How far can we go to promote a positive body image among teens? A British channel is the target of a thousand complaints after showing naked adults to young people in an attempt to discuss topics ranging from penis size to cosmetic surgery.
Naked Education has been airing since early April on Channel 4, a public broadcaster known for its innovative and often irreverent programming. The program aims to “normalize all body types, champion differences and break down stereotypes”. “Your happiness shouldn’t depend on your ability to be in that perfect shape,” says one adult on the show.
It shows, among other scenes, men and women undressing in front of teenagers aged 14 to 16. In the first episode, the presenters want to bust “some common hair myths.” In the second, they discuss body image with boys, talking about muscles and the size of the penis. It is then a question of female anatomy, the evolution of the body with aging, cosmetic surgery, etc.
In front of the naked bodies burst the embarrassed laughter of the teenagers. “I had never seen a fully naked man before,” confesses a young girl. “It’s a unique experience to sit in front of people with their penises sticking out,” laughs one boy. But the show did not appeal to all viewers. Media regulator Ofcom announced on Wednesday that it had received around 1,000 complaints. Some criticize the program, which airs at 8 p.m., for showing nudity too early, others for exposing teenagers to naked bodies. Conservative media also attacked the public channel and its program.
Ofcom has yet to decide whether or not to launch an investigation into the show. Channel 4 content manager Ian Katz took to Twitter to defend the show, saying it “combates the dangerous myths and toxic images that are bombarded at teenagers by exposing them to real, normal bodies”. “It would be hard to find a clearer example of a quality public service program that challenges the kind of misconceptions that are too often at the root of anxiety among young people,” he said. he adds.
Channel 4 has been government-owned since its launch in 1982, but derives its funding from advertising, without the benefit of license fees like the BBC.
