10 January 2023 , 21:00
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Love Island's Tanya Manhenga has admitted she was unsure about the ITV dating show's new social media ban when it was first put into place.
Ahead of the new series launching on Monday January 16, the ITV show announced a series of big rule changes to the show.
One change which got fans of the dating series talking was that Islanders had to agree to leave their social media accounts dormant while in the villa.
Previously, friends and family members of the Islanders would look after their social media accounts and publish content on their behalf.
Tanya Manhenga has shared her reaction to Love Island's new social media ban (@talkswithtt_/Instagram)
Biomedical student and influencer Tanya was the first Islander to be announced for the new series (Vincent Dolman/REX/Shutterstock)The rule change was revealed at the end of December, days before the new set of Islanders were announced.
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And now, speaking to a pool of journalists, biomedical student Tanya, who was the first Islander to be announced for the new series, has shared her reaction.
The 22-year-old revealed she was initially unsure about the ban but understood it was to help safeguard Islanders and their families from trolls.
She said: "At the start I was like, 'Oh, I don't know' because in the last season everybody's Twitters were popping off.
Tanya is preparing to join nine other sexy singletons in the South African villa (ITV)"So at first it was a bit like 'Oh, this might not be the best' and I didn't know how that's gonna be.
"But then I thought about it in like the way of trolls and if there's a way to lessen the trolls that you get, I'm all for it. Surely, it should be a good thing. So I'm not mad."
Meanwhile, incoming Islander Lana Jenkins revealed she was glad her friends and family don't have to deal with the "pressures" of managing her social accounts in her absence.
She explained: "I think it's not a bad thing at all.
Lana said she didn't think the new ban was a bad thing (ITV)
The new Islander is relieved her friends and family don't have to deal with the 'pressure' of running her social media accounts (ITV)"It's nice that you have time away from Instagram and, also, your friends and family don't have the pressures of it.
"I think it's a lot to deal with as well as having to watch your your friend or your daughter go on telly as well as running an account.
Lana added: "I prefer it that they just relax and just watch it and just crack on and then as soon as I'm out I'll be back on Instagram so it'll be fine."
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The new rule was introduced shortly before the series, along with a string of new protocols introduced by the series as duty of care rules ave also got stricter.
The new series, fronted by Maya Jama, begins next week (ITV)New Islanders will be receiving training and guidance 'around mutually respectful behaviour in relationships'.
Love Island are now offering contestants resource links to read up on, before meeting their fellow Islanders, to help them identify negative behaviours in relationships and understand the behaviour patterns associated with controlling and coercive behaviour.
There will also be video training and guidance covering inclusive language around disability, sexuality, race and ethnicity, and microaggressions.
Training includes conversations chaired by BCOMS (Black Collective of Media in Sport) founder Leon Mann MBE with DEI (Diversity, Equity & Inclusion) consultant Hayley Bennett, disability specialist Shani Dhanda and broadcaster Sean Fletcher.
Not only will the contestants receive training, but they will also be given advice on how to deal with being constantly filmed and social media trolling.