Government Launches Videogames Study News
Jon Wilcox
09/10/2007
Report to look into how parents can ensure kids are 'playing video games in a way that's appropriate for their age and development'...
The Government has today launched a study into children's "...safety and wellbeing of exposure to harmful or inappropriate material on the internet and in video games."
The report will also "...assess the effectiveness and adequacy of existing measures to help prevent children from being exposed to such material and help parents understand and manage the risks of access to inappropriate content, and to make recommendations for improvements or additional action."
The study, headed by TV psychologist (and the latest comedy partner of Jennifer Saunders) Dr Tanya Byron, will be published in March 2008 and will exclusively look at children's exposure to the internet and videogames. Explaining her remit, Byron states on the study's official website:
"Helping parents and their children get the best from new technologies while protecting children from inappropriate or potentially harmful material is crucial in today's fast moving world"
"I hope to identify measures that will help all parents feel confident that their children are using new technologies and are playing video games in a way that's appropriate for their age and development."
The study is being launched in Bristol today, with Dr Byron joined by Ed Balls, Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, and Culture Secretary James Purnell. Speaking ahead of the launch, Dr Byron said:
"Anybody who has children will know that video games and the internet are a part of childhood like never before. This is tremendously positive. New technology is giving kids opportunities to learn, have fun, be creative and communicate in ways that previous generations could only dream of.
But many parents still feel ill-equipped to help their children navigate this technology safely.
By issuing my call for evidence today, I want to start a debate about how Government, industry and society as a whole can support parents to guide our children into the virtual world, with the same confidence as when we show them how to stay safe in our local community."
Ed Balls MP commented:
"We all value the great educational, social and entertainment benefits that the internet and video games technologies offer. However I know parents want to have information on how their children can take advantage of the positive benefits of these technologies, whilst being able to protect them against the risks.
"We know for example that 46 per cent of children say they have given out personal information online - but only 5 per cent of parents realise this.
"It is vital that those who are most informed in these areas come forward and engage with Dr Byron to see what more can be done to help families enjoy video games and the internet safely. I encourage everyone with an interest in this important debate to have their say."
Culture Secretary James Purnell said:
"The internet and computer games offer a world of opportunities for children - but at the same time they can present a huge challenge to parents.
"It's essential that, as well as parents and children, the industry and the regulators engage with this review so we can deal with inappropriate content and maximise the huge advantages the internet brings."
Videogames are already heavily regulated in the UK, with two certification systems in place (the advisory Pan-European PEGI rating and the mandatory BBFC rating, also used to classify movies), so hopefully Byron and the rest of her team will look into further parental education along with additional recommendations for retailers. Data from industry body ELSPA has also revealed that just 2% of videogames receive an 18+ rating, and that the average age of a gamer is now 28 years old.