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

Do you often have internal team arguments about the rating of a film or are the guidelines really clear and unmovable?

I think that the rating system is very important and helpful for both films and games. I used to watch all films before allowing my children to veiw them but now I just don't have the time so I rely on the ratings even more. However I don't always agree with the final rating every movie has received. As a parent how can I get more involved in the decision making of film rating?

Do you rate films only by the specific content (eg sex scene, language used, violence) or is there consideration of the overall theme/message of the film? Like many people I use Common sense media alongside film ratings because I don't feel confident that because a film is rated 12 it will necessarily be suitable.

Miss Peregrine’s Home For Peculiar Children was a 12, and far too violent for all but one of the 12 and 13 year olds I took to see it. Really gruesome and frightening.

I took my then 10 year old and we had to leave the cinema, even I found it disturbing. I know it was a 12, but he had been watching some 12 films such The Hobbit and similar since age 6. I'd like more details on the content of a film so I can make my own decision as a parent. The classification for Miss Peregrine’s Home For Peculiar Children only mentioned 'moderate threat, violence, scary scenes', which isn't accurate in my opinion.

Thanks for all your questions and congratulations to @SirVixofVixHall for winning the £300 voucher!

Thank you so much !

I think it would be helpful to have some guidance around what types of content would be deemed suitable for 12A vs 15. If something is rated 12A, I am not immediately sure I would know in terms of a television programme what I would expect in terms of content