you it's not even particularly good entertainment.

If your teen is begging to watch because their friends are, this is a hard pass until at least 16, and even then, you'll want to co-view and talk through the problematic messaging. For adults looking for guilty-pleasure drama? Sure, go wild. But keep this far away from younger viewers—it's not remotely appropriate, and frankly, it's not teaching anyone anything worth learning.

Age Fit

This is strictly for adults and mature older teens (16+). The TV-MA rating is spot-on—sexual content, language, and body-image concerns make it inappropriate for middle schoolers despite Common Sense Media's 13+ suggestion. Even for 16+, parents should watch together and discuss.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

TV-MA rated reality show that centers entirely on physical attraction, hookup culture, and coupling dynamics. Contestants spend most episodes in swimsuits or revealing clothing, with frequent sexual innuendo, kissing, and physical touching. The format actively encourages relationship drama and betrayal through 'recouplings' and 'dump-ins.' Models superficial values around body image and appearance—The New Yorker calls it a showcase of 'trophy abs' and 'nearly naked contestants.' While not overtly cruel, the show's core mechanic is public rejection and relationship instability, which isn't emotionally healthy modeling for younger viewers.

Imaginative

Zero creativity or originality—it's a paint-by-numbers reality dating format imported from the UK. No problem-solving, building, exploration, or creative expression. The 'game' is entirely social manipulation and physical attraction. Episodes follow the same predictable pattern: flirt, couple up, vote someone off, repeat. The only 'imagination' involved is contestants coming up with ways to describe their feelings in confessional interviews. This is passive consumption at its most formulaic.

Safe

TV-MA rating is accurate—this has pervasive sexual content, revealing clothing throughout, moderate to frequent profanity, and explicit focus on physical intimacy. IMDb parental guide specifically notes scenes like repeated butt-slapping and squeezing. The body-image messaging is problematic for impressionable viewers, celebrating a narrow beauty standard. No graphic nudity or violence, but the sexual themes and language make this inappropriate for anyone under 16. Common Sense Media rates it 13+ but their own user reviews file it under 'adult,' suggesting even that's too lenient.

Enriching

Offers virtually nothing in terms of cognitive growth, skill-building, or meaningful insight. If anything, it teaches shallow lessons about valuing appearance over substance and using manipulation to get ahead romantically. No empathy-building—contestants are often discarded publicly based on looks. The 5.2 IMDb and 56 Metacritic scores reflect that even as entertainment, it's mediocre. Could theoretically spark conversations about unhealthy relationship dynamics or media literacy, but that's a stretch—it's designed to be mindless viewing that celebrates the superficial.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

If you're 18+ and enjoy guilty-pleasure reality TV, it delivers drama and relationship chaos in spades
Could spark conversations with older teens about unhealthy relationship patterns and media manipulation
Fast-paced format (episode-a-day during season runs) keeps the drama moving if that's your thing

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What to Watch For

TV-MA for good reason—pervasive sexual content, skimpy clothing, frequent profanity, and explicit focus on physical attraction
Terrible body-image messaging: celebrates 'trophy abs' and a narrow beauty standard that can be harmful for teens
Models superficial values and relationship instability as entertainment—public rejection and betrayal are core mechanics
Zero educational value; this is pure junk food TV

Conversation Starters

"Why do you think shows like this focus so much on how people look instead of who they are?"
"How do you think being on a show like this—with cameras 24/7 and public voting—would affect real relationships?"
"What do you notice about the body types shown on this show? Who's missing?"

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