When reality TV first exploded in the early 2000s, the media panicked about the effect "unscripted" content would have on viewers. They found it difficult to distinguish between what was real and fake. But these days, people generally know better. Viewers now lean on the assumption that most of it is artfully manufactured. And according to experts, watching reality TV gives viewers analytical skills, media literacy — they are perceptive, which gets to the heart of deciphering when reality fits into reality TV.

*This episode originally aired on May 6, 2024.