Love Island stars Zara Lackenby-Brown and Tanyel Revan, who featured on the most recent series of the show, have addressed ITV’s decision to make contestants pause their social media accounts while in the villa.

Islanders traditionally grow huge followings on platforms such as Instagram while they're in the villa, with their friends and families uploading pictures, memes and encouraging fans to vote.

However this year, they were banned from doing so in a bid to stop trolling and minimise the negativity directed their way.

It may have backfired though, with former Islanders Zara, 25, and Tanyel, 26, now hitting out at the move.

Speaking to BBC Newsbeat, Zara said: "My family definitely experienced the trolling towards me, regardless of whether my account was paused or not.

"And it's actually a shame. Because islanders' channels have previously been open, that's been a way for the friends and family to be able to have a voice.”

Noting the business opportunities that often come from the show, Zara added: “If anything, the social media ban has just stunted our social media growth."

Meanwhile, Tanyel said she “understands [ITV’s] approach” and thinks it may have helped families.

She did agree with Zara, however, and said that trolling will happen either way as she suggested that a person’s social media blackout should be optional. If it had been optional, Tanyel said she’d have lifted the ban.

Tanyel currently boasts 231,000 Instagram followers, while Zara has 134,000.

Neither Zara or Tanyel found love in the villa, but Zara has since started a romance with Jordan Odofin – who was also on the most recent series of the show, but went in the villa after Zara had already left.

The new couple recently appeared on Reality with Will Njobvu where they confirmed their relationship status as Will asked: "You were both in Love Island at different times but you've managed to link up after the show, but from what it looks like on social media and press speculation it looks like you two are now dating?"

Zara confirmed: "Yeah, we're dating" as Jordan nodded and agreed.

Discussing how they had the shared experience of appearing on Love Island, Zara added that Jordan is her "type to a T" and that when they met the connection was just immediately there.

Meanwhile, Tanyel has met up with Haris Namani since leaving the villa – but it appears as if the pair are just friends.

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