... to ask your thoughts on age rating for Netflix / Amazon content

[TwoBrownSugars]

What are your thoughts on age 18 content on those platforms? I'm fairly sure that DD would not be allowed to an over 18 in our local cinema. However, they can access 18 content on Netflix.

I'd signed up for Amazon Prime a while back, and more recently DH for Netflix. Our kids use our account (I guess they can't be bothered to setup/switch profiles?).

Specifically our 16 year old DD has recently watched:

• Unbelievable: I'd actually watched this myself a while back. It is VERY good. Working in legal system myself and involved in such cases, I didn't have a problem with this one. Felt OK she could watch it even though it is over 18. In fact the two lead female detectives are very positive characters.

• Sex Education: Mixed feeling on this one. She told me she has started watching that (as have all her friends). I watched first episode to get an idea of what it is like. Most of the actors are supposed to be 16, yet the show is rated 18? That's rather strange.

At 16 I can't really control what she watches anyway ... I guess I'm happier she is watching this content at 16 rather than 14.

You can put on locks for both services - we have done that. It’s easy. You can also add in consequences if your child tries to get around them.
It’s pointless saying they wouldn’t get into the cinema - people can order DVDs and have those at home and kids can access them.
It’s up to you to parent your kids, not streaming services.

I must have missed out too,

I'd be fine with a 16yr old watching 18 Cert films/shows. In Scotland they could be married at 16

Its generally the illegal or non-certified online stuff I'd be concerned about.

My kids had kids accounts set up. Ds asked to change his at almost 12 so he could watch stranger things. Dd just uses my account to watch anything not on hers. Her favourite shows are Friends, Friday night dinner and Royal Family. She is 11.

I can see what has been watched on my account and see what DS has been watching but there is nothing to stop them watching something they want.

You can set pin numbers on netflix as DH has his locked - because he was sick of his recommended being messed up by dd's choice of shows.

I think is hard to use as guidance. They put too much emphasis on sex and not enough on violence.

I think sex education is a very good show for some teens, even as young as 14. Was suprised though to see Bridgertin was only 15. Some scenes were very steamy!

What do you guys think about Mr. robot for a 15 yo? It is rated 18 and do think it is appropriate, but DS is really bugging me for it...

[quote TwoBrownSugars]@TrialOfStyle, I don't have a problem with her watching either of those series. I'd certainly seen 18+ stuff at 16.

What prompted my initial post was Sex Education actors supposed to being 16, but the series 18.[/quote]
It’s because there is sex in it, and shows can’t cast under 18s if there’s going to be nudity or sex.

Watch a couple of episodes for yourself though if you are worried about that.

We use common sense media to help us decide if a show or film is age appropriate. It gives a rating of what children and parents both think.

Sorry, misunderstood when I posted. But yes, the rating is because it does centre around sex and there is nudity but nothing that would be shocking to a 16 year old.

I wouldn't have a problem with a 16 yr old watching that sort of 18. I'd maybe feel differently about something graphic, like the Saw films. It would depend on the 16 Yr old.

I didn't know you can password protect profiles, that's interesting. I don't suppose there's a way to search by age rating? Sometimes I want to watch 'grown up tv' but DD is popping in and out, or playing in the same room, and so I don't want to go over a 12 rating, but the only way I can find to do that is to limit my profile which is a bit of a pain.

@HiveQueen, thanks for the common sense media recommendation. It looks very useful. Both those shows listed by the OP have 16 rating. Both shows I really enjoyed.

Loved the main police characters in Unbelievable. I read the original article on which it was based (and that won a pulitzer award)

In Sex Education it's always nice sunny weather! Never too hot or too cold! Lobe the vibrant greenery. And yes @BreakOnThrough some do come so easily ;)

@Lua that site says 16 for Mr Robot (I've not seen it).

I think at 16 they should be able to watch whatever they like. You have to trust you’ve brought them up well enough to understand stuff and hope they’ll talk to you about things they’ve seen if they need to.

Younger than that they should have their own kids account / parental controls on etc. I also tell my 9 year old ds that I can see what he’s watched on my account and if I see he’s watched anything inappropriate there will be consequences (!) this has never happened and to be honest I do know I wouldn’t necessarily see anyway if he watched something to the end as it wouldn’t show as played but the threat alone has worked so far!

You can have profiles -my DS is 5 and we have them on Netflix and Prime.

I think 16 is fine to watch those shows though

No problem with Sex Education for 16 year old. As a previous poster has said it is sex positive. It's also interesting in that there is nothing visually explicit there, compared to other shows...note I've not finished S2 yet. I also feel it also addresses some of the questions/concerns that teenagers might have (but I suppose you'll find all those topics discussed on the web anyway).

While watching with DH I did a huge laugh out at the masturbation/car scene. It reminded me of a mess made by then BF when fooling around in the back seat of car, it went everywhere

Regarding the post on the weather...The series was filmed in Wales and CNN did a travel piece on the various locations. See this link:

www.cntraveller.com/gallery/where-is-sex-education-filmed

For sure it's OK for 16 year olds

For sure it's OK for 16 year olds .... just think about the stuff the typical 16 year old has seen on the internet at that age

As others have said, absolutely no problem with a 16 year old watching Sex Education.

I would also like to thank @HiveQueen for the www.commonsensemedia.org recommendation.

I used it to have a look at what it says about Buffy (Buffy the Vampire Slayer aired on BBC2 between 1998 and 2003) which I remember watching every single episode of at the time.

This show is currently on Amazon Prime and is well worth watching. The overall rating on common sense media is 12+ but a number of reviews do mention that the earlier seasons are more acceptable for younger viewers (perhaps 8+) and that later seasons are a bit more adult - maybe 14+.

I found this sort of nuance really useful and it coincides with my thoughts as well. So that makes me a lot happier to use this site in future when I come across shows that I haven't seen before.

What is very odd though is that Amazon label every single episode of Buffy as 15+ and always include warnings "Drug use, foul language, sexuality, violence."

To be frank, rewatching Buffy currently, I have never seen any drug use or foul language at all (perhaps though they were referring to a person described as being a witch who was going to cast a spell?).

With sexuality, I've currently rewatched 59 episodes (currently on season 3 - yes, I'm binging over Christmas) and I think there have been two times where there has been sex referenced. Buffy loses her virginity in season 2 (which isn't shown) and then she has a flashback where all you can see is rustling sheets and Buffy’s face with her eyes closed. It’s very PG. And then two characters briefly have sex in one episode in season 3 - again very PG.

Apart from that, the only sexuality I can think of in most episodes is people kissing or holding hands.

Then, when it comes to violence, yes there is violence but rewatching it now it does, for the most part, seem more funny than threatening compared to many other TV shows currently available.

For anyone old enough to remember the old Batman TV show with Adam West that used to have repeats on when I was young, then the level of violence is, generally speaking, no more than that.

However, it must be said, that it does show vampires regularly being killed. This is done by thrusting a wooden stake into them and they then disappear in a cloud of grey smoke.

Overall, the sexuality and violence is way less than in anything like Twilight which, I believe, also had a 12 certificate.

So it does seem like Amazon are a bit but that common sense media site does seem to be really useful.

Since the earlier post I have also checked out www.commonsensemedia.org recommendation ... It is indeed a useful resource and it's ratings and comments resonate with me.

For games of thrones it says 18+ and states "Artful fantasy series heavy on sexuality and violence." I know of nieces and nephews that watched that at 15/16.

For true blood it says 18+ and states "Sexy, bloody vampire drama for adults only." ... again I'd personally agree

An NYE spent binge watching Sex Education, so I have much better idea of the content now. I like it a lot.

I know it's fictional but couldn't help feeling sad for a lot of the characters :( Luckily, not so much drama when I was a teenager, but I guess everything seems a big deal at that age.

Don't let them watch Hunting Wives. It is almost Porn.