Anyone else bothered by magazine covers in supermarkets unsuitable for children

[Howgoesthework]

Hi all, just seeing if any other people are bothered by the front covers of magazines like Take A Break or Chat in supermarkets?

I've complained in my local Tesco's three times now about front pages with stories like 'My poor brother TORTURED TO DEATH in homemade horror film - His throat was slit for the camera TWICE' or 'We found poor Mum CHOPPED UP in the kitchen BIN' (and these aren't the worst headlines by any means). They have moved them up one level, and they are still completely visible to my 12yo, 9yo and 5yo. (Not such a problem for the youngest as he won't be reading it yet, but for the other two?!)

I really want to change this but I don't know what to do. I currently turn the magazines round or put them right at the top behind others, and I'm considering taking direct action with a marker pen if they don't sort this out.

Does anyone else have a problem with this, and if so, what do you do? The supermarket obviously makes enough money out of them not to care about the odd complaint, but I find it completely unacceptable.

Any thoughts?

Agree with you OP. I've ushered my DS away from them many a time and wished they were on a higher shelf. Then those who want to read about child rape can still do so without kids asking questions.
treaclesoda was spot on IMO about their tone in saying
It's all so gleeful, a bit... dehumanising

Bertie and rainbowsandsmiles, yes they are definitely worse! My friend bought me one to read after I had my first child 12 years ago and it was light entertainment.

gamerchick and foldingtable I did email Take A Break today as they’re a member of IPSO the press regulator and so are more accountable. I’m not able to coordinate a campaign at the moment (other stuff to deal with) and I’m not a massive fb user, so I won’t go down that route but I kind of wish I could. Any little helps though, perhaps it will get picked up by other people slowly but surely.

Roxanne I’m glad it doesn’t bother you or your kids :)

Playdonut, not exposing kids to extreme violence as entertainment doesn’t seem particularly niche to me but I appreciate another point of view. I’m always polite to the people who work in shops and I see this kind of thing as part of the job.

I don’t like the headlines because they’re sometimes triggering for me personally and I hate the idea of the dcs seeing them as they can read. And they like to get magazines so a bit difficult when these disgusting headlines are nearby. It’s hard to ignore them at times.

I would sign a petition and will write to the magazines.

Why should we cover up real life just for the sensitive mothers/children?

How is it sensitive @Bimgy85 to not want screaming headlines about fathers raping daughters etc etc?

It’s appalling.

Playdonut I don’t mess with displays as a rule! Generally do my best not to add to other people’s workload but in this case the principle of kids not seeing this kind of thing is more important to me. Obviously I appreciate not everyone feels the same.

Do you not think that the argument is better to be had with the publishers of this tat instead of the supermarket?

PhilomenaButterfly fair enough :)

Thanks Butterymuffin I fully agree.

Believeitornot, sorry it is triggering - this is another reason they shouldn’t be so prominently displayed.

Fatted I’m not sure, their priority is their magazine I guess and not the wider picture. I’ll try both and see if either works. I’ll also contact IPSO to see if they have any sway. Might well get nowhere but I don’t feel comfortable just ignoring it.

Woowoo 1000 thanks, I’m feeling relieved that it’s not just me :)

I just try and avoid looking but every now and then it just zones into my eyeline.

One angle to approach when contacting the magazines is to say you don’t buy them as a result. I used to read take a break years ago for the puzzles but now I wouldn’t dream of buying them because of the stories. The stories seem to be much worse and definitely more abuse/incest type shit. It’s horrible.

I’m off to bed now. Thanks for the replies, agreeing or not, I appreciate it. I’ll try to post back if I get any decent responses in case others want to follow up too.

Good night!

Agree with you absolutely OP. I’ve noticed too that headlines on these magazines have become very bloodthirsty - revelling in violent crimes. Disturbing for me as an adult, never mind the effect on children. I’d absolutely support any campaign to tone this down.

Believeitornot, that’s definitely a good idea. I’ll mention it and hopefully they will listen to that more than just my complaint.

Thanks fern twist :)

I have never thought about this but I find it very interesting now you mention it.

I think, as some people are more sensitive to noise/pain/light etc so some people could be more sensitive to unpleasant graphic headlines and pictures.

It seems like the trashy women's mags have somehow merged with the trashy crime mags and come up with the worst of both worlds.

No I don't think they should be covered up on the off chance that someone will take offence. Real life happens and you can't protect children from everything. It's a sentence on a magazine cover, total overreaction.

Bloody hell, I thought you were making up those headlines for comic effect, but they're real

YANBU at all.

Real life happens and you can't protect children from everything. It's a sentence on a magazine cover, total overreaction

It’s about more than just taking offence. Have you read the headlines? Would you be happy having your children read the headlines?

This isn’t normal. These things don’t happen often. It’s all done for shock value but it goes too far.

What’s wrong with wanting to protect children? Or do you think porn should be on the middle shelf too? No ratings on adverts? No water shed?

Katherina - yep, they're real but they're pretty tame compared to a lot of them, believe it or not! There's usually lots of graphic headlines of incest or child abuse as well with easy to read sentences in the same vein as those pictured up thread. They're awful.

I don't think you're at all unreasonable - they are horrible and I often wish I hadn't seen them on the way past. Agree they would give children nightmares. I tell myself most of them must be made up - they are just lists of hideous crimes.

Meant to add - I'd support any such campaign.

I'm not interested in magazines myself but am regularly in the aisle with or without DC looking at children's magazines. I can honestly say that I have never noticed what's on the cover of any magazines other than the ones I'm looking for. This is a non-issue.

It's not real life. My close relative was raped and murdered. My children don't know yet as they are children. I don't want them to think such horror is normal. It isn't thank fuck. And by reducing these tragedies to vile stories for situation for a paltry sum it worsens us all.

situation = titillation

So sorry that happened to your relative Boom. Agree with you 100%.