Would you let your 13 yr old watch or play 18s?

Offandonagain · 2022-10-21T15:51:27+00:00

I know the rating is 18, but personally I think that is unreasonable and totally depends on the film. My 13yr old is not allowed to watch psycho/horror gore Halloween type films such as Halloween at this rating, or sexy stuff such as Wolf of Wall Street But he has gta on his computer due to him moaning to me that his friends have it and he wants to be able to play with them. He is also currently on to season 2 of breaking bad, which I didn’t realise he was watching until yesterday as he’d binge watched it whilst ill and I was in work. I’ve seen them all and know what to expect. I don’t want to stop him because he’s really in to it and I know if it was me I’d be pissed off. yabu - bad bad parent yanbu - it depends on the individual film/game?

AmIThatMam · 21/10/2022 16:52

Absolutely not

Meagainalready · 21/10/2022 16:52

Blanket no here
never been an argument here over that for films or games with any of my kids.

CatGrins · 21/10/2022 17:00

But he has gta on his computer due to him moaning to me that his friends have it and he wants to be able to play with them.

This is a slippery slope and not a great way to parent.

Beachsidesunset · 21/10/2022 17:00

Totally depends on your child. I was watching 18 horror films at that age, with no long term damage. Another child I know was massively affected by PG films. Your call, you know him best.

Original poster

Offandonagain · 21/10/2022 17:02

CatGrins · 21/10/2022 17:00

But he has gta on his computer due to him moaning to me that his friends have it and he wants to be able to play with them.

This is a slippery slope and not a great way to parent.

How so?

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ClairyFlare · 21/10/2022 17:02

Totally depends on the film and game in my opinion

im pretty relaxed with films and TV shows in terms of age limits, but games I’m a bit firmer on as GTA for example is worse than watching a horror film

MoreTeaLessCoffee · 21/10/2022 17:03

Horror - Totally depends on the child for me. I was watching anything at that age, with my parents' blessing - my dad would even record horror films for me. No harm done and I still enjoy it now. I was really sensible though. For a more sensitive or easily led teen, it could be harmful (and in fact my parents were much stricter on this front with my sillier younger sister).

Sex/realistic violence like GTA - I'd probably be more cautious.

Breaking Bad - I actually think out of everything you listed this is the most suitable for a 13 year old, I could watch it alongside mine.

PeekabooAtTheZoo · 21/10/2022 17:05

Not a chance and it annoys me that other parents do, meaning I’m going to have to have stupid arguments like, “I don’t care what Darren down the road’s mum lets him do you’re not doing it.” Because someone else can’t tell their child ‘no’ or follow the law.
Their brains are developing.

chipsandpeas · 21/10/2022 17:05

your quite willing to let him watch breaking bad but not watch halloween

id say i saw much worse in breaking bad than halloween

Kanaloa · 21/10/2022 17:06

As far as 18s I’d use my judgement because those certificates make no sense - the Buffy spinoff has the same age rating as Trainspotting and Hostel. So I’d watch it and (knowing my child) would make a judgement on whether it was suitable for them.

The parenting is another issue, you sound utterly passive. You ‘don’t want to stop him because he’s really into it’ and he’d find it annoying?

threegoodthings · 21/10/2022 17:06

I'd sooner a 13yo watched an 18 film then played GTA where you can first person sleep with a prostitute then kill them to get your money back. Completely unsuitable for a young boy.

Original poster

Offandonagain · 21/10/2022 17:06

Breaking bad’s a good series, it’s clever too. He’s really enjoying it.

I ate that it does depend on the child. My son has a balanced life of screen time, sort, friends and family. He’s pretty switched on and mature I would say.

He doesn’t own a mobile phone so not in to tiktok/snapchat etc.

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girlmom21 · 21/10/2022 17:06

I played 18s at his age and I'm not a lunatic serial killer or a drug dealer, if that helps.

ClairyFlare · 21/10/2022 17:08

PeekabooAtTheZoo · 21/10/2022 17:05

Not a chance and it annoys me that other parents do, meaning I’m going to have to have stupid arguments like, “I don’t care what Darren down the road’s mum lets him do you’re not doing it.” Because someone else can’t tell their child ‘no’ or follow the law.
Their brains are developing.

Follow the law?

hilarious

it’s illegal for them to be sold the games, not for parents to allow them to play it.

Original poster

Offandonagain · 21/10/2022 17:08

PeekabooAtTheZoo · 21/10/2022 17:05

Not a chance and it annoys me that other parents do, meaning I’m going to have to have stupid arguments like, “I don’t care what Darren down the road’s mum lets him do you’re not doing it.” Because someone else can’t tell their child ‘no’ or follow the law.
Their brains are developing.

Surely you have to do that anyway, in other situations such as when Darren down the road gets a telly in his room or £300 to spend in JD?

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Daisymae55 · 21/10/2022 17:08

My brother and I both played GTA and watched horror films from a similar age (I was watching South Park from 8 years old - gasp!) We both were getting straight A’s, very polite and well behaved. Children are all different. I asked my mum why she was so flexible with stuff like this and she said she that we had the emotional maturity to know it’s just a game/movie and not to be influenced by them.

OP you know your kid best and if you think he’s capable of playing GTA and watching breaking bad without having a negative influence on him then let him enjoy!

CatGrins · 21/10/2022 17:08

Offandonagain · 21/10/2022 17:02

How so?

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Really? You can't see how a moaning 13 Yr old allowed to badger his parent in to letting him have an inappropriate and illegal game might not be a great idea. You're going to have bigger problems in the coming years especially since he's being exposed to GTA at 13. If I knew you I'd report you to the school's DSL.

Kanaloa · 21/10/2022 17:09

chipsandpeas · 21/10/2022 17:05

your quite willing to let him watch breaking bad but not watch halloween

id say i saw much worse in breaking bad than halloween

Agree with this too. Halloween is a campy 80s style horror. I’d much rather let a teen watch that than Breaking Bad. BB is one of my favourite series but a fair few adults don’t really understand the themes and come away glorifying things they shouldn’t, so I wouldn’t expect a 13yo to take the correct message from it. Bit like a film like American Psycho or Fight Club. Good novels and decent films but if a certain type of man tells you he loves either of them you can bet your life savings he doesn’t really understand them and is just using them to glorify violence and misogyny.

Morceaux · 21/10/2022 17:10

GTA V features some very realistic, topless lap dancing.

I don’t think buying interactive porn for a 13 year old is appropriate.

Original poster

Offandonagain · 21/10/2022 17:10

girlmom21 · 21/10/2022 17:06

I played 18s at his age and I'm not a lunatic serial killer or a drug dealer, if that helps.

That’s my thinking. He knows that shagging prostitutes is wrong, killing them then stealing their money is also wrong. He’s not stupid.

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MarshaBradyo · 21/10/2022 17:11

No I wouldn’t

Original poster

Offandonagain · 21/10/2022 17:13

Daisymae55 · 21/10/2022 17:08

My brother and I both played GTA and watched horror films from a similar age (I was watching South Park from 8 years old - gasp!) We both were getting straight A’s, very polite and well behaved. Children are all different. I asked my mum why she was so flexible with stuff like this and she said she that we had the emotional maturity to know it’s just a game/movie and not to be influenced by them.

OP you know your kid best and if you think he’s capable of playing GTA and watching breaking bad without having a negative influence on him then let him enjoy!

He does have the emotional maturity. I also have a really strong positive relationship with him and her knows he can talk to me about anything, knowing that I will be honest.

I think it all totally depends on the child.

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Kanaloa · 21/10/2022 17:14

Offandonagain · 21/10/2022 17:10

That’s my thinking. He knows that shagging prostitutes is wrong, killing them then stealing their money is also wrong. He’s not stupid.

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Then surely he knows murdering babysitters and cheating your way up Wall Street are also wrong?

The problem with your thinking is that it’s contradictory at makes no sense. He’s not allowed to watch slasher films or ‘sexy films’ but playing an interactive game where he has sex with them murders prostitutes or watching a series with a lot of violence plus attempted rape are a-ok?

Original poster

Offandonagain · 21/10/2022 17:14

CatGrins · 21/10/2022 17:08

Really? You can't see how a moaning 13 Yr old allowed to badger his parent in to letting him have an inappropriate and illegal game might not be a great idea. You're going to have bigger problems in the coming years especially since he's being exposed to GTA at 13. If I knew you I'd report you to the school's DSL.

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He didn’t moan or badger me. He said good friends have gta, I want to play with them. Can I please? I said yeah, sure.

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Original poster

Offandonagain · 21/10/2022 17:15

CatGrins · 21/10/2022 17:08

Really? You can't see how a moaning 13 Yr old allowed to badger his parent in to letting him have an inappropriate and illegal game might not be a great idea. You're going to have bigger problems in the coming years especially since he's being exposed to GTA at 13. If I knew you I'd report you to the school's DSL.

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🤣 The dsl have far more to worry about than a child playing an 18 game

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