A recent survey reveals that parents are advocating for the implementation of cinema-style age ratings on social media content to safeguard children. The majority of parents expressed the desire for technology companies to collaborate with classifiers to impose age restrictions on online videos, particularly highlighting concerns about violence, explicit language, and sexual themes.
In a survey involving 2,000 parents with children aged 12 to 17, over half identified harmful or inappropriate content as their top worry regarding their child’s well-being. Nearly three-quarters indicated that they would be more inclined to allow their children to use social media if the content was regulated in this manner. Additionally, almost 90% of parents with 12 to 14-year-old children stated they would feel more at ease if their children’s social media exposure aligned with what is permissible in a 12A-rated film.
For parents of 15 to 17-year-olds, 80% indicated that they would prefer their children’s access to online content to adhere to what is allowed in a 15-rated film. A significant portion of parents reported that their children spend over 40 hours online, with the average being 17 hours and 35 minutes.
The British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) has reached out to Tech Secretary Liz Kendall, urging for increased measures to ensure age-appropriate content. In an open letter endorsed by various advocacy groups, including the Molly Rose Foundation and the NSPCC, concerns were raised about the accessibility of harmful and illegal content online to young audiences.
Campaigners suggest that a consultation model similar to the BBFC’s classification guidelines for films and TV shows could be applied to social media platforms. David Austin, the CEO of BBFC, emphasized the importance of industry response to the survey findings, stating that the BBFC is ready to collaborate with social media companies to maintain the same high standards online as offline.
A spokesperson from the Department for Science, Innovation, and Technology acknowledged the challenges parents face regarding their children’s online activities and content exposure. The government is considering additional measures, such as age restrictions, screen time limits, and safer platform designs, to address these concerns.
The survey, commissioned by the BBFC and conducted by OnePoll between March 17 and 23, sheds light on the pressing need for improved regulation of online content to protect children’s well-being.