S Split Screen Episode 3: Class War

With access to former ‘Kid Nation’ contestants, their families, and the show’s creators, culture journalist Josh Gwynn uncovers how this cult TV show became a lightning rod for an ongoing debate about the ethics of reality TV.

The kids are forced to navigate social hierarchies as producers introduce class, competition and warped financial incentives. Every few days, a team competition sorts the kids into four social classes: upper class, merchant, cooks and laborers. We ask what these themes reveal about America’s values and prejudices.

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S01E17 - Split Screen Episode 4: Little people, Big Ideas