comment: >
  
  I think by your own logic, most reality shows would be immoral. Surviving in the wilderness? Convinces people that survival is fun and easier than it is. Game shows give a false sense of knowledge and encourage gambling.
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  Well, anecdotally speaking, I've never met another human being who thinks that reality dating shows are genuine. Can genuine love come out of it? Sure. But it's entertainment. Of course they're trying to create drama for the audience. I know that they can actively interfere, but they can take care of pretty much everything they want to in editing. But, again, I'm not sure I buy that people are watching these shows and thinking that it's a realistic portrayal of love, especially when most of these shows go out of their way to find entertaining contestants. And that doesn't mean that the love can't be genuine. Part of the fun is figuring out whether or not you believe it. >
  
  I think there are many people who know it’s a “show” but also believe the drama and such that happens. It’s a weird duality. Anecdotally I have a friend like that who speaks about the drama in a show as if it’s a true reflection and it’s honestly scary. The same person who will share scripted pranks on social media and react as if it were real. >
  
  Just because a show is unrealistic does not mean it is ‘problematic’, it is simply for entertainment.
  Do you also think that romance films are unethical and problematic? >
  
  I think the big difference between romance films and reality dating shows is that reality dating shows are trying to convince people that what is happening on screen is real life. Romance films aren’t doing that—they’re fictional. They may say that they are representing real life, but that’s still a step removed from what’s happening on reality dating shows. >
  
  I see what you’re saying, however the viewers of reality TV shows know that it is for entertainment and is  unrealistic, therefore I don’t understand where you think harm is done? >
  
  I guess I just disagree on how much people know it’s unrealistic. I think these sorts of things can creep into our psyche, even if, on the surface, we know that it may be unrealistic. >
  
  Do you agree that we should have views backed by evidence? >
  
  Obviously, it's better to have views backed by evidence than not. But I think it's even more of a mistake to refrain from taking a position until evidence can back it up
  We don't live in a world where we can test every hypothesis we have. Science costs money and time, and furthermore, some things are fundamentally hard to test (how exactly would you go about designing a well-controlled study or experiment measuring the effects of watching "the bachelorette" on ability to have realistic expectations of a relationship?) >
  
  
  But I think it's even more of a mistake to refrain from taking a position until evidence can back it up
  
  It's actually inconsequential to have or not have an opinion on most things. We just live in a time when it's fashionable to have an opinion on anything and everything. >
  
  Can you define problematic? >
  
  “Not producing moral good and on the verge of producing moral harm.” >
  
  if its not producing a moral harm why is it bad?
  it sounds like you just described 'morally neutral' >
  
  It seems that you're assuming that you're much smarter than the average person. That you see through it but others can't.
  Doesn't everyone realize that reality shows aren't actually real?
  Do you really think people don't know this?
  I'm not trying to be insulting. This just seems to be the point that you're making. >
  
  I’ve had conversations with others that shows me that, even thought they may know somewhere in the back of their mind that it is scripted, they talk about it as if it’s real. I think that has an effect on how people view the world then. >
  
  I watch The Bachelor because it's ridiculous. It's fun to talk about the crazy people who go on.
  Also there is some level of reality. There are several couples from those shows married with children years later. >
  
  There are also closeted gay folk married with children years later. For what it’s worth; you having any idea of their lives, years after the fact, is plenty enough reason for them to stay together. They chased and obtained some modicum of fame and people can still know their name or recognize them… we’re like a baby-step away from each reality show “farewell” being a literal 30-second elevator pitch for the contestants OF or new line of health/beauty/fitness/ whatever product that they’re pedaling. 
  The “some level of reality” can be and, in at least some circumstances, is just as fabricated as the script or uncanny-valley-inducing caricatures that end up on the shows. >
  
  I don't disagree. However, it's still possible they're in love. It's not the most far fetched idea.
  There's psychology behind why people fall in love on vacation. They generally set people up with successful good looking contestants.
  I just don't see the harm that OP is suggesting either way.
  What am I gonna do? Try to set up Bachelor in my real life? >
  
  No, you probably aren’t, but what’s to stop a malleable young girl from seeing 30 boys vying for that girls attention in paradise, then expecting that from the boys in their life? 
  The Disney princess effect, I suppose. Disastrous and sometimes deadly when impressionable children grow up to reconcile the world view that was sold to them with what life really is. Look at all the “social media is basically causing severe depression in young adults” studies for an exercise in critical thinking. Not so far fetched to see that these limelight-drenched paradise romping love show highlight reels are really quite comparable. 
  Fat girls looking at models on instagram and growing to hate themselves, putting them on a path of self hatred and low self esteem. An awkward pubescent boy seeing some fuckin stud making out with 28 chicks in one night, then growing up to treat women as disposable (our current red pill incel shit that society now has to wipe up, for example). No, the reality love shows aren’t solely responsible for the decay, they’re just a piece of the puzzle that is “make money on that deepest and most volatile human emotion.” 
  I do get what you’re saying. Truly. Im also just trying to look at the big picture as best as I can. >
  
  Well, I know this isn't helpful but I work in reality TV. I worked on one of the ones mentioned. The people are wrong. 
  They're not actors on these dating shows. They're not scripted. Occasionally a producer will suggest they say something or intentionally stir the pot to create drama. But, these morons are real. The things they do and say are real. >
  
  As a reality TV aficionado who is aware that these are real people giving real reactions (though influenced by the unnatural situations, the producers in their ear, and various other considerations of being on reality tv), what's the appropriate term? Is there an industry term? They're not actors, but what are they? Cast members? TV personalities? >
  
  Talent. That's what they're referred to on set. 
  Edit: But in entertainment news they're typically called reality stars or contestants, depending on the nature of the show. >
  
  My guy, it’s garbage TV. Girlfriend and I love watching things like Single’s Inferno, Dated and Related, etc. That doesn’t mean we’re going to be explicitly or subconsciously influenced by love in reality TV. Some of the lines are cheesy, a lot of “moments” are manufactured (like challenges that create “cute” scenes), and all of it being wrapped up within the span of less than a month is nigh unrealistic. We get that. That doesn’t stop us from talking shit about a particularly problematic contestant or having a favorite contestant or shipping two characters together. It’s all just mindless fun. Even single friends watch for the drama, but what’s depicted isn’t necessarily translated into real life or our perceptions of how love should be like. I’d like to think the majority of the population knows it’s just some harmless manufactured drama and that a couple’s real love life is much more complex, personal and specific to each person.
  I believe you brought up the idea of something being “problematic” in the other comments. Per your definition, problematic is something that doesn’t create moral good and instead verges on creating moral harm. One of the examples you bring up was the colosseum. In this example gladiatorial games don’t contribute to moral good and its violence verges on creating moral harm. However, when the games are over and you head back home, do these games create a more violent society? Is murder for recreation morally just in the world outside of the games? It’s not. People recognize it for what it is: entertainment. They don’t necessarily translate what they see in the colosseum to influence their actions in real life. Analogously for love in reality TV, we know that love depicted on television isn’t realistic, but we watch anyways because it’s just fun for when we want to turn off our brain after a long day or work or school. >
  
  Don’t you think it’s the viewer’s responsibility not to get sucked up into what’s shown on reality tv? I don’t think it’s unethical for TV shows to show distorted reality bc real life isn’t always fun and it’s entertainment not life coaching. I think you’re letting individuals off the hook. >
  
  Sure, I’m saying that the shows themselves are problematic at best or unethical at worst. It’s a pretty simple leap to say that watching said show would be the same. How am I letting individuals off the hook? >
  
  Because people don’t have to allow the tv show to be anything more than entertainment. If you allow something like reality tV to influence you you are at fault more than the show is. To that point, I don’t think it’s anymore unethical for reality TV to depict a distorted reality than Fast and the Furious is so showing actors walking away after doing outrageous stunts. >
  
  While I agree they aren't "reality", I also wouldn't call them problematic or unethical.  
  For one, while its rare, people do actually find love on those shows.  So even if its not often, the process does "work". 
  Also, I see nothing problematic about people signing up for something that a quick google search will give them all the information they need to know about what its like.  I mean, yeah, you may not fully comprehend how tiring or emotional you may be, but you know what you'll be put through.  
  Now, when it is reality shows where they lie to people about the concept, that I can agree can be wrong.  Like if you thought you were going on survivor and were all of a sudden in the Bachelor mansion.  Sure.  But these people know what they are getting into.  Half of them do it for the experience or their 15 minutes of fame, and if they find love, its a happy biproduct.  
  I also don't know if I'd call these things any more or less problematic than some "classic" rom coms.  
  Portraying love in media is tough.  Because love is messy.  It takes time.  It can be boring.  It can be painful.  But people watch these shows for various reasons.  Some like the drama.  Some want a happy ending.  Some just want to be entertained. >
  
  I agree that most of these reality shows are probably influenced too much, even solely by the fact that involved people are aware they are being recorded. Otherwise they could have been very valuable source of truth about the world.