This season of ‘Love Island USA’ is a lesson in voter turnout

July 11, 2025

"Love Island USA," a reality show streamed on Peacock, has achieved record viewership this season with over 3. 5 million users participating in voting. The show features singles competing for love and a $100,000 prize over 36 episodes, with viewers using an app to vote contestants off the island in Fiji.

Who is affected

Reality TV viewers and "Love Island USA" fans
Political campaigns and candidates seeking to engage young voters
Youth voters who could potentially be more politically engaged
Coalition groups like K-Pop fans, Swifties, and the BeyHive being recruited for voting
Politicians looking for better ways to connect with niche audiences

What action is being taken

Fans are organizing coalitions and recruiting other fan bases to download the "Love Island" app and vote
Viewers are creating explainers with whiteboards to advocate for particular couples
People are registering family members who don't watch the show to vote on the app
NBCUniversal is tracking and reporting record mobile viewership and engagement numbers
Commentators like Joy Ngugi are analyzing the crossover potential between reality TV engagement and political organizing

Why it matters

The show demonstrates effective strategies for building enthusiasm and participation that could transfer to political engagement
It reveals untapped potential in niche audience targeting that political campaigns often miss
The success highlights how authenticity and positive messaging about possibilities can drive engagement
The coalition-building strategies show how diverse groups can be united around common interests
It provides a contrast to traditional political outreach, which often relies on fear rather than excitement

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: The 19th