The popular TV show Love Island could be in trouble following a rule change that has seen a decrease in the number of social media followers gained by contestants.
This has led to a reduction in the number of potential new applicants, causing some industry insiders to question whether this could be the end of the show.
According to sources, Pretty Little Thing, a fashion brand that signed up two contestants from the previous series, has decided not to sign anyone from the most recent season.
This is believed to be because of the low number of Instagram followers gained by this year’s contestants while they were in the villa.
The show’s ban on social media use during filming is said to have affected the number of new applicants.
A source has revealed that “there are fewer applicants for Love Island this summer.”
They also said that the ban has exposed the fact that the show is more about gaining lucrative deals than finding love.
However, a spokesperson for ITV has said that Love Island is primarily about people looking for love.
The show has been criticised for its focus on product placements and the commercialisation of the contestants.
This year’s winners, Kai Fagan and Sanam Harrinanan, have left the villa with 173,000 and 153,000 Instagram followers respectively.
In contrast, Gemma Owen from last year’s series gained over a million followers after her family ran her Instagram account during the show.
None of this year’s contestants have gained more than a million followers on Instagram, with the closest being Jessie Renee Wynter, who has 709,000 followers. However, she appeared on the Australian version of the show before the social media ban was introduced.
The low numbers of social media followers have left some contestants missing out on the lucrative deals that previous contestants have received. This, in turn, has led to a reduction in the number of new applicants for the show.
Love Island has been a hugely popular show in the UK, with millions of viewers tuning in every year to watch young singletons looking for love. However, the focus on commercialisation and social media followers has led to criticism from some quarters.
Despite this, Love Island remains a hugely popular show and has helped to launch the careers of many of its former contestants. This year’s contestants will reunite for a special one-off episode hosted by Maya Jama. The show will track the finalists as they leave the villa and reunite with their loved ones.
