The Impact of Dating Shows on Dubai's Youth

The spread of dating culture in the past few decades has led to an increase in the research conducted on this topic; however, there is little to no evident research done on the effects of dating shows on the youth of Dubai, aged 15 to 24. This Study dives into the outcomes of reality dating shows both culturally and psychologically, examining if the extent teenagers would reach to find their significant other aligns with their Middle Eastern standards and traditions, as well as if their perspectives on dating, love, and committed partnerships differ depending on how regular their viewership of dating shows is. Quantitative and qualitative methods were both applied to gather statistics and opinions from real and diverse respondents. Microsoft Forms were sent out through social media platforms, collecting different points of view through open-ended responses as well as grouping based on statistics gathered from multiple-choice options, giving an insight into age, gender, and nationality. The survey results allowed a deeper outlook on the differing standpoints of Dubai’s youth, demonstrating that all dating shows collectively have a Western agenda that is heavily displayed and embedded in the details and actions of the contestants. The results also revealed that the younger the watchers are, the more prone they are to an open-minded approach when finding a partner. Yet, on the other end of the spectrum, older viewers are not highly accepting of all the ideologies displayed throughout the show’s episodes. Although further research is needed for gathering more insights on the long-term effects of romantic reality shows on a larger geographic scale, identifying the varying point of view in the entire MENA region.