‘A new low for reality TV’: Channel 4 show The Circle, which awards a £50K prize to the contestant with the most ‘likes’ on social media, is branded harmful to mental health
- Channel 4 show The Circle has been criticised by mental health campaigners
- The eventual winner of the £50,000 popularity contest will triumph based purely on how many likes their manufactured social media profile gets
- Mental health campaigners say the concept is ‘a new low for reality television’
Channel 4’s new gameshow The Circle has been branded a ‘low point’ for reality TV because it will pick a winner based on how many likes they get on social media.
The reality television programme, which starts on Tuesday 18th September and is hosted by Maya Jama and Alice Lavine, sees contestants housed in one apartment block but living separately in individual apartments, where they will only be able to communicate by talking to a social media device called The Circle.
The contestants will be able to rate each other based on everything they put into The Circle; with those with the least likes being ‘blocked’ and kicked out while the winner with the most likes will take home £50,000.
However, mental health campaigners say rewarding people for their fake online personas shouldn’t be celebrated with a cash jackpot.
Scroll down for video
Channel 4’s The Circle has been branded a ‘low point’ for reality television because it chooses a winner based on how many likes they get on their social media profiles. Pictured left and right: The Circle’s hosts Alice Lavine and Maya Jama
Speaking to the Telegraph, Danny Bowman, Director of Mental Health at the think tank Parliament Street, said the show ‘sets a worrying precedent’ for other reality shows.
However, according to Jama – who is in a relationship with grime artist Stormzy – The Circle will test what some people are willing to do to gain popularity and have a chance of winning the prize.
She said: ‘Social media is such a huge part of everyone’s lives, twitter, Instagram, facebook – there is no escaping it nowadays. I’m so excited to be a part of the first ever reality show which plays around with this.
-
Mother of Manchester terror attack survivor slams BBC drama…
Water babies! Adorable snaps capture infants swimming under… -
Christmas in September! M&S turns a London street into a…
Share this article
‘The Circle will show how each players’ mind works, contestants will start with a fresh social media page – viewers will get to see what really makes people popular and how far players will go to become the most influential in the game.’
Bowman accused the show of ‘glamorising’ the unpleasant side of social media in which users will do anything to get lots of likes or followers, no matter how self-destructive their behaviour is.
Danny Bowman, Director of Mental Health at the think tank Parliament Street, said the show is ‘glamorising’ the unpleasant side of social media in which users will do anything to get lots of likes or followers. Pictured: Presenter Maya Jama at the ITV Gala at the London Palladium
He explained: ‘It seems to glorify being something that you are not to gain likes. I feel that sends the wrong message, especially to young people. The show is making entertainment out of a very real issue.’
Mr Bowman said that The Circle was going a step further than ITV2’s Love Island, which sees attractive singletons couple up in an attempt to win £50,000.
The show received a record-breaking 2,646 complaints after producers led Dani Dyer to believe that her boyfriend Jack Fincham was reuniting with his ex Ellie by showing selective footage, when in reality he had been pining over Dani.
The ’emotional abuse of Laura Anderson’ received 632 complaints, while ‘Discrimination against Samira Mighty’ was the third most complained about issue, totaling at 540 calls to Ofcom.
Bowman accused the show of ‘going further’ than Love Island, which received a record-breaking 2,646 complaints after producers led Dani Dyer (pictured) to believe that her boyfriend Jack Fincham was reuniting with his ex Ellie, when he’d been pining over her
Ms Jama said she was ‘excited’ to take part in the reality TV show, will test what some people are willing to do to gain popularity and have a chance of winning the prize. Pictured: Jama and her boyfriend Stormzy attending the Glamour Women of the Year Awards 2017 in London
Bowman explained: ‘We are now at a point where it is getting more personal and hitting low points.
‘Love Island was organised around body image and attraction and this show is going further. It is setting a worrying precedent.’
MailOnline has contacted Channel 4 and is awaiting comment.
The Circle airs on Tuesday at 9.15pm on Channel 4
Source: Read Full Article