So you let your kids whatch 12/15/18 programmes when they are only 10???

[Cantcook842]

AIBU here or not? I'm not a complete rule follower. I'm sure my child has watched the old older thing occasionally.
But I'm hearing from family members and school friends about what they watch and play and it just confuses me. Do people not want their kids to be kids anymore? Are they quite happy to expose them to violence etc from a young age?
Some recent examples :
Kids in my sons class are age 9 and 10. For at least two years a lot of the boys have been playing Grand Theft Auto. This is a 17+ game due to violent content /crime /rape/prostitutes. My son constantly asking to play and join in. We say no. His cousin also plays it who is 8 years old.

Watching films such as deadpool (15) contains sex and violence. Horror films such as IT, Halloween and Chucky.

The girls in the class are all on tik tok adult accounts and most of them have phones that they bring into school and show each other very grown up videos whilst walking home.

The new recent Netflix programme Squid Games is also 17+. My husband and I watched it and enjoyed it, but it is full of violence and death. Son goes into school, kids all talking about it because they've watched it. My 7 year old daughter loves to play on Roblox, she shows me that there have been squid games created on there, aimed at very young children!

Girls at school watch love Island and think that's a good example for a how a woman to be and aspire to be influencers.
Am I the mean one for not letting my 10 year old watch adult rating programmes and games?

I look on common sense media and judge from that.

But generally I let them watch a couple of years ahead of their actual age.

My DD had friends aged 11 who were allowed to watch the series Chernobyl which I thought was

Nope but I’m not keen on my kids playing Roblox either.

Yeah, use the common sense media website.

Some 12's are fine for 10 year old but it does depend on your 10 year old.

I hate tictok and hear kids on the bus laughing at all sorts of stuff their parents wouldn't be happy them watching.

I think there's a distinct lack of responsibility for parenting, the 'norms' have shifted so everyone thinks its ok and its hard to not allow it then. But I tend to agree OP. Boundaries are good and children feel cared for if adults bother to protect them.

I tend to use common sense media.

Ds isn’t interested at all in the things other people are watching but loves history related documentaries so if unsure I will watch ahead of him or alongside him. I’m sure some people would judge what he has watched in that sense but it done knowing him and his interests and ability to question and understand.

It depends on the films/tv shows. Grand theft auto - hell no. My 10 year old has seen the original It but not the remake. She has also watched some milder horrors like the others. She has seen some 15 tv shows like stranger things and buffy the vampire slayer (certain episodes I have not allowed). Basically I use my own judgment not the rating.

YANBU, I find it shocking too. I know 13 yo girls who’ve watched all of Bridgerton, including that oral sex scene. I think it’s lazy parenting that’s too blame - not wanting to set boundaries, not wanting to have discussions or not even caring. Age ratings are usually there for a reason.

For me it would depend on the purpose. Watching a documentary style programme together I would consider as it has some educational value depending o. The maturity of the child, playing GTA definitely not.

I agree completely and it's so sad that kids can't just be kids and have to be exposed to all this from such a young age. My oldest is only 7 and we've been lucky so far that it doesn't seem any of her friends are watching or playing games that are too old for them but I'm dreading it over the next few years.

Generally the age ratings are there for good reason but there are exceptions I'll make on a case by case basis.

My 10yo has watched Hot Fuzz (15) because the violence is quite slapstick and swearing isn't language that he hasn't been exposed to before. He's also watched Monty Python films that have changed ratings over the years. I would find the violence in a Marvel film too graphic.
This is a child who often struggles with the kind of "mild peril" in many PGs and can find the tone of a 12A more direct and easier to process.

If you tube throws up GTA gamer videos, I make them turn them off because I don't want to encourage the algorithms to send them more of that type of content. I have explained that they are 18s and will not be playing them for many, many years (probably not the full 8-10 years until they are 18, but as far into the teenage years as I can manage!)

I've never heard of that website. Just had a look, it's very useful.

Description on there of squid games :

"WHAT PARENTS NEED TO KNOW

Parents need to know that the level of violenceis very intense inSquid Game. Characters are systematically tortured and killed for the sadistic pleasure of a game master. Adults have sex, and there are threats of sexual violence -- women are grabbed by the hair and beaten. Themes concerningthe highs one gets from gambling, winning, or conning money are a main focus." so absolutely not appropriate for a 9 year old who still believes in santa and the Easter bunny!

Generally no I don't let the dds watch things over their age. I supervise them watching Harry Potter films. They are 8 and 11.

Depends what it is and why it has the rating. Swearing? Meh. Sex? If it’s in context and everyone’s an adult and having a good time, I don’t worry. Violence? Hard no.

And 9/10 year old are watching it?! I wouldn't even watch it! I don't know if school would be interested in knowing, I guess it's not up to them? Just can't believe a parent would think it was ok unless they hadn't paid any attention to whats going on.

I used my judgement. A 15 certificate war film due to the contextual violence of war isn't the same as a horror movie. They would drive the taxi or ambulance around in grand theft auto but weren't allowed to play the game properly. Didn't have Netflix or tictoc then so non issue

I think it is different watching with your family (especially if you have older siblings) but on the whole I agree with you OP.
My 12 year old's, generally molly coddled and over protected, friend has had GTA for about a year. His Mum says "he only plays the racing bit". I am sure she has no idea.
I am less concerned about swearing, but don't want my children wanting sex scenes, or horror/violence.
The older they get the less you know what their watching though, especially on phones and tablets.

I check the parental guidance bit on IMDB if I'm unsure.
My 11 year old has watched the Cornetto trilogy and a few other 15s like Baywatch. I'm not worried about swearing so much or a little mild consensual sex. Serious violence, yes.
There's no way in hell I'd let him watch an 18!

It's always been like this though. When I was that age in the 80s some kids were watching Friday the 13th and all the slasher films, I was never allowed (and not bothered, they seemed stupid)

We don't strictly follow the age ratings but definitely no GTA or super violent films for my Y7

It's tricky when you have older siblings. DDs are 11 and 9, and the 9 year old that watched far more 12 content than Dd1 would have watched at her age. It's more slightly sexual things like Friends than violence. I don't let Dd1 watch 15s though and was amazed when one of her friends was watching Stranger Things & Hunger Games in Y3.

Mine grew up on a diet of terminator, die hard and death wish etc films. So far they've not turned into raging psychopaths as adults.
What's wrong with Harry Potter? My six year old granddaughter adores it and has seen every HP film.

Tbh once my dc turned 12 I wasn't bothered about age ratings. They aren't easily shocked dc and aren't the type that have suffered nightmares. If they were more sensitive I would have made a different judgement call.

Dss (8) is allowed to play GTA by both his parents. I judge, particularly because he is a sensitive soul who suffers nightmares and has anxiety. His friends in school that are his age aren't allowed to play but he has older friends that his mum is friends with the parents of and they play together. But he's not my child so I can't make those types of decisions.

@OhGiveUp

Mine grew up on a diet of terminator, die hard and death wish etc films. So far they've not turned into raging psychopaths as adults. What's wrong with Harry Potter? My six year old granddaughter adores it and has seen every HP film.

Later hp films are very violent and upsetting.

My 10 year old watches stranger things and to be honest I don't think grand theft auto is particularly bad either. Slasher films or explicit sex are a no no from me though. Fact is stuff is more accessible now. You use common sense and determine what's OK for your child - I watched pretty woman at 12 and I'm never considered a career in prostitution

My 8yo enjoyed Cruella recently, and Maleficent. Both are 12s apparently.
Dr Who on DVD is a 12... lots of kids watch that

We decided Clarkson Farm was unsuitable due to the excessive language.

I remember as a 13yo been allowed to watch 15s at sleepovers etc (rented from Blockbuster obviously) but Blair Witch Project was banned. Its not a new thing to watch a few years ahead.

@Bridgeofslides She saw the latest one a couple of weeks ago and didn't seem traumatised by it, she was too busy hopping with excitement at the prospect of visiting HP world the following weekend I suppose.