If someone opened their social media during the summer of 2025, it would be impossible for them to avoid anything related to “Love Island USA.” Based on the UK original, the show follows multiple hot Americans as they enter a villa in the tropics to find love; at the same time, they must fight to avoid elimination from votes submitted by the viewers and other contestants, and compete for the end goal of $100,000 to the winning couple. The 7th season of “Love Island USA” hit the pop culture zeitgeist and became Peacock’s #1 original title on its streaming service.

Despite the show being able to capture the attention of millions, this season was not without its critics. One major critique some viewers had for this season was what was seen as an overall lack in genuine romance in exchange for competitiveness. On social media, contestants would face accusations of them trying to stay on the show as long as possible to reach the finale and have a shot at the prize money. In addition, many complained about how it seemed that production was interfering with eliminations, creating more anger over controversial contestants being allowed to stay on the show.

Even the finale and the reunion of “Love Island USA” was not without its problems. By the end, there were four couples: Iris and Pepe, Huda and Chris, Olandria and Nic, and Amaya and Bryan. Amaya and Bryan won first place after a vote amongst the viewers and chose to split the $100,000 prize. However, the reunion special saw Bryan face cheating allegations, and the couple announced their break up two days after the episode aired — a slap in the face to viewers who thought the fan-favorite had finally found her match.

These issues of prioritizing drama and a lack of lasting love are not exclusive to the “Love Island” franchise. In fact, the two go hand-in-hand in a trend seen across many dating shows, and the fault may lay on the producers. Producers of dating shows have oversight on casting and the editing of footage, which has led to contestants from various datings shows—such as “The Bachelor,” “The Bachelorette,” “Love is Blind,” and now “Love Island”—to accuse production of manipulating narratives and not showing people and events as they truly are. Usually, these false narratives are made to create a sense of drama within the shows, especially by painting certain contestants as villains or interfering with eliminations to keep dramatic contestants on the show. But this manipulation comes with a benefit in the form of higher ratings: the more dramatic the events on screen, the more people tune in to see what happens next.

When love is treated as a lower priority in dating shows, it can scar those who go on these shows with genuine intentions. One case of this came from the 21st season of “The Bachelorette,” starring Jenn Tran on her journey to find a fiancé. The finale showed Jenn picking Devin Strader; however, instead of showing the two getting together, viewers were told by Jenn that he broke up with her through a phone call, claiming that he never loved her. As the two sat next to each other at the finale’s reunion, the host of the show, Jesse Palmer, asked Jenn if she would allow them to air the proposal despite all this. Jenn painfully asked if she had a choice just as the clip was played anyways. To many fans, this was seen as a cruel act of reopening wounds for the sake of entertainment. Despite Jenn’s pure intentions, her journey’s failure was aired for the world to see as a result of production’s need for ratings.

If there is anything a contestant could gain from the way production distorts reality for views, it is fame. As fans get attached to their favorite “characters,” they become their followers on social media, waiting for their return to the real world. This is why during the 7th season of “Love Island US,” many of the cast’s personal accounts were run by friends and family members to engage with fans and keep support alive. Once the show ended, the show’s cast members wound up as micro-influencers with the opportunity to kickstart a social media career. But making money off of social media is not completely sustainable, as the line between love and hate is thin on the internet.

While it may feel fun at first to watch catfights and break-ups on a screen, it can become a frustrating experience to witness a show distance itself from its advertised purpose. Unfortunately, there is no end in sight for production interference, as it leads to what any business needs to survive: revenue. So as long as the top dating shows of American television are still going strong, do not bet on true love being in the air.

Written by Jordan Pierce, Photography: Ella Trask, Design: Sydney Gorski, Social Media: Veronica Pro, Styling: Shri Mulukuntla

Temporary Matrimony