AIBU to refuse GTA for my 14-year-old despite peer pressure?

My 14 year old has it. He likes to build up a collection of cars and likes to show me them (he loves cars). Plays with mates on it. Has time limits and it hasn’t affected his personality. I would have preferred to hold off another year but all his friends had it and he wanted to play with them. Luckily, he’s a sensible lad and not about to be influenced by it to become a killer or a drug lord.

I really really don't think your older DS didn't finish school because he had the wrong console.
If his friends bullied him for that they weren't friends. And that was his problem - that he couldn't distinguish between real and fake friends. Which is common unfortunately in ND kids.

He'll only play it at his pals then. Banning it at 14 does nothing but make him the odd one out. Trust me, 2 ds's here. I was horrified to find out my 13 Yr old was well versed in GTA as his best pal had older brothers who played it.
My ds's are grown up and as sensible as can be, it did them no harm.

Its your call @Jorge14

My 11yo reports that his friends play GTA. I've said he can play it once he's moved out of home.

It's tough but yes, of course you can. I have 4 sons and made it very clear that GTA would never cross our threshold no matter what their ages. They didn't like it but all survived. There are other games.

Everyone I knew as a young teen had GTA. We all played it, including myself when we were all together (I'm female and not a gamer, it was just so popular and something we all did). I'd get him the game.

Yanbu. I expect the bullies would have found something else to bully about with your older son. Explain to your son your principles and why you won't let him have it.

A friend of mine worked on an earlier version and he justified the adult (grotesque) themes in it by the fact it has an 18 certificate so younger teens shouldn't be playing it. They know full well most parents don't take notice of the age ratings.

Depends on the 14 year old

Our teens knew that we were opposed to them getting certain games/online access before they were ready.

Our 15 year old asked for GTA when he was 15 and after a conversation about how it’s just a game, just pixels on a screen, that he wasn’t to get upset about losing or even consider that it was real life or if couldn’t turn it off, it affected his school work, his personality changed, it made him angry, if any of that happened we would take it off him (similar conversation with youngster about Fortnite aged 13) - if he agrees to all that I would let him have it.

By the time our 15 year old got GTA his best mate already owned a bank! (Which in GTA world means far too many hours playing I think)

It comes down to the 14 year old tou know him best. Put your terms and conditions in place and get him to agree beforehand.