Love Island Australia 2022 may already have a few firsts with a brand-new villa in Spain and a pre-recorded format, but another new addition has left us scratching our heads — the heart-shaped buttons on the top of each bed head.

Since the show’s main premise is for our Islanders to find a connection(s) – ahem, Callum Hole and Mitch Eliot -when there are sexy singletons in a bed together, things can get a little heated under the covers.

So, in that vein, you’d be pleased to find out that those little hearts are actually “sex buttons”! YUP! SEX BUTTONS.

Love Island Australia 2022 may already have a few firsts, including the heart-shaped buttons on the top of each bed head. Source: Nine.

According to the Herald Sun, the buttons are not as X-rated as they sound; in fact, they’re quite the opposite.

The “button of love”, or “horny heart” as it is known among production, enables the cast to inform the control room that they are consenting to whatever is going down (pun intended) under the doonas.

Love Island Australia Executive Producer Alex Mavroidakis Reveals Why They Made the Change

Love Island Australia’s Alex Mavroidakis told the outlet that once “they [the Islanders] go under the covers, they are out of our view.”

“We have (in previous seasons) had producers creeping into the bedroom at night time tapping them [Islanders] on the shoulder and saying ‘you have to say I consent’, which is incredibly embarrassing for the producer and certainly for the islander.

“To alleviate that, we designed the ‘consent button’ or the ‘horny heart’. We don’t film sex; as soon as they (islanders) do something, we leave them to it, but we need to know they are mutually consenting.”

Love Island Australia’s Alex Mavroidakis told the outlet that once “they [the Islanders] go under the covers, they are out of our view.”

While we were hoping the buttons would be used for a mammoth twist, we can safely say they’re still getting a lot of use — and a very welcome and clever way to ensure consent is adhered to.

“We don’t pretend that Love Island is the mother of all social experiments,” Alex told the outlet.

“It is a fun show with incredibly good-looking people. We want people to laugh, enjoy the romance, and look at lots of hot people — that is Love Island.”

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During an interview with So Dramatic! in November 2021, Love Island Australia alum Jessie Wynter revealed how consent was given during the 2020 season.

“You have to give consent every time. It’s so funny. So, if you were like doing it, you have to look at the camera and say, ‘I give consent,'” she revealed.

jessie wynter todd elton love island australia
During an interview with So Dramatic! in November 2021, Love Island Australia alum Jessie Wynter revealed the old way consent was given. Source: Nine.

Looks like Love Island Australia has moved with the times!

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