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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To not let my 13 yo DS have the 18 certificate game Grand Theft Auto

142 replies

GinnyW · 12/05/2021 22:18

Apparently, all of my DS’s friends have this game. I am wary on so many levels. It has a high level of swearing and drug use among other “adult themes”. He is a genuinely sweet kid still, just turned 13 and I am concerned that this game is way too old for him.
AIBU He should have this 18 certificate game or AINBU and he is way too young.

OP posts:
BadLad · 12/05/2021 22:22

It's not appropriate for that age.

Brilliant game, but for adults.

OhWhyNot · 12/05/2021 22:23

I’ve heard all that too Hmm

I’m really awful and according to ds I just want him to be miserable

It’s a horrible game it’s so violent

Divineswirls · 12/05/2021 22:23

It's up to you really my DS had it age 13 as did every other boy.

Adventureswith · 12/05/2021 22:23

Way too young. And I call BS on ‘all’ his friends have it... they always say that!!

Scarlettpixie · 12/05/2021 22:24

My 14 yo used to beg to get GTA but I told him it is never being played in this house.

He is now allowed some 18 games (since turning 14) but not GTA. I vet them first and use common sense media and watch trailers to get a feel for them before saying yes. I have found the novelty soon wears off as he isn’t that fussed about shooter games and still prefers minecraft and hollow knight.

Original poster
GinnyW · 12/05/2021 22:30

Thank you so far.... I had almost given in when I heard one of my DS friends playing the other day. He is 12 and the language shocked me. I am not unknown to swear, but it just seemed out of context. They were also collecting cocaine and weed as part of the game. I really don’t want to be unreasonable but I feel there has to be boundaries.

OP posts:
BluebellCockleshell123 · 12/05/2021 22:32

My oldest son is wanting it for his 16th birthday next week and I’m still on the fence about it. 13? No way.

BoogieFeet · 12/05/2021 22:37

YANBU the certificate age is 18 for good reasons. He certainly won’t be the only 12 year old who doesn’t play it. My DS is 12 and he and his friends don’t have it. About half of them have Call of Duty, but he doesn’t get hassle about not having it (and isn’t interested in it). Among Us, Minecraft and a couple of other things are very popular with them.

CaptainCarp · 12/05/2021 22:37

I played the original GTA from about that age but it was a far cry from reality.
GTA now is too graphic / realistic & there's no chance I'd let a kid play on it.
Maybe 16+ as most would have probably now about everything in the game by then.

KizzyMoo · 12/05/2021 22:41

My 14 year old doesn't have it. Lazy parenting. Every kid doesn't have it as it's an 18.

HartstonesMustard · 12/05/2021 22:42

Not sure which version it is on but you can run the prostitute you just used by knocking her down with the car and then beating her up to get your money back. Lovely.

My sons are 18 and 15 and have never had nor played GTA. It is banned in this house. There are many other games you can play that don't involve violence toward women as entertainment.

sadpapercourtesan · 12/05/2021 22:44

My 16yo doesn't have it - it's banned in our house. Along with a couple of other games that I won't give house room to. I don't feel remotely ambivalent about it. He has other games.

bethabean · 12/05/2021 22:46

You can go to strip clubs and get private lap dances with naked women whilst talking into the microphone! Also as pp said, you can get prostitutes, watch them have sex with you and then kill them.

I'd say definitely not suitable for a 13 year old!

HelloOldSport · 12/05/2021 23:04

I played the original GTA from about that age but it was a far cry from reality

So did I. My parents are obviously terrible Wink

LizJamIsFab · 12/05/2021 23:17

My 13 yr old doesn’t have it!

Hopefully he has a lot of life left where he can play this, but no way at this age.

Virtually having sex with prostitutes and killing them! Not in my living room!

MyOtherProfile · 12/05/2021 23:22

My 15 year old doesn't have it. Very few of his friends have it. I know several adults who are gamers but won't touch it. It's misogynistic and toxic.

Toucan123 · 12/05/2021 23:42

Please don't give in to your child by letting him have this horrible misogynistic game, no matter how much he complains and tries to guilt-trip you! I know lots of parents (including my ex husband) who have said no to their children having GTA and they were absolutely right to do so. It's rated 18 for a reason. It's just not suitable.

mrstt89 · 12/05/2021 23:56

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Clymene · 13/05/2021 00:03

No gta games allows in this house.

omgwhy · 13/05/2021 00:30

My 17 year old doesn't have it! Luckily he grew out of gaming but I never caved and it's now a running joke in our house and you've reminded me.. I'll get it for his 18!

My current 13 year old knows the rules so doesn't ask, I've no doubt he'll play it at a friends but not at home.

FrangipaniDeLaSqueegeeMop · 13/05/2021 00:30

Someone told me the other day there's a mode you can lock where it's just driving around doing missions and there's swearing but no violence...is that true?

SaucyHorse · 13/05/2021 00:45

@FrangipaniDeLaSqueegeeMop

Someone told me the other day there's a mode you can lock where it's just driving around doing missions and there's swearing but no violence...is that true?
I don't know but it doesn't sound likely. A lot of the storyline missions are violent so what missions would you be doing? I suppose you could do the taxi driving etc. But even when you are driving you can run people over. I think if you took violence out of GTA there wouldn't be that much left. I personally think it's a brilliant series (or perhaps I was just corrupted as a youth), but it is inherently violent.
SaucyHorse · 13/05/2021 00:50

And it's definitely not for a 13 year old!

Although I'm a complete hypocrite because I played GTA 3 and Vice City heavily as an under-18 teenager, probably from around 13/14. I remain mild mannered and have yet to murder anyone but yeah probably it wasn't the best.

EmeraldShamrock · 13/05/2021 00:53

I wouldn't like it but wouldn't want him feeling left out.
I'd consider getting him COD if he is sensible he can tempt the group over, it is also violent without drug's and abusing women.
It's very popular with teenagers.

DeRigueurMortis · 13/05/2021 01:31

Frankly my DS wouldn't be allowed it in our house at any age.

It's a very violent and hugely misogynistic game that normalises violence and prostitution.

Thankfully he's never asked but it's a hard no and I don't give a shiny shit about "cool" pandering parents allowing this in their homes especially at the ages you describe.