"Think before you post" as the new series of Love Island kicks off tonight
Social media users across Harrogate and the Dales are being asked to 'Be Kind' when online
Social media users across Harrogate and the Dales are being urged to think before posting potentially hurtful comments online.
It's as the new series of Love Island starts again tonight (28 June 2021) after a over a year of waiting and producers have promised to offer better mental health support to Islanders once they leave the villa.
Two past contestants have taken their own lives due to trolling and struggles with their mental health; Sophie Gradon, 32, and Mike Thalassitis, 26.
Caroline Flack’s suicide in 2020 made her the third person associated with reality show to have died by suicide.
This year’s Love Island contestants will be offered a ‘minimum of eight therapy sessions’ and get social media training under ITV’s new welfare plans.
Producers have asked social media users to "be kind" to this years contestants when discussing the show.
Wetherby influencer Em Sheldon knows some people who've previously starred in the show and has been subject to abuse from trolls for a number of years, with comments starting in the early stages of her career.
She said: "It can be the most miniscule, pointless thing which doesn't affect the real world but they'll use that and twist it and analyse every inch of your being.
"I try to take it with a pinch of salt in terms of people mocking my appearance or what I do but for these people that go out of their way to ruin people's businesses that's not OK.
"Unfortunately it's a part of the job and it shouldn't be like that but people are just nasty and I have to remind myself that it says more about that person than it does about me.
"You can never block everyone. There is always going to be someone who doesn't like how you look or what you do and I just wish they would get on with their lives. We only get one life and it's such a waste to sit and be angry at someone on Instagram you've never met."
Cast members must now have a registered mental health professional engaged throughout the whole series and have thorough pre-filming medical and psychological assessments.
Once leaving the villa they will be offered training on dealing with social media, finance advice and encouraged to secure management to represent them.
Love Island returns Monday 28th June at 9pm on ITV2 and the ITV Hub.
The cast of Love Island 2021
Sharon Gaffka
Age: 25
From: Oxford
Occupation: Civil Servant - Operations Lead for Department of Transport
Instagram: sharongaffka
