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According to early newspaper reports, Dr. Tanya Byron’s Review into inappropriate digital entertainment for young people has recommended a movie-style ratings system for video games.
The introduction of a 12 BBFC rating as is currently used in cinemas has been recommend and retailers who sell video games to anyone under the age rating on the box will face a large fine or up to five years in prison.
According to The Times, Dr. Byron states: “We have to make child digital safety a priority. If you are under 18, you should not be able to buy an ’18’ game and if you are under 12, you should not be able to buy a ’12’ game.”
The Review also recommends that all video game consoles should contain parental control, enabling parents to prevent children from playing unsuitable games. There’s also a call for a “massive” campaign to educate parents, teachers and child carers on how to ensure children “get maximum benefit from the digital world without being exposed to its dangers”.
The future doesn’t look bright for the PEGI system, currently used for video game ratings across Europe. The Times reports that the system is “considered to be ineffective because it uses symbols that are confusing and distributors effectively chose their own ratings by filling in a form about their product”.
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