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

[GinnyW]

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.

You are doing the right thing by not letting him have it. My son begged and pleaded for it at age 13; and I refused. He played it once at a friend’s house ; then lost interest and went back to playing FIFA . I am so glad I did not give in!

Ds 13 has some shooting games, I think COD may be one, to play with friends but knows that I'm not having GTA in the house.
He pushed for a while but understands now it is a firm no.
Most of his friends have no limits but some have stricter limits than him on what they can have.
I don't care either way I've got my own boundaries in my own house.

Actually his friends keep drifting back to Minecraft!!

YANBU. No way would my 13yo be allowed.

Mine plays FIFA, football manager, rocket league, spider man, sometimes fortnite and Minecraft.

Hi op,
I’ve played GTA twice and I’m 21.
I would say it’s defo not suitable for a 13 year old !
Game is very heavy on adult content, there’s brothels and strip clubs where u can get women (who are half naked full breasts shown) who give the main characters lap dances. Prostitutes who perform a range of sex acts on main characters (pretty graphic like a porn vid with animated characters instead) Women are frequently depicted as sexual objects, with a strip club mini-game allowing players to fondle strippers' bodies. Constantly swearing every 5 seconds, not just your standard f bomb but much worse. Game is full of everything illegal u could possibly think of; drugs, gambling and violence etc.

Ds had GTA age 12, he turns the sound down, he likes the game for the driving & flying the plane. He is 17 now & while he sometimes still plays GTA, he prefers to play things like tomb raider, some game where he drives trains (ds is asd & trains are his passion) Minecraft online with his friend & COD.

@Divineswirls

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

Really? It's a no here even for a 17 year old, the content is horrible.

My DH (40s) plays it. But for a teenager no fucking way!!!

I play it quite a bit. I let my kids do some parts with me like races, but they wouldn't have it unsupervised for a long time as there's some parts that's not appropriate

Nope, not at 13. I'm a gamer, I'm all for it in moderation but not GTA5. It isn't occasional bad language and violence, it's a game that is entirely bad language, misogyny, violence. One story mission has you torturing someone over and over, including waterboarding and electrocution, the online is full of griefing. So many amazing games out there, that are far better for that age

I wouldn't dream of it. The 18 certificate is there for a reason!

OP - stand firm, you are doing the right thing. Despite what your son says, I'm sure everyone else doesn't have GTA.

This is one of the tough calls of being a parent. Don't give in, GTA is 18 rated for a reason.

Thank you, all of you. I will stay strong and it will have to be a definite no.

I played GTA at his age and wasn't bothered by it in the slightest, but then I more or less treated it as a driving simulator and didn't engage with the story elements, which is where most of the more severe content is.

Not appropriate. You can pick up prostitutes and choose what "service" they give you. There's loud sexual moaning and the car shakes.

I have had this discussion a few times with ds13 - everyone he knows has it, he will only use the racing bit etc etc. My answer has been and will continue to be no

It's on the banned list of games in my house. My teens are 14 and (sen) 16 yr old. It's quite frankly not happening.

Another no here. After careful consideration, we've allowed DS(13) COD - but its a hard no on GTA.

Definitely not for a 13 YO... I bought it for my DS, but he was 21 at the time.

It's an awesome game, though!

I used to come across this all the time when I worked in game, and the graphics weren't nearly so advanced then. Tried to warn parents off it, most didn't listen. Absolutely not from me, it's a hugely misogynistic game.

Personally, I don't think it should be allowed to be sold at all - not if you can choose to buy prostitutes and then kill them (I'd always hoped that was hyperbolic rumour but has been mentioned several times on this thread). That's disgusting and shouldn't be available as entertainment to anyone, let alone children.

My 25 year old has it. He bought it himself. Fortunately he hardly plays it now. He is completely dedicated to World of Warcraft. My (almost 15 year old desperately wants it. It’s not happening.

Each to their own. If you don’t want him to have it then that’s your choice.

Some of the kids aged 12/13 round here have it some don’t. Each parents choice.

Do you let him watch 18 rated movies? The content is equivalent.

I was told by DS13 I was the only mum in the world who didn’t let their underage kid play GTA (I let him when he was 16 after a long conversation. Played it for a couple of months, novelty wore off, back to FIFA)