Things That Parents Should Know About Video Game Age Ratings

Video games are popular among children and teenagers. The children play and differentiate less between what is "political" and what is correct from the adults. Violence and shooting games, in particular, look to be really fun and are popular among. The religious interests of this passion with skepticism. Do the kids usually play games when they play? Can they still be heard between game and reality? Interests to ban these games? Why aren't they already banned?

Children with a stable relationship do not gain content through depictions of violence in films and television or through video games with aggressive content.

Media violence can generate aggressive behavior in children, including self-violence (e.g., abuse) or when the child grows up to take care of his own children.

It makes a lot of sense to see which games the children like to play and what they get from them. Games have something to do with the world of the players! When a child has found a game, it tells us something about this child's life situation or this head. Video games only address what is present in this way or in a direct form in the life of the gambling existence. Only certain players find themselves in the games with their feelings, actions, behavioral patterns, and life hindrances. Banning these games means blocking access to the child's world. From a pedagogical perspective, it is to play their games with the children, talk about these games, and find out what makes these games so attractive for one's own children.

What is the most used video game age rating system?

App store ratings

These ratings are used globally.

• 4+: Contains no objectionable material.
• 9+: May contain content unsuitable for youngsters under the age of 9.
• 12+: May contain content unsuitable for youngsters under the age of 12.
• 17+: May contain content unsuitable for youngsters below the age of 17.
• Apps rated 17+ aren't allowed to be purchased by children.

ESRB AND PEGI:

The ESRB, short for Entertainment Software Rating Board, provides computer game ratings for u. s., Canada, and Mexico. In 1994, the ESRB was born. It’s been the computer game rating system in North America ever since. Unlike many other countries, ESRB ratings aren't legally enforced. Instead, it’s self-regulated; all console manufacturers require games to possess an ESRB rating to seem on their systems, and stores won’t stock games without a rating.

PEGI, which stands for Pan European Game Information, is that the standard for rating video games in much of Europe. It was established in 2003 and replaced various game rating systems that different nations had used prior. Now, thirty-nine countries use PEGI to rate games. It's an example of standardization across the European Union countries; the European Commission has expressed support for it. Some countries have made it mandatory that age labels appear on games and enforce their sales, whereas others adopt it as a de facto standard with no particular legislative support.

Can parents trust these video games age ratings?

Just because a video game or movie is approved for ages six and up doesn't automatically mean six-year-old kids can figure it out. So the game may be too complicated or simply incomprehensible for you. However, this aspect is not decisive for the film industry's voluntary self-regulation (FSK) or the entertainment software self-regulation (USK) for their age rating for video games or the corresponding media.

Because both institutions are concerned with the assessment if you want to reduce it to the essentials, only about the question: Is the medium in any way harmful to a child or a young person? Of course, this also means that an educational age recommendation is not taken into account.

Before going into more detail on the age rating of video games, the following should be noted: If you want to find out more about child protection on the Internet in general, you can stop by here. We will also deal with the risks of social networks separately in another article. We also explain how parents should best manage their children’s social media use.

An age rating for video games is not an age recommendation.

The same also applies to the Pan European Game Information, better known under the acronym PEGI. They, too, have made it their mission to evaluate games, films, but also apps, for example, according to whether they are harmful to children or young people. In contrast to the German institutions USK and FSK, however, the PEGI's age ratings at the health insurance fund are not binding.

What both institutions have in common, however, is that their decisions are not based on pedagogical principles. PEGI explicitly emphasizes on its website.

Ultimately, the institutions are only concerned with the question of whether the relevant medium could have a negative impact on the child’s development. The age ratings are therefore primarily used as a guide for parents – and that is also sensible. You and the child must decide for themselves whether the game is ultimately also suitable for the child.

There are educational reviews of video games as well.

The USK also provides assistance with this. In their 50-page "Parents Guide to Computer Games," parents are provided with detailed information on how to make the right decisions for their child. The guide also refers to websites that provide educational assessments of video games. For example, www.spielbar.de, www.internet-abc.de, or www.schau-hin.info are mentioned. Incidentally, the former website is a platform of the Federal Agency for Civic Education.

It should also be noted that the USK is only obliged to rate games that are available on data carriers. Publishers of games that are exclusively available online are free to submit them to the USK for review or not.

Age rating from 12: USK finally rated "Fortnite."

That was exactly the reason why "Fortnite" was recently given an age rating of twelve and over by the USK. The game, which is extremely popular with children and young people, has been available for a long time. The assessment relates to the entire content. It therefore also includes the game modes "Save the World," "Battle Royale," and "Creative."

Fortnite's popularity is currently primarily based on the online game mode, "Battle Royale." However, this is purely online content and has now been voluntarily submitted to the USK by the publisher Epic Games. Even before that happened, Fortnite was already approved for use on the Nintendo Switch from the age of 16, according to the IARC system. Unlike the USK, the International Age Rating Coalition also tests online games. The Nintendo Switch distribution platform has joined the IARC system, which is why it was previously rated.

What is FamiSafe?

Not knowing where your kids are or what they're doing online can trigger anxiety and paranoia for many parents. For sure, you'd wish to be next to all of them the time and protect them, especially from the risks of the web world. During this digital era, this is often possible with the utilization of parental control software, and FamiSafe is one of the most straightforward options worth considering.

Wondershare has the privilege of initiating Famisafe as the most dignifying and massively impressive parental control app. It can filter age-inappropriate content and manage screen time. FamiSafe will provide you with full control over your child’s phone. A number of its features are listed below:

1. Monitor Screen time

Monitor what proportion of time kids spend online per day, week, or month. This helps you to know which app gets the most attention and time is most contribute by the child.

2. Block Devices

Temporarily block devices to let children build more interest in family or school. For the effective working of children on assignments, they get rewards of screen time.

3. Preset Screen Time

Strictly schedule daily usage around certain specific locations like school time or bedtime. FamiSafe can also improve children’s sleep quality or school performance.

To conclude, video game age ratings are not completely reliable, and to ensure maximum safety, additional precautions should be taken, for instance, by installing external apps or software like FamiSafe.