As half term is nearly upon us and the children will be enjoying using their devices during the holiday I thought it may be useful to have some information on game and films age ratings.
Some pupils have been watching the Netflix series Squid Games on you tube, this programme has an age rating of 18 and is therefore unsuitable for children under the age of 18 to view. BBFC age ratings can help parents decide if films and TV shows are right for their family. You’ll see age ratings – like U, PG and 12 – in the cinema, on DVDs and on streaming services.
PEGI (Pan European Game Information) is a content rating system used in over 35 European countries that provides age recommendations for gaming content, which includes mobile apps. It’s not always easy to find the age or content rating on an app or game. They can usually be found in the ‘terms and conditions’ or ‘terms of use’. Often this information will be in the settings section of the app or game. Some apps will ask users to confirm their age before signing up but often it’s very easy to say yes without there being any checks. Other apps don’t ask for any age confirmation at all. Because of this, we recommend being with your child when they download a new app or play a new game. Take the time to explore it together and decide together whether it’s appropriate. Just because an app or game has an age rating or recommendation, doesn’t mean it’s appropriate for your child. Each child is different and you know better than anyone whether it’s right for your child.
Children do enjoy going onto YouTube to watch film clips and listen music. Unfortunately, some of the content can be distressing and violent. Although children of all ages often watch YouTube content directly via the website or main YouTube app, YouTube itself states that the only place children should be watching its videos is in the YouTube Kids app. I have included information to help you set up You Tube Kids on your devices. I hope the guides are useful and you enjoy a relaxing week