Naked Education Getting Tons Of Complaints For Showing Nude Adults In Front Of Children
The body-positive reality show Naked Education has received over 1,297 complaints for showing teenagers naked adults.
Naked Education, a reality show that aims to promote body positivity, has sparked a wave of outrage across the United Kingdom. According to Deadline, local media regulator Ofcom received 1,297 complaints about the format, which places nude adults in front of teenagers. The backlash follows Channel 4’s airing of two installments of the six-part series.
The depiction of full-frontal nudity on Naked Education before 9 pm is a violation of the U.K.’s broadcasting code of conduct. The widely accepted threshold serves to protect young people from viewing age-inappropriate content. Ofcom is yet to decide whether to investigate the series developed by All3Media’s Betty TV.
However, Channel 4’s Chief Content Officer, Ian Katz, defended the controversial reality series. He believes the content provides a valuable public service by confronting body image anxiety. “Anyone who suggests that Naked Education promotes pedophilia or is abusive of children almost certainly hasn’t watched it,” he said via social media.
Katz insists that Naked Education counters the “dangerous myths and toxic images that teenagers are bombarded with by exposing them to real, normal bodies and engaging them in an open, safe conversation about them.” But the problem lies with a particular segment where teenagers between 14 and 16 gather to discuss different aspects of the human body and body image.
They are then presented with a group of adults with the previously discussed trait who disrobe as the kids look on. Parents and critics have branded Naked Education as perverse. At the same time, the network says that every child who participated did so with the relevant consent and received support during the entire filming process.
Naked Education was also slammed for delivering an allegedly inconsistent message after two transgender men discussed their transition journeys in the second episode. Speaking via the Spectator, Co-founder of Thoughtful Therapists, James Esses, reiterated the mixed messages. “Entire segments are dedicated to individuals who seemingly did everything they could to change their bodies.”
“The show then portrays them as the epitome of self-acceptance,” he continued. Esses also posited that teaching young people that the path to acceptance comes from fundamentally changing their identity through irreversible surgery is dangerously disingenuous. But others defended Naked Education, praising its informative, empathetic, and groundbreaking approach.
Body image has long been a topic of concern. Hollywood actresses, in particular, significantly impact perceptions with their constant display of airbrushed images in tiny outfits. This has led to distorted self-worth for many individuals, especially young girls.
The representation of different body types, sizes, and shapes is minimal.
And this lack of diversity only reinforces the belief that there is only one ideal body type. Not only is this trend detrimental to those who do not fit the mold, but it also creates a sense of shame and guilt for people who do not measure up to society’s beauty standards. It also reinforces the idea that being thin or fit equates to being healthy, which is not necessarily true.
Perhaps, that was the initial message behind Naked Education. But it should have been handled with more nuance, been aired at a more reasonable hour, and featured a nudity warning.
