Every television channel has its own version of a reality show. Ex on the beach, Married at first sight, even broadcaster Max with We are almost there! scores well. Why do we enjoy watching reality TV so much? These are the most common reasons.
Schadenfreude
The number one reason for many is schadenfreude. Watch others work hard, from the comfort of your own couch. That is why programs such as Ex On The Beach do so well. Exes show up, one cheats again, he knows him and somehow they also have a history. Maybe many people don’t want to admit it, but we often laugh about gloating, especially while watching reality shows. That is why programs such as Laughing at Home Videos still exist. We want to see real people failing.
A glimpse into another world
Everyone has their life differently. You get used to your daily routine, which feels quite boring at times. That’s why it’s wonderful to dive into someone else’s world for a moment. The best way to do this is through reality shows. The further away the other person is from you, the more beautiful it is to watch. Watching Ex On The Beach while you quietly have a partner and children is great. Seeing how celebrities spend money on the strangest things after a long day of work is almost laughable. TV shows such as Lang Leven De Liefde have many different people in each episode, so they always surprise you.
Drama in reality show land
Reality TV is of course more too much than boring. Programs where a lot happens, such as The Bachelor, create a lot of drama. He doesn’t like her, she likes him, the two also argue among themselves and so on. The episode teasers make this suspense even worse than it actually is. Music and cuts give the moment more atmosphere and respond to the emotion that the producers want to convey. An argument is much more interesting to watch if there is heavy music, you see the fight from multiple points and you see the reactions of others. All this while it is possible that the argument was actually a minor disagreement.
Community
Besides being fun to watch, it also brings people together. People talk about it on social media and share their opinions. This was weird, this was funny, that moment was interesting. Groups often arise to discuss the episodes. In the workplace, many people talk in between or during breaks about what has happened. This brings fun, but also validation. This is especially the case on social media. It’s nice to hear that someone agrees with you. If you are the only one who finds a moment strange, you are more likely to doubt yourself. Furthermore, it also raises great discussion points and produces wonderful conversations.
