To put in a complaint about Amazon for this?

[SoniaFouler]

I’m not sure this is right

6 year olds playing by themselves on the internet without very very tight restrictions is rarely a good idea.
I hope he's ok.

Well, I know I’m late to this party but FWIW I find that advert very creepy, I think sometimes that plasticine stop motion animation can be a bit unsettling.

I used to be terrified of Parsley the lion when I was little.

I mean, you can complain about anything you want in this world. Doesn’t mean it will be upheld or that you will get any compensation for it. Only you can decide if it’s worth your energy or not? It sounds like your energy would be better placed on improving your parenting skills for the reasons mentioned earlier by others.

I am not sure who you would even complain to. Amazon wouldn’t take the complaint at all. Angry birds would tell you that your child was too young to use it unsupervised. Apple would tell you to refer to the in-app t&cs. Just seems like a pointless endeavour.

Even if you get this ad banned, there just be another ad you deem inappropriate. He’s 6 and sensitive after all.

Still waiting for OP to tell us if she complained or not.

@Siepie ahhh I don't have an apple phone.

Yep on the Google Play store there is no game rating suggesting it is suitable for or designed for 4 year olds.

Just the warning that the advertising content and links are 13+.

Parents and guardians are responsible for checking terms and conditions, ratings and suitability. The info is there for you if you look, but it isn't spoon fed to you if you don't.

If you really don't want adverts, then no free games for you, buy them, and use them on a device not connected to the internet.

Takes a bit more thought that though, and effort, than packing a kid off to another room with someones phone for some peace and quiet!

My 9 year old would have found that ad creepy. And my 14 year old would have said it is weird, and would prefer not to watch it probably.

They are not weird, shield, cosseted, or anything else. They are quite sensitive to visual stuff, and both prefer not to watch things that they find creepy. My 14 year old hates anything plasticine/model/muppets - always has been weirded out by them.

The OP’s nephew (is it?, sorry can’t remember) is not weird at all for finding that ad unsettling.

The minefield between age suitability in terms of gameplay and the ads that are then shown within the app is annoying.

@idontgetpaidenoughforthis

"The App Store says 4+ I checked it"

The rating is for the app itself NOT the advertising content, which, as others have repeatedly posted, comes under the terms of service.

Sorry for the daft question, but where do you find the terms of service, and the other age rating? I've been looking on my App Store and can see the 4+ for the game but no other ratings.

Yes, you should definitely complain about this. Don’t let them fob you off. Won’t anyone here think of the claymation skeletons?! Where will it end!

Seriously OP, the time and effort you’ve put into being outraged about this should have been spent telling your nephew that yes, things can be startling, but there’s nothing to fear from an ad in a video game.

Instead you’ve likely reinforced that he should be shocked and petrified by an advertisement.

Here, maybe this will help both of you raisingchildren.net.au/school-age/behaviour/understanding-behaviour/resilience-how-to-build-it-in-children-3-8-years

Your DN 6
Angry Birds Game is rated 3+ on play store
Manufacturers say in game adverts are suitable for 13 +

They way you described the advert, it sounded like a Freddie Kruger type deal. It's a clay animation, instead of banging on about complaining, you need to ensure the kid isn't on his own whilst gaming, and if possible buy a version of the game that can be played offline usually via in app purchase. You also need to talk to him and ensure he understands that it wasn't real, and is probably equal to, or like the cartoons he watches. Put some perspective on it.

I bet it wasn't even the clay animation that scared him, but the loud music. That may have been jarring because he wasn't expecting it.

I mean I get why you want to complain, because it says it's suitable for 3+ but the adverts are 13+ so either it should be a 13+ app, or have kid friendly adverts to make it 3+, but really it's a gentle YABU, because you or whoever was in charge of childcare should have ensured he wasn't alone, and should have read the small print. Or buy an in game, full version of the app.

And for the love of God, don't let him watch Watership Down!!

@BlaBlaSmthSmth when you download the app you have to click "I accept the t&cs" and there will be a link.

Or on the App Store, click the arrow for the full description and this is what it says with the link to the full Ts&Cs

OP - people are repeatedly saying you're not listening because you're still trying to justify why you're right despite it being pointed out that it is age 13 for the ads and a 6 year old should always be supervised on a phone by whoever is with him as he could have accessed much worse

@Lou98
OP - people are repeatedly saying you're not listening because you're still trying to justify why you're right despite it being pointed out that it is age 13 for the ads

that’s not what it says at all.

Wow can’t wait for your child to enter the real world and faint of fright as soon as he leaves the house

My 6 year old would have been scared by that advert.

I would also expect a game intended for anyone over the age of 4 to only contain adverts/content suitable for those over the age of 4. So I
completely agree with the OP.

However, I don't think you will get anywhere with the complaint because of those T&Cs. Can't hurt to try though.

Best not let him watch Tom &Jerry or road runner!!

I would expect child friendly adverts only if the child was playing on a child account.

The 4+ rating means the content of the game is suitable for a 4 year old but Rovio probably set the age higher because there's in-app purchases available.

Based on the OP's description I was expecting Saw but glad it's not. Sometimes it makes me jump when adverts are loud (I usually play games with the in game sound and music muted)

@Marmelace

Weren't you advocating smacking a dog on the nose in another post before op?

Pretty much - hidden behind it being fine to swipe a kitten off a table and that children should be interrogated as what they say shouldn’t be trusted!

Omg op im a teacher and dont think that advert particularly bad!

My own 4 year old wouldnt bat an eyelid!

Ridiculously ott

When the censor puts a PG on something he/she does so in the interests of the general population. This isn't done specifically for you or your relatives. If your family's of parental supervision chooses to ignore this then that is your choice.

[quote SoniaFouler]@Lou98
OP - people are repeatedly saying you're not listening because you're still trying to justify why you're right despite it being pointed out that it is age 13 for the ads

that’s not what it says at all.[/quote]
🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️

See you also missed out the bit of my quote saying he should be being monitored

@Bagamoyo1

I think it’s sad that children now have so much screen time that parents are desensitised to screen images that they themselves would have found frightening in the past. Surely we all remember hiding behind the settee during episodes of Dr Who, with the most amateur special effects and unscary baddies? Both my kids at age 6 would have found that advert scary. It’s fast, bright, the images are ugly, and then plasticine face turns into a skull. That’s way more disturbing that someone wearing a cyberman hat made of tin foil! OP I’d much rather have a young child who was scared of such things, than a tough kid who didn’t bat an eyelid at those images. 6 years old is very young. What a pity so many posters seem to have forgotten that.

I think the previous posters can understand why the child was scared. I used to be terrified of the Planet of the Apes! My parents wouldn't complain to the TV company about it!

Lack of supervision has caused the child to be upset. You can't blame the advertiser or the game developer for that.

The OP is trying to deflect because the child was upset on their watch.

[quote Lou98]@BlaBlaSmthSmth when you download the app you have to click "I accept the t&cs" and there will be a link.

Or on the App Store, click the arrow for the full description and this is what it says with the link to the full Ts&Cs

OP - people are repeatedly saying you're not listening because you're still trying to justify why you're right despite it being pointed out that it is age 13 for the ads and a 6 year old should always be supervised on a phone by whoever is with him as he could have accessed much worse[/quote]
Thank you! That'll be really helpful as DS gets older...I had no idea that there were separate age ratings for apps, I'd assumed ads would be tailored to the rating on the main screen as I never usually read T&Cs

@BlaBlaSmthSmth my sons only a baby still so not something I've had to worry about yet, I only know because when I played games in the past such as candy crush etc I would get some adverts come up that would be really inappropriate for kids even though the game itself would be fine!

OP just complain to Ofcom. You don't need Mumsnet's approval. Stop wasting time arguing on this thread and go complain if you feel that's appropriate.

@PinkWaferBiscuit

I get what you’re saying. But it should be clearer that it’s for 13+ not 4.

It is clear if you read the terms and conditions. It's not the game makers fault that some parents don't do this or the app stores fault that the game is suitable to be seen by small children.

The fault here lies solely with the adults in charge of letting a sensitive 6 year old have unsupervised access to unchecked content.

Can I just say, to you and all the others saying the OP should have read the t's and c's - if the company which issued the t's and c's want to rely on the t's and c's they need to be reasonable under most jurisdictions, and in this situation if the main headline says "4 plus" and you have to scroll through the t's and c's to find out the ads are for 13 plus, and the headline does not say "4 plus BUT YOU HAVE TO ALSO READ CLAUSE X OF THE T'S AND C'S" in big and bold letters, it is quite possible that these t's and c's would not be seen as reasonable (I haven't read them, so this is just general comment not legal advice). If the company did it like this because saying "4 plus" will attract more people and generate more income, the chances are this would be viewed dimly by the courts if it ever ended up in dispute and viewed dimly by other bodies. My impression is not that OP wanted to sue for damages, or take legal action, but that she wanted to complain about conduct - the t's anc c's will only be relevant here if they are, prima facie, unreasonable as this might further indicate poor conduct and unreasonable behaviour by the company.

The posters saying OP should have supervised in any event are however correct, and the OP has agreed with this.