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Once upon a time, TV was cruel. From Fat Families to Kid Nation to the X Factor’s most humiliating auditions, producers engineered public shaming for entertainment. We cancelled it on TV… so why has it come back stronger than ever online?

In this episode of The Media Couple, we expose the shocking history of humiliation content and how algorithms have weaponised it. From reality shows of the 2000s to today’s viral “prank parenting” and “what I eat in a day” videos, we trace the disturbing line between old-school exploitation and modern-day social media cruelty.

What you’ll learn:

• How TV pioneered algorithm-style manipulation decades before TikTok existed
• The exact parallels between past reality shows and today’s viral trends
• Why global reach makes online humiliation far more dangerous than TV ever was
• The uncomfortable truth about our role as viewers
• Rotten Tomatoes game: “Mean Media” edition, The Truman Show, The Hunger Games, Mean Girls & more

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