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Dating in the Dark

(Rated TV-PG, Reality TV, Starring Rossi Morreale, Where to watch: ABC)

  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 13, age appropriate for kids over 15; suggested age 14.

  • Is it any good?

    3.0

  • Common Sense says

    Dating experiment sheds light on personality vs. looks.

Themes in this show include:   dating/crushes, gender issues, honesty

Why We Rated This iffy for Ages 14–15

The good stuff

  • Messages:

    Couples must choose whether personality is more important than looks -- and those who choose looks over personality aren't celebrated here. Still, physical attributes are frequently discussed as both a good and bad thing.

  • Role models:

    While all of the participants place some importance on outer beauty, most of them try to look beyond the superficial and get the know the person inside.
 

What to watch out for

  • Violence:

    Not an issue.

  • Sex:

    A fair bit of kissing/making out (often during the dark-encounter scenes that are viewed via infrared camera) and sexual innuendo. Some conversations deal with levels of sexual experience. Words like “boobs” are audible.

  • Language:

    Words like “hell” and "damn" are occasionally audible. Occasional profanity (like “s--t”) is bleeped, with mouths blurred.

  • Consumerism:

    Not an issue.

  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Alcohol consumption (beer, mixed drinks) is frequently visible during one-on-one dates.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About Dating in the Dark

Parents need to know that this dating series -- in which men and women choose prospective partners without actually seeing what they look like -- has a fair bit of kissing/makingo ut and sexual innuendo (including discussions about looking “sexy” and some brief conversations about prior sexual experience). The language is generally mild ("hell," "damn"), with occasional stronger profanity (like “s--t”) fully bleeped/blurred. Participants drink on one-on-one dates. Overall, it’s not the best fit for tweens and younger teens, but older teens should be able to handle it.

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about why people agree to be on dating reality shows. Do you think the people on these shows actually find compatible partners? Why else might they choose to participate?
  • Should looks matter when you're choosing someone to date? Is wanting to date someone good looking a bad thing? Overall, what message does this show send about relationships?
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Our Members Say

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Most Recent Reviews

  1. Teen Reviewer Age 16
    texangirl97
    Lives in Texas
    I rate this title on for age 10 and give it 3.0

    Ok show...very entertaining

    I've only seen this show once, but I like it. I think CSM's age rating was not as I see it. There's really not much bad stuff in it. I think it's perfectly fine for tweens. It is a very entertaining show that I would reccomend.

    This review...

    Helped me decide | Had useful details | Read my mind
    Flag as inappropriate
  2. Kid Reviewer Age 12
    blondiebeachbabe ...
    I rate this title on for age 12 and give it 4.0
    • My highlights are:
    • Positive messages

    Great Message!

    I Love This Show! I think it gives a good, positive message to how dating should be (based on personality, not on looks)

    This review...

    Helped me decide | Had useful details | Read my mind
    Flag as inappropriate

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