Common Sense Media Review
By Kari Croop
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Dating game with a twist; OK for older teens.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 16+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
What's the Story?
Instead of using the old-fashioned dating show format -- 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.
Is It Any Good?
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. 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. The show's concept is kind of cool -- and it might make you think twice about your own Internet activity.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about 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 important, 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?
TV Details
- Premiere date : May 10, 2006
- Network : mtvU
- Genre : Reality TV
- TV rating :
- Last updated : September 19, 2019
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