Do you want to know how the BBFC decide age ratings, and what's right for your children to view? Ask their expert - £300 voucher to be won

[EllieMumsnet]

The British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) has been responsible for age ratings for cinema for over a hundred years. Their classification symbols U, PG, 12A, 12, 15, 18 are well known to parents and children, and are used on DVD and Blu-ray, and increasingly on video on demand platforms like Netflix. Their decisions are based on a large scale public consultation, which takes place every four-five years and reflects changes in public mood. This month, the new Classification Guidelines - which sets out what is acceptable at each age category - are going live. Findings include heightened concern from parents and teachers around online content and a clear desire for more consistency, when it comes to age ratings and information, across all platforms. If you would like to find out more about the new guidelines please click here.

So, the BBFC’s Head of Education, Lucy Brett, is here to answer any of your questions.

Here’s what BBFC have to say: “Over the last five years the way we consume film and video has changed beyond all recognition. That's why it's so important that there is consistency between what people watch on and offline. Our research shows that both parents and teenagers want us to give them the information and guidance that they need to view what's right for them. We're here to listen to what people want, which is why they trust our age ratings.”

Here is a bit more information on Lucy Brett: “Lucy Brett is the BBFC’s Head of Education, and heads up the BBFC’s education programme. Ever year she speaks to thousands of children, teenagers and parents across every corner of the UK. Lucy hears directly about the concerns that young people have about films, how they would like classification to work and what the BBFC should be flagging and thinking about when making decisions. Lucy is also a mum of two, and her favourite film is True Grit”

Do you have a question for Lucy? Do you want to know what teachers think to age ratings? Do you have any questions about specific content that your child might have watched? Or maybe you have specific questions about what sort of content you might see in a 15?

Whatever your questions around the BBFC’s guidelines, post them below and we will choose 10 in total for Lucy to answer. Everyone who posts their questions will be entered into a prize draw where one MNer will win a £300 voucher of their choice (from a list).

Thanks and good luck with the prize draw!
MNHQ

Standard Insight T&Cs Apply

I am pleased to see the new classifications have launched (28 Feb 2019) which will provide me with a clearer understanding of the suitability of content for my 6 & 8 YOs. I hope to see these changes reflected in all streaming content and it would be helpful to know which providers are on board with this? At present, I use NowTV (occasionally), Amazon Prime and Netflix (new user). I have set up parental restrictions on all three. Will they all be obliged to use the new BBFC classifications?

I often look at the BBFC website for advice about specific films, which I helpful but poorly signposted generally. My Q is about the level of violence, sexual and drug references allowed in 12A films. Really. A 12A. I can overlook swearing, but why is it acceptable for it to be deemed appropriate for a 12 year old to view quite explicit sex scenes and drug endorsements? (I'm looking at you Upside - which was otherwise a good movie, but most certainly one I wish I hadn't taken my 12 year old to).

How do you decide the limit? All children are different and would be able to watch different content at different ages.

where was the public consultation held, how many people responded, and where was the consultation advertised for a reasonable cohort of respondents ?

Do you benchmark ratings with other Countries, to see whether we, as a country are in line with one another ?

Can you get youtubers and instagram influencers on board and promote good practice with ratings so that scrupulous broadcasters are producing good age appropriate content ?

Will you be backdating the classification to all movies - some Disney movies are well overdue classification in my opinion is not a U - the wicked witch and face in the mirror is more PG (same with Wizard of Oz)

I did not hear therefore did not contribute to the consultation, how do you know you have got the views and concerns of the right cohort , and numbers of people and organisations. Thank you.

Is 5 years too long to reclassify - would it be better to be every 3 years given the changes in the world around us, the way we educate our children, and how the world and children are changing to become more savvy, their childhood needs protecting.

Why is the lowest rating (U) for over 4s only? Is there a reason why it isn't suitable for anyone ie under 4s?

Does the ratings get regularly reviewed with the times?
As a kid I watched an array of films that were PG and U that I wouldn't deem as that now. But at the same time, what is deemed as frightening back in the day isn't necessarily now. Do films that have already been rated have reviews on ratings?

Can Primary schools show PG films if they are effectively in loco parentis?

I heard that the original plan for the 12A rating was that it would have a hard cut-off at age 8 - so no child below that age would be allowed to watch it even with a parent - but that this was felt to be too logistically complex for cinemas. I’ve heard many complaints about parents taking 3 year olds to see wildly unsuitable James Bond films etc. During your latest review, did you consider the possibility of going back to the two-tier classification idea for 12As?

I’m interested to know what experience the people deciding the classification have. Are they industry experts, childcare professionals, or do they come from other backgrounds?

What role if any, do you think you have in other media. I think generally the age rating for films is adhered to, but this doesn't seem to be the case for games. So others anything you could what that would help?

Are there any guidelines for schools, because I know of many times that films have been shown to children younger than the age rating, plus PG without asking parents first

I think that either they should be sticking to U or asking parents permission in primary, and not showing films in high school that the children are too young for, whether permission is asked for first or not. I think it encourages parents to not pay as much attention if the school don't, and gives the children the extra argument of "well school lets us"

I enjoyed reading the guidelines online of what the age ratings meant, but I was quite surprised that pg really means suitable from 8 years (depending on maturity) not because I have actually let my 5 year old Dd watch any PGs yet but that I have never realised it had an age guide.

Guess my question is do you think enough people are aware of this guidance in this instance. I certainly wasn't and I don't think any of the parents I know are either.

It certainly does explain why most of the time I do think pgs are beyond her emotional maturity and why they potentially can scare her more.

Hi, What is the difference between a PG and a 12A? They both seem to mean the same thing?

There are very few 18 films these days and 15 films have become more graphic. Was this a conscious move.

Do you think older movies should be re-rated? For example, a film from the 1990s rated as a 15, could be / should be re-rated to a lower or higher classification?

I agree with buize, and it worries me. I almost took my then twelve year old to see Suffragette, but went with a friend first, thank goodness as it was much too disturbing for a 12 year old, far more like what I think of as a 15 .
I have lost faith in the ratings system, and tend to watch things first now. The 12 and 15 ratings seem to be the ones most problematic. PG films usually have roughly the content I would expect, but 12 and 15s vary wildly.

How do you work with TV broadcasters in helping them determine what time of day the show programmes and films?

I have seen films and programmes with 'mild swearing' and more teen/adult themes on during the morning and early afternoon. Usually these have been about 5+years since original release.

SirVixofVixHall I cannot believe suffragette is only a 12!
I was pretty disturbed by it (in my 30s)

Older films do get reassessed for DVD release Tilly. Alien, for example, was an 18 on original release (they dithered between 18 and AA (14+)) but is now a 15. How that process will translate to a post-DVD streaming world is an interesting question.

1. Would you consider reclassifying some of the early PG films from the 80s? - in my opinion several would now be rated a 12 based on sexual content

1. Personally I find common sense media website more helpful than general classifications as it describes why a rating is in place eg language or content, which specific swear words, etc. This is much more helpful. Would you consider providing more detail to your ratings?