A recent survey revealed that the majority of parents are advocating for cinema-style age ratings to be applied to social media content, aiming to safeguard children. Over 80% of surveyed parents expressed the desire for major tech companies to collaborate with classifiers in order to impose age restrictions on online videos, specifically highlighting concerns regarding violence, explicit language, and sexual content.
The survey, which polled 2,000 parents with children aged between 12 and 17, indicated that more than half of the respondents identified harmful or inappropriate content as their primary worry regarding their children’s well-being. Nearly three-quarters of parents stated that they would be more inclined to permit their children to use social media if the content was regulated in a similar manner. Additionally, almost 90% of parents with children aged 12 to 14 mentioned that they would feel more at ease if the content accessible to their children adhered to the standards of a 12A-rated film.
For parents of children aged 15-17, 80% expressed that they would prefer if the content did not surpass what is permissible in a 15-rated film. Notably, a fifth of parents reported that their children spend over 40 hours online, with an average of 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 organizations, including the Molly Rose Foundation and the NSPCC, it was highlighted that despite age restrictions in cinemas, minors can easily access harmful and illegal content online.
The BBFC, known for periodically consulting the public on classification guidelines for films and TV shows, suggested that a similar strategy could be implemented for social media platforms. David Austin, the chief executive of the BBFC, emphasized the importance of industry awareness, stating that the organization is prepared to collaborate with social platforms to uphold the offline standards that parents expect online.
In response, a spokesperson for the Department for Science, Innovation, and Technology acknowledged the challenges parents face regarding their children’s online activities and content exposure. The government is actively engaging with parents to gather insights for potential regulatory actions, including age restrictions, screen time limitations, enhanced safety features, and curbing addictive algorithms.
The survey, conducted by OnePoll for the BBFC between March 17 and 23, sheds light on the growing concerns among parents regarding online content accessibility for children.