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Parenting teenagers has its ups and downs. Get advice from Mumsnetters here.

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Parenting teenagers has its ups and downs. Get advice from Mumsnetters here.

Teenagers

Do you let your teenager play 18 rated games?

45 replies

PosiePootlePerkins · 08/07/2017 21:49

My 13 year old is convinced he is the only teenager in the whole world who isn't allowed 18 rated games on his PS4. I am new to all of this and would gladly return to the world of minecraft and mario so I don't have to make these parenting decisions! He is looking at some of the Assasins Creed games. What do you lot think? Am I an overprotective parent if I say no?
Thanks

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Snap8TheCat · 08/07/2017 21:49

Nope!

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Chewbecca · 08/07/2017 21:53

Some, yes but not all. I read the reviews and the info on common sense media & make a decision game by game.

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PosiePootlePerkins · 08/07/2017 21:55

Thanks for speedy replies. Chewbecca any opinions on Assasins Creed? I did watch a trailer for the pirate one (Black Flag), it all seems so gory! Maybe I'm just an old fuddy duddy though...

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strikealight · 08/07/2017 21:56

Not the only teenager. They are 18 for a reason.
My 43 year old dh has to skip through all the murders, sexual activity/violence etc because he can't stomach it. And he is old enough and mature enough to process and understand context.

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PosiePootlePerkins · 08/07/2017 21:58

Strikealight my DH commented that he would find some of the scenes difficult. (He's not a gamer though) Would definitely rule out any with sexual activity.

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FabulouslyGlamorousFerret · 08/07/2017 21:58

Yep, by 13 he will be exposed to everything at high school anyway. I wouldn't let mine play on 18 games excessively but every now and then is fine in my opinion. The prostitute shagging actually started a fab conversation about misogyny and exploitation.

Every child is different.

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TartanDMs · 08/07/2017 22:00

I let mine play CoD and the like at that age, but not GTA. He was only interested in war games, racing games and football games though.

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PosiePootlePerkins · 08/07/2017 22:01

Interesting FabulouslyGlamorousFerret I do think he's reasonably mature and he does have interests beyond his PS4.

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FabulouslyGlamorousFerret · 08/07/2017 22:01

ETA - we only discussed the prostitute shagging - ds has avoided (genuinely, he would tell me if he didn't) all of that side of the games he plays as he says that bit's for weirdos

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PosiePootlePerkins · 08/07/2017 22:02

He seems to like the action/adventure types, there's a real gap in the market though, everything seems to involve killing sprees as well.

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PosiePootlePerkins · 08/07/2017 22:02

Haha Fabulously your DS seems to have a good head on his shoulders

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Chewbecca · 08/07/2017 22:03

It is an annoying one as the AC film is a 12A and the video games are 18. DS (13) doesn't have it but would like to. He hasn't asked because he thinks it is beyond my tolerance. We've looked at a lot together so he knows what is and isn't ok himself now & doesn't bother asking for certain ones - AC being one I'm afraid!

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PosiePootlePerkins · 08/07/2017 22:04

Thanks chewbacca

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FabulouslyGlamorousFerret · 08/07/2017 22:04

Yes, Posie he has lots of interests outside of his (Xbox one), football, cadets and he's out and about a lot, he also doesn't play GTA or COD obsessively, he's been playing minecraft all week and Fifa the week before. I wouldn't like it if he was on it all the time.

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scottishdiem · 08/07/2017 22:12

I think it depends on the game and the child. Certainly things like GTA and games that encourage random acts of violence against non-combatants could be problematic. AC lets you do this but it isnt part of the game play.

I always get confused when people complain about gory things in these games. At a young age I saw Raiders of the Lost Ark. At the end, peoples faces are melted off. Nothing in any game comes close to that. It has a PG rating. (never mind the guy minced by the propeller blade). So it depends on the child playing the game. If the parent lets them watch a PG film like that, nothing in any game is going to be more gory.

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PosiePootlePerkins · 08/07/2017 22:21

Scottishdiem that is thought provoking... I have been trying to analyse what it is I don't like in some of the games and I think 'random acts of violence' is a good way to sum it up. I have watched a few gameplay trailers for AC and it seems that when you're actually playing it is all about completing a mission, and that there will be killing and blood/gore etc involved. Still not sure how I feel about that...

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PosiePootlePerkins · 08/07/2017 22:29

We have watched Marvel's Ironfist which is an 18 and has a fair amount of violence, he wasn't upset by it, he just enjoyed the fight scenes (he does self defence classes so it appealed to him) and we laughed at some of the more outrageous gory scenes as they were so unbelievable. That sounds a bit cold, just trying to demonstrate that he wasn't overly sensitive!

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notangelinajolie · 08/07/2017 22:30

AC and COD OK ish. GTA I don't like. You need to judge for yourself - have a look on youtube - there will clips. TBH there is just as much bad stuff on telly. I watched a James Bond film the other night (and it was one of the old ones) and that was pretty gruesome.

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PosiePootlePerkins · 08/07/2017 22:33

Yes he's watched all the JB films! Able to take it all with a big pinch of salt.

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HopeClearwater · 08/07/2017 22:37

Have looked at Friday the 13th being played (which 'all' my 15 year old's friends play, apparently) and I thought the violence and manner of murders was very nasty... I was more shocked than I thought I'd be, considering it's cgi and not actors...

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scottishdiem · 08/07/2017 22:42

I think that if you really want to assess a game you can watch someone else play it. Twitch lets you do this. Gamers stream the game as they are playing it (the game, not anything else) and you can watch them play it. You can see what is involved in terms of the puzzle solving, the action, the moves and the killing.

Gives you a realistic version of the game, not adverts which may not include actual gameplay. Adverts are often more realistic and violent than most of the game.

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PosiePootlePerkins · 08/07/2017 22:43

Thank you scottishdiem that is really helpful**

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scottishdiem · 08/07/2017 22:44

Currently this guy is playing AC - www.twitch.tv/olives_86

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Lou898 · 08/07/2017 22:48

I've always said no and don't regret it. My eldest 18 in 2 weeks used to moan but he says he understands my point of view more now. It's going to be difficult in 2 weeks as he will then be able to play them and I have a 13 yo too and the PS4 is in the front room. Do I ban him from watching??!

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scottishdiem · 08/07/2017 22:52

Lou898 - so he still isnt allowed two weeks from being 18?

I find the 18 age limit so weird. You can be trained to kill people by the army before then and then deployed on your 18th birthday. And sex is allowed at 16.

If I ever have kids (very very unlikely) I would be much more concerned about some of the things they can do legally than playing a game under age by two weeks.

And as for your 13 year old - have they heard of Twitch I wonder.....that link I posted is free, open, with no age restriction or even login required. He is still playing AC (badly in my humble opinion).