Love Island is continuing the major change to the show it implemented last year in a bid to protect its contestants.
The start date of the summer series has just been announced - and it's just days away, kicking off on Monday, June 5.
For a second season in a row, bosses have decided to suspend the Islander's use of social media while in the villa, in a move welcomed by the show's stars.
Previously, friends and family of those in the villa would continue to post to their Instagram and Twitter accounts to keep them active. However, like in the winter series, this will not take place.
A statement released by ITV, Lifted Entertainment (part of ITV Studios) and Motion Content Group announced the latest series' duty of care procedures, saying: "Programme contributors will be offered a full package of measures to ensure they remain supported prior to, during and after the filming period on the show.
"After an initial trial period, the show will now formally introduce a guideline asking participants to pause social media handles and accounts for the duration of their time on the show, to ensure that both the Islanders and their families are protected from the adverse effects of social media."
The Love Island Duty of Care policies and procedures are reviewed after each series and reflect feedback from former Islanders, according to the statement.
Former contestant Amy Hart, who was on the show in 2019, welcomed the change when it was implemented last year, saying: "I didn’t really take into account when I went into the villa that, although my best friend was really excited to run my social media account, it was me that signed up to do the show not my family and not my friends.
"But it was them that had to read the death threats and it was them that had to read the horrible messages. Whereas when I came out, I came out to a great reaction because of the way that I left, and they were the ones who had a hard time when I was in there."
Agreeing with Amy, last year's Islander Tasha Ghouri said she thinks the ban on socials is "great", saying: "I believe it’s 100% the right step in the right direction, I could see there was a lot less trolling and negativity."
Before entering the villa, prospective contestants will watch a video fronted by the show’s Executive Producer and Head of Welfare, interviewing former Islanders about their experiences on the programme.
Meanwhile, Islanders will also be able to access welfare specialists while in the villa, too.
Commenting on the show’s welfare procedures, series seven winner Liam Reardon said: "I found the welfare chats helpful as it gave us a chance to have a small break from villa life and being able to talk to someone off camera. It was nice to speak to someone every few days who wasn’t in the villa and who were there to just listen or offer advice.
"The psychiatrists were a big help too for when times got a little hard."
*Love Island returns on Monday 5th June at 9pm on ITV2 and ITVX
