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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Squid games

352 replies

Poppetts1234 · 02/10/2021 17:51

I know a mum that allows her 9 year old to watch this.

I’m really interested to see how many parents are ok with this?

AIBU to be a bit shocked about this?

Yes I should mind my own business but I’d be really interested to hear others opinions

OP posts:
blackcurrantjam · 10/10/2021 23:52

Yanbu to be shocked in a way but yabu not to ask a further question of why on earth so many children seem to have jumped on the squidgame bandwagon! Alot of this thread is thoughtless pearl clutching and judgement. Yes it is a grisly and macabre show and probably unnecessary for primary age to watch but it's actually got a really serious message about capitalism and the responsibility of the system for putting people in impossible situations. I find it fascinating that so many have watched it tbh. My older preteens watched it at my exes and I wasn't happy but they're ok and I will be using the opportunity to talk with them about the issues it raises tbh. It's really slipped through the net this one but imo it's important to ask why.

blackcurrantjam · 10/10/2021 23:57

An answer might be perhaps they see something in it that reflects their reality. Thousands - more - have just been thoughtlessly picked off by a virus that has disrupted their lives immeasurably. The contestants are effectively numbered boxed then killed. The contestants are all there because the society - a capitalist one- in which they live has spectacularly failed them and they are desperate. Perhaps our children see something in the series they don't even realise they see. What's worrying is all the adults, certainly lots on this thread, simply start judging others 'less than' themselves and howling about how violent it is, without actually asking the deeper more revealing questions about it.

TheSunnySide · 11/10/2021 00:10

My DCs school just sent an email out saying they are concerned that children at school are watching it DC is 10 and no way would I let him see it.

Sunshinealligator · 11/10/2021 00:53

Flipping heck. I watched it with my almost 14 years old, a few bits were a bit much for a child of her age. Definitely wouldn't let a 9year old watch it.

Furries · 11/10/2021 01:04

@blackcurrantjam

An answer might be perhaps they see something in it that reflects their reality. Thousands - more - have just been thoughtlessly picked off by a virus that has disrupted their lives immeasurably. The contestants are effectively numbered boxed then killed. The contestants are all there because the society - a capitalist one- in which they live has spectacularly failed them and they are desperate. Perhaps our children see something in the series they don't even realise they see. What's worrying is all the adults, certainly lots on this thread, simply start judging others 'less than' themselves and howling about how violent it is, without actually asking the deeper more revealing questions about it.
What a load of bollocks! Age guidance is there for a reason.

There are numerous threads across the boards here re this show. The amount of times I’ve seen people saying along the lines of “... but it’s not as bad as Saw, Hostel, etc”. Those two films are rated 18, so god knows why they’re being used as comparisons.

The reason we can “ask deeper more revealing questions about it” is because we’re bloody adults. And yes, I’m going to judge people who let their young kids watch this, then trot out bullshit to justify it.

But hey, let’s just expose kids to this kind of stuff. Nothing wrong with becoming desensitised to graphic violence, twisted ideas and people turning on each other eh?!

Pretty much every day on here, you’ll see threads about yet another news item of some awful attack/murder etc - and people rightly saying that something needs to be done re violent crimes. And yet, you have multiple posts on the threads re this programme justifying why kids as young as 9 (and less in a couple of instances) are absolutely fine to be watching it.

GrimDamnFanjo · 11/10/2021 02:03

DD almost 15 and watched it alone. She then watched the last 3 episodes again with us and we discussed the themes.
I found it too much for me and I'm normally fine. There something about the way people are deemed disposable which I found upsetting.
There's no way I'd let a tween watch this,

Furries · 11/10/2021 02:13

@GrimDamnFanjo

DD almost 15 and watched it alone. She then watched the last 3 episodes again with us and we discussed the themes. I found it too much for me and I'm normally fine. There something about the way people are deemed disposable which I found upsetting. There's no way I'd let a tween watch this,
So, you found it too much. But you let your DD (under 15) watch it alone. Why?
GrimDamnFanjo · 11/10/2021 02:21

@Furries I didn't know she was watching it!

malificent7 · 11/10/2021 07:49

Dd 13 watched Squid games before i knew what it is. Its quite violent...i wasn't thrilled when i realised. However she has grown out of all the kids stuff on netflix.
But i saw worse as a teen...
Temple of Doom...violence, sacrifice, ick things.
Alien...just gross.
Pulp fiction
Blah blah blah.

WhyDoesItAlways · 11/10/2021 08:29

@blackcurrantjam

An answer might be perhaps they see something in it that reflects their reality. Thousands - more - have just been thoughtlessly picked off by a virus that has disrupted their lives immeasurably. The contestants are effectively numbered boxed then killed. The contestants are all there because the society - a capitalist one- in which they live has spectacularly failed them and they are desperate. Perhaps our children see something in the series they don't even realise they see. What's worrying is all the adults, certainly lots on this thread, simply start judging others 'less than' themselves and howling about how violent it is, without actually asking the deeper more revealing questions about it.
That's just a poor excuse for poor parenting, trying to dress it up as educational. There are plenty of life lessons to be had across many other more age appropriate movies and TV shows if you bother to look a bit further than what's trending on Netflix.
PasstheBucket89 · 12/10/2021 09:50

What's different about squid game is how upsetting the disposable ness of the contestants are for the audience, you feel sad

lots of other horrors!/actions you see people shot, killed, blown up even in like avengers films but don't really bat an eyelid?

for children to watch its more upsetting

smellyyoghurt · 12/10/2021 09:56

My daughter is in year 1 at an infant school. 2 children in her class have initiated playing some of the games on the playground. I know young kids might pick some things up from older siblings but the play is detailed enough that I think they must have watched at least part of it. School have now banned the games, but it's a bit depressing that anyone could think it's ok for a 5 or 6 year old to watch it.

FirewomanSam · 12/10/2021 10:08

My daughter is in year 1 at an infant school. 2 children in her class have initiated playing some of the games on the playground. I know young kids might pick some things up from older siblings but the play is detailed enough that I think they must have watched at least part of it. School have now banned the games, but it's a bit depressing that anyone could think it's ok for a 5 or 6 year old to watch it.

But the ‘games’ are all based on children’s games in the first place, so I don’t understand how school could ban them?

TurnUpTurnip · 12/10/2021 10:12

Wow literally just got an email from our school to say that kids have been playing these games and copying them in the play ground! Primary school Shock it’s definitely from the show and not just playing them same names as the email says the children have mentioned the show and have been play fighting to “eliminate” the losers

smellyyoghurt · 12/10/2021 10:22

@FirewomanSam it's the games that are being played because of Squid Game that are getting banned, rather than all playground games if that makes sense.

So 'Red Light, Green Light' has been banned because the version that the kids were playing featured the losers being shot. So I guess it's pretty clear to the school that they're recreating the programme to a degree rather than just playing a regular playground game. So now, they've just asked the kids not to play that game at all, shooting or no shooting. I guess until it all dies down a bit.

MiaMarshmallows · 12/10/2021 10:28

Definitely not

PasstheBucket89 · 12/10/2021 11:22

Well......

Roblox have several squid games that basically take you through every frame I found out last night from my 9 year old Hmm

Winecurestiredness · 12/10/2021 11:27

My boys school recently sent out a note to parents about 'challenges' happening in the playground. I did wonder if it was anything to do with Squid game. I haven't watched it yet...but DS1 has found a game on Roblox based on it already and talks about it...even though none of us watch it. Its everywhere ATM.

FirewomanSam · 12/10/2021 12:26

@smellyyoghurt wow OK that really is quite shocking! I wouldn’t be too shocked at teens watching it (although recreating the games for fun is a bit depressing given the entire message of the show) but primary school children is a whole different story.

Hugoslavia · 13/10/2021 09:58

On the plus side we have discussed organ harvesting, organ selling, North Korea and the fact that some people are so poor and desperate they will do anything for money.

Oh yes, it's the perfect educational programme for 9 years old, who also benefit about learning about organ harvesting and North Korea, sex, human biology, game strategy whilst also simultaneously improving both their English (subtitles) whilst learning a second language at the same time. I might suggest that my child's primary school roll it out for KS2. Hmm

gingerbiscuits · 13/10/2021 10:57

Absolutely no way in hell - it's far too gruesome for a CHILD!! 😱

Mamamia7962 · 13/10/2021 11:15

It has a 15 rating for a reason. All those saying they would let primary aged children watch it, would you try and get them into a 15 rating at the cinema, by saying "oh it's ok, we can discuss it afterwards so that's fine." Of course you wouldn't.

This is no different. Why do some people not parent their children any more.

Clocktopus · 13/10/2021 18:07

Someone I know has just posted on her FB feed that she is watching with the family and that her 7 year old "loves it". Even by my standards, that's far too young. 7yo apparently wants the merchandise for Christmas and will be dressing as a guard for Halloween.

Someone else has posted about her 10yo watching it although I expected it from her as she also let her DC watch Deadpool. I love Deadpool but I wouldn't let my (then) 8yo watch it.

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 13/10/2021 18:34

Haven’t read the full thread in case of spoilers!

I’m currently half way through Squid Game. Wouldn’t let a child watch it! It’s one of those where the suspense as much as the actual violence is terrifying and could really disturb a young teen.

I think parents make the mistake of allowing kids to watch anything without a lot of nudity, but forget about the violence and other aspects that make tv unsuitable for kids.

No way would my teenager watch it!

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 13/10/2021 18:36

I’m surprised it’s a 15 and not an 18 tbh