Certain local authorities have even banned magazines covering these shows, citing their "toxic and negative narratives".

Series such as Posh... And Full of It or Princesses of Purbeck offer viewers a "fly-on-the-wall" look at the lives of the wealthy, often blending aspirational content with manufactured drama.

Some entertainment, like the play The Book Club Play , satirizes this phenomenon by showing how a documentary filmmaker’s presence can hilariously disrupt normal group dynamics. Why We Watch

Shows like The Lovian Star Search or American Idol frame entertainment as a meritocratic journey from obscurity to stardom.

Some publications and shows have been accused of "manufacturing stories" or exploiting celebrities to maintain high ratings.

Sociologists suggest that the "story" of reality TV is deeply tied to the viewer's own psychology: