Parents are calling for cinema-style age ratings to be applied to social media content to better protect children, according to a new survey. More than eight in ten parents surveyed said they want tech companies to collaborate with classification bodies to impose age limits on online videos, highlighting concerns over violence, bad language, and sexual themes.
Survey Findings
The poll of 2,000 parents with children aged 12 to 17 revealed that over half consider harmful or inappropriate content their top concern for their child's wellbeing. Nearly three-quarters said they would be more likely to allow their child to use social media if content was moderated in this way. Among parents of children aged 12 to 14, almost nine in ten said they would feel more comfortable if the content their child could see did not exceed what is permitted in a 12A-rated film.
For parents of 15- to 17-year-olds, eight in ten said they would feel more at ease if accessible content did not surpass that of a 15-rated film. The survey also found that one in five parents reported their child spends over 40 hours online, with the average being 17 hours and 35 minutes.
BBFC's Call for Action
The British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) has written to Technology Secretary Liz Kendall urging stronger measures to ensure age-appropriate content online. In an open letter signed by campaign groups including the Molly Rose Foundation and the NSPCC, they stated: "A 13-year-old cannot watch an 18-rated film in a cinema, yet they can easily access harmful and illegal content online."
The BBFC consults thousands of UK residents every four to five years on its classification guidelines for films and TV series. Campaigners believe this approach could be applied to social media companies. David Austin, chief executive of the BBFC, described the findings as a "wake-up call for the industry," adding: "We have the expertise and experience to help, and stand ready to work with social platforms to ensure that the high standards parents expect offline are delivered online."
Government Response
A spokesperson for the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology said: "Parents across the country are grappling with their children's screen time and what they are seeing online. Ministers have been engaging directly with them to understand their experiences and inform our next steps." The spokesperson added: "We already have laws to require that platforms prevent access to the most harmful content, but we are considering further measures with our consultation – from age restrictions and screentime curfews to safer design features and limiting addictive algorithms. This isn't a question of whether we will act, but how."
The survey was conducted by OnePoll for the BBFC between March 17 and 23.
