Common Sense Note
Parents need to know that this series is primarily a reality dating show targeting college-age teens and 20-somethings, with a format that's not unlike MTV's Room Raiders. That means that portions of each episode deal candidly with sex, online pornography, and other steamy subjects that are too suggestive for younger viewers. High-schoolers will undoubtedly want to watch; the good news is that the show doesn't introduce anything that savvy teens haven't already heard about.
Families can discuss the fact that privacy is relative when it comes to one's personal computer files. Should potential boyfriends and girlfriends have the right to check out each other's Internet activity -- and, more importantly, should their parents? Has the popularity of instant messaging, blogging, and swapping stats on MySpace changed the way we meet new people and decide whom to date? What are the dangers of getting involved in a relationship with someone you may not know that much about?
Common Sense Review
Reviewed By: Kari Croop
Even though the gist of this MTV reality show is nothing new (a contestant selects a dating partner from a diverse pool of three candidates) and the show itself is ho-hum, the concept behind it is intriguing.
Instead of using the old-fashioned method -- asking potential suitors questions about themselves and getting answers that may or not be true -- MEET OR DELETE skips the small talk and goes straight for the contents of each contestant's hard drive. As you might expect, the results are usually hilarious -- and, sometimes, a little bit creepy -- with even the most normal-looking people never failing to disappoint.
Although the show delves into some sexually charged topics that younger kids ought to skip, Meet or Delete does offer a positive message, albeit in a roundabout way. Since most of the contestants who come on the show to choose a mate decide to "delete" people with serious red flags (like pornography addictions or lingering crushes on ex-girlfriends), it subtly shows older teens that online indiscretions aren't likely to bear much fruit when it comes to the world of dating.
Developed in concert with the Hewlett-Packard computer company, Meet or Delete isn't shy about playing up its digital connections to a giant of the PC industry. In fact, MTV premiered the show on mtvU.com (the site of MTV's college-and-university channel, MTV Uber), and the show's home page is designed to look like a computer desktop. Creeping commercialism aside, however, the show's concept is kind of cool -- and it might make you think twice about your own Internet activity.
Fans of Meet or Delete should check out MTV's other worthwhile reality shows, including MADE and True Life. Those of us who yearn for a low-tech approach to romance might prefer re-runs of The Dating Game. ...
Rate It!
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Sexual ContentContestants make candid references to one-night stands, masturbation, and sex toys (including vibrators). Pornography sites pop up regularly, but nudity and other adult content is blurred. |
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LanguageIn moments of embarrassment, a few contestants shout expletives that get bleeped out in post-production. |
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Social BehaviorAt least one of the contestants in each episode has something questionable hiding on his or her hard drive. While one potential suitor had drafted a letter to contest stalking charges linked to his ex-girlfriend, for example, another had e-mailed a photo of his penis to a stranger. The set-up of the show promotes snooping (questionable activity, even if what you learn is worth finding out). |
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CommercialismThe show was developed in collaboration with computer company Hewlett-Packard, so contestants are shown using PCs -- not Macs -- and using Microsoft Instant Messenger to "talk" to each other. |
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Drug/Alcohol/TobaccoLight usage is mentioned occasionally. |
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