InfoSearched
Published -
- December 24, 2019
- 3:00 pm
This was a crazy experiment! What were they thinking?
40 Kids
1 Outhouse
1 Off-camera bleach drinking incident
What were some of the reports about the way the children were treated by the production team of ‘Kid Nation’?
Reality television has been an integral part of entertainment for decades now, providing viewers with a unique glimpse into the lives of ordinary people. However, not all reality shows are created equal, some are created in such a way that they raise eyebrows and make us question the morals of the show runners. One such show was ‘Kid Nation’ which aired in the year 2007; the show was infamous for its controversial treatment of children and prompting the question if it was the worst reality show ever made.
For those who may not have watched it, ‘Kid Nation’ was a reality competition show that brought together 40 children aged between 8 to 15 from all across the United States with the aim of building a functional society from scratch in a deserted New Mexico town. The show’s premise was highly questionable since it involved putting children in perilous situations without parental supervision.
Quite contrary to the name, the show was not a paradise for kids, as it lacked basic amenities such as running water, electricity, and phone lines. Children were given the responsibility of cooking, cleaning and performing other essential tasks. This whole premise was worrying, as it put several children in a high-stress environment without adequate resources or adult supervision.
Another highly concerning aspect of the show was the way the children were treated by the production team. Reports about the cast members facing bullying, neglect and harassment during the production period appear to be accurate. Additionally, causing serious burns to a child’s face during a cooking challenge is highly in apparent for such a reality show.
The show was criticized for exploiting children for ratings and for putting them in harm’s way. The show also faced intense backlash from child welfare organizations, which led to several investigations being launched into the show’s production methods. The show’s premise was deemed highly inappropriate as it involved children undertaking highly risky and challenging tasks without proper guidance or support.
In conclusion, it can be said that ‘Kid Nation’ was indeed the worst reality show ever made due to its highly controversial premise and careless handling of children. The show, although well-intentioned, resulted in the exploitation of the children involved and left an undesirable impact on the young participants’ mental and emotional health. The show’s failure represents a valuable lesson to content producers, that production ethics must always come above ratings to prevent such unsavory incidents from occurring again.
