Love Island 2023: ITV2 update duty of care policy 

Love Island announced their new duty of care measures for 2023 on Friday ahead of next month’s series in South Africa – and there are some big changes in store. 

ITV2 will ban Islanders’ social media activity during show and will give enhanced training around behaviour in relationships after a controversial summer series in 2022. 

It comes after Love Island received more than 5,000 Ofcom complaints this year, with viewers sharing their concerns about ‘misogynistic behaviour and bullying’.  

Important: Love Island announced their new duty of care measures for 2023 on Friday ahead of next month’s series in South Africa – and there are some big changes in store 

Now ITV have said a comprehensive package of welfare measures remain in place for programme contributors to ensure stars are fully supported before, during and after the filming period.

As part of extended measures to protect both the Islanders and their families from ‘the adverse effects of social media’, participants will be asked to pause handles and accounts on their social media platforms for the duration of their time on the show.

Islanders’ accounts will remain dormant while they are in the Villa, so that nothing is published on their behalf.

Change: ITV2 will ban Islanders’ social media activity during series and will give enhanced training around behaviour in relationships after a controversial summer series in 2022 (Luca Bish is pictured) 

In past series, Islanders’ teams used their accounts to encourage viewers to vote for them and build up their following – but this has led to them receiving abuse from trolls and getting into spats with other contestants’ family and friends. 

Additionally, ahead of entering the Villa, Islanders will also receive guidance and training around mutually respectful behaviour in relationships. 

Participants will be offered resource links to ‘read up on, in advance of meeting their fellow Islanders, to help them identify negative behaviours in relationships and understand the behaviour patterns associated with controlling and coercive behaviour.’

ITV added that stars continue to be offered video training and guidance covering inclusive language around disability, sexuality, race and ethnicity, and microaggressions. 

Complaints: Love Island has received more than 5,000 Ofcom complaints this year, with viewers sharing their concerns about ‘misogynistic behaviour and bullying’ (Tasha Ghouri is pictured) 

Love Island received more than 5,000 Ofcom complaints during this year’s series, with viewers sharing their concerns about ‘misogynistic behaviour and bullying’.

The UK’s media regulator confirmed to MailOnline the regulator received 1,509 complaints on July 19 – and the majority were about alleged misogynistic behaviour from the male islanders towards the female cast after the Snog, Marry, Pie challenge.

Viewers were upset about how dancer and model Tasha Ghouri, 23, was treated when she was pied three times – with some calling the boys’ behaviour ‘bullying’.

Love Island was previously rocked by 2,648 complaints after explosive Movie Night episodes, while 427 fans also complained about the July 17 episode of Aftersun when Laura Whitmore and panellists speculated on what happened between Ekin-Su Cülcüloğlu, 27, and George Tasker, 23, in the bedroom.

Upcoming: The next series will be hosted by Maya Jama – who has taken over from Laura Whitmore – in South Africa

And in the first four weeks of the show, Love Island was hit by 781 complaints over concerns about bullying, age gap romances and the mental health of contestants.

Women’s Aid stated at the time that they were in talks with the show over some of the behaviour displayed by the males.

The record for the most Love Island complaints made to Ofcom was in August 2021, when the regulator received 24,763 Ofcom complaints over Faye Winter ‘s expletive-filled row with Teddy Soares.

Incredible! Love Island bosses have reportedly splashed out on a £1.2M villa which will see the contestants compete like Gladiators to win the show’s sportiest season yet 

ITV has been constantly evolving its duty of care protocols after season two star Sophie Gradon took her own life at age 32 in June 2018 and season three contestant Mike Thalassitis was found dead at age 26 in March 2019.

Love Island host, Caroline Flack, also took her own life at age 40 in February 2020 after struggling with her mental health. 

First introduced ahead of Series 8 in 2022, the inclusion training discussions will tackle topics including inclusive language, and behaviour, creating safe spaces and being a good ally.

Prior to appearing on the show, prospective Islanders will also watch a video fronted by the show’s Executive Producer and Head of Welfare, interviewing former Islanders about their experiences on the show. 

Drama: Figures released by the the UK’s media regulator Ofcom show that 2,481 viewers complained about ‘alleged misogynistic behaviour by some of the male contestants’ during the July 17 Movie Night episode (Dami Hope and Luca Bish pictured)

This includes details on the two week period before they enter the Villa, how to cope being filmed 24/7, the interaction they will have with producers in the Villa, the support provided to family members, dealing with social media trolling, and adapting to life away from the show.

In addition, in 2021 it was claimed that Love Island contestants reportedly signed a disclaimer that outlined the harsh possibilities of the show.

According to The Sun, the stars were prepared for the ‘potential downsides’ of appearing on the show, which included the possibility that ‘nobody may fancy you’ and fame after the series is not guaranteed.

The Islanders were also made aware that there could be ‘increased negative attention’ about their ‘appearance, personality and behaviour’ both on and off the show.  

Arguments: Viewers also expressed concern for Luca’s treatment of his love interest Gemma Owen after Movie Night at the time the episode aired  

A source said at the time: ‘It was brutal to read but at least everyone knows what to except now and there’s no surprises.

‘Potential candidates were made to consider how their five minutes of fame could quickly dry up when they leave the villa.’

They added the contract states ‘If you’re hoping that you will become famous by taking part in the show there are no guarantees that this will happen. It may not change your life in any way.’

MailOnline contacted a Love Island spokesperson for comment at the time. 

Gone too soon: Love Island has previously faced backlash following the tragic suicides of season two contestant Sophie Gradon in 2018 and season three’s Mike Thalassitis in 2019

Tragic loss: Love Island host Caroline Flack was found dead at her home in Stoke Newington, London, on February 15, 2020, aged 40. She too had taken her own life

A look at why Love Island received 5,000 complaints for 2022 series:

Love Island bosses have announced future stars will not have their social media accounts managed while they appear on the show – and their Instagram accounts will instead ‘remain dormant.’

The big change has been decided by ITV producers following years of friends and family struggling to cope with the levels of trolling received as their loved ones appear in the villa and have their phones confiscated, leaving them to run their socials from home.

During this year’s summer series, over 5,000 viewers complained to regulator Ofcom following accusations of ‘bullying’ and ‘misogyny’, with the new Duty of Care measure hoping to eradicate the ‘adverse effects of social media’ from the Islander and their families.

Up until now, friends and family have run the social media profiles of their loved one as they star in the TV villa and garner millions of new followers.

Clashes: Luca Bish was accused of having a bad attitude towards Tasha over his belief that she didn’t have true intentions towards boyfriend Andrew Le Page during the Snog, Marry, Pie challenge

Trolls then use their active profiles as a target with friends and family members becoming the punching bag for abuse as the events from the show play out on screen, often amounting to official complaints.

The show’s Snog, Marry, Pie challenge received 1,509 complaints after fans of the series were unhappy over the treatment of Tasha Ghouri after she was ‘pied’ three times, with viewers calling out the male cast members for their misogynistic behaviour.

Luca Bish was accused of having a bad attitude towards Tasha over his belief that she didn’t have true intentions towards boyfriend Andrew Le Page.

Tasha, who was the first deaf contestant to appear on the show, was left in tears following multiple digs from Luca, who told his partner at the time Gemma Owen that he could have given a ‘list’ of reasons for targeting the dancer in the game.

Gemma’s mum Louise posted from her on Instagram profile following the incident, writing, ‘I hope Tasha is okay, I feel it’s close to bullying now, which is so sad to see.’

Complaints: Gemma’s mum Louise posted from her on Instagram profile following the incident, writing, ‘I hope Tasha is okay, I feel it’s close to bullying now, which is so sad to see’

A further 2,648 complaints were made during the show’s Movie Night when different clips were shown to the Islanders to stir trouble in their couples.

Luca fumed after watching a video of Gemma allegedly flirting with Casa Amor Islander Billy Brown while Coco Lodge’s steamy pool kiss with Andrew was shown to Tasha.

Coco later admitted feeling ‘used’ by Andrew who coupled up with her only to make Tasha jealous, with the pair getting back together shortly after her return to the main villa.

Charity Women’s Aid issued a statement in regards to Luca’s behaviour following Movie Night after he laughed at his male co-stars antics during the Casa Amor test of faith while complaining over his own misfortunate.

Angry: Ofcom received 129 complaints on July 12 when previous contestant Adam Collard re-entered the villa

At the start of the series, 260 complaints were made over the eight-year age gap between Gemma, the daughter of footballer Michael Owen and Davide Sanclimenti, who later won the series with girlfriend Ekin-Su Cülcüloğlu.

Gemma and Davide coupled up together and were made to share the same bed though many viewers were uncomfortable by their age difference.

Viewers were also shocked to see bosses recruit former Islander Adam Collard, who originally starred on the 2018 series.

He was known for his womanising ways and bad behaviour towards ex-Rosie Williams, though producers gave him a second chance, with him insisting he had changed his ways.

The duty of care measures are being overseen by Dr Paul Litchfield and Dr Matthew Gould. 

After the new care package was announced on Friday Dr Paul said: ‘The Duty of Care arrangements for Love Island continue to evolve in the light of advances in scientific knowledge and awareness of the pressures young people face in establishing healthy relationships. 

‘That culture of continuous improvement ensures that Islanders are well placed to benefit from their experience of participating in one of the UK’s most popular TV shows.’

Dr Matthew added: ‘The enhanced safeguards introduced for Love Island 2023 demonstrate ITV’s commitment to evolve Duty of Care protocols to minimise harm, where possible. 

‘The bold decision to pause Islanders’ social media activity during the new series is testament to ITV’s serious intent, especially as this input provides both a benefit to the appeal of the programme and a potential source of mental health problems.

‘Balancing this ‘tight-rope’ requires both the identification of which safeguards have the greatest positive impact on participants’ wellbeing and the professional partnership, put in place by ITV, especially between producers and their welfare teams, and most importantly, the contributors themselves.’

Teaser: Love Island released their first advert for the new series this week which showed Maya posing in a sparkly jumpsuit (pictrued)