Kid manipulation

ACCUSATIONS of bad taste are nothing new in the world of reality TV. Yet the producers of the upcoming CBS program "Kid Nation" are facing something more serious: allegations of child abuse and violation of child safety and labor laws. Whatever the eventual legal consequences, some responsibility lies with the parents eager to sign broad liability releases, as well as to the audience willing to tune in.

Set to debut Sept. 19, "Kid Nation" depicts what happens when 40 children between ages 8 and 15 try to build their own society completely free of adults. According to CBS's website, the youngsters "will cook their own meals, clean their own outhouses, haul their own water, and even run their own businesses" for a 40-day period.

Those familiar with William Golding's classic novel "Lord of the Flies" will surely wince at the concept. Although things didn't get quite as bad in "Kid Nation" as they did for Piggy and company, a promo for the series depicts children crying and being bullied. "And when [the children] decide to be mean to each other, they're horrible," show producer Tom Forman told TV Week Magazine. "You're seeing kids at their absolute best and worst."

It sounds like kids being kids. But in this faux reality, a $20,000 prize is awarded at the end of each episode to one outstanding child, awarded by the kids themselves. As if getting picked last in gym class wasn't bad enough.

Despite off-camera adult supervision, accidents occurred on the set of "Kid Nation." An 11-year-old girl suffered minor burns on her face from a cooking mishap, and several other children required medical attention after accidentally drinking bleach. The attorney general's office in New Mexico, where the show was filmed, is now reviewing the matter, office spokesman Phil Sisneros said.

While it's not clear whether CBS violated any laws, it is clear that this controversy goes beyond child labor laws in one state. The show speaks to an increasingly voyeuristic audience and to the networks' willingness to bring in ratings at any cost. It's a long way from "Kids Say the Darndest Things" to "Kid Nation."

New Mexico's child welfare agency is pledging more scrutiny of any reality TV producers who decide to film in that state in the future. "This has been a learning experience for all of us," said Romaine Serna, spokeswoman for the New Mexico Children, Youth and Families Department. The fallout from "Kid Nation" should also serve as a learning experience for parents who allow the allure of stardom for their children to come before their well-being. It is also time, though, for viewers to step back and reestablishthe line between entertainment and exploitation.