Reality TV Research on the Young

A recent survey conducted by MORI and Vox Pops International has found that reality TV is playing a major part in young people's lives. Indeed, three in five (61%) 15 to 24 year olds in the UK agree that these programmes help to teach them about the ways in which people interact with each other.

Reality TV was defined as programmes based on people's lives, or that follow people in different situations. This includes a range of shows including competitions such as Big Brother, Survivor, Shipwrecked; docusoaps, such as Airport, Driving School, Paddington Green, etc.; and chat shows, such as Jerry Springer, Ricki Lake and Trisha.

The Vox Pops research revealed that, while young people are seeing practical changes to their social contact and viewing through reality TV, they are also learning about and being shocked by the human behaviour shown. This could cover anything from nudity and sexual openness, to back-stabbing and arguing. Instead of imitating what they see, however, respondents claimed that they are grateful for the chance to learn important life lessons and skills via reality TV.

Annabelle Phillips, head of Youth Research at MORI, commented "The MORI part of the research found that there is a core group of Britain's youth whose lives are being shaped by reality television programmes, such as Big Brother and Survivor. These young people make sure they are at home to watch the programmes, spend a significant amount of time talking about what happens in the programmes, and feel the programmes are teaching them about human behaviour and interaction, which they often find shocking. The makers of reality television programmes therefore have a responsibility to young adults when making shows which have a significant influence over the way people learn to interact with and behave towards each other."

Ally Castle, researcher from Vox Pops Intl, added that, "With reality TV, programming is moving from entertaining and educating, to actually parenting - from the passive role of a substitute babysitter, to the more active role of guiding and teaching usually fulfilled by mums and dads. The question is, are parents aware of this and how far is reality TV contributing to the trend of kids getting older younger?"

The MORI research interviewed 293 15 to 24 year olds via the Omnibus survey between 26 to 31 July 2001. Interviews were conducted face-to-face in homes across GB. The Vox Pop qualitative research was conducted via 44 interviews with 12 to 25 year olds in 3 London locations (Richmond, Clapham and Mile End). Respondents were selected on the basis of their age and all watch reality TV shows.

All articles 2006-22 written and edited by Mel Crowther and/or Nick Thomas unless otherwise stated.

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