Children’s charities call for age classifications to be extended to online films
Age classifications should be extended to online films to prevent underage children from viewing inappropriate material, according to a coalition of 11 charities including the NSPCC, Barnardo’s and the Children’s Society.
The policy would enforce existing cinematic age restrictions on online streaming services such as Netflix and Amazon prime in a similar fashion to those used by pornographic websites by expanding the British Board of Film Classification’s remit.
John Carr, secretary of the Children’s Charities’ Coalition on Internet Safety, said: “I can see no justification for having two different standards, one for the real world and one for the online world. It is the same as a cinema usherette or DVD vendors who bar a child.
“If you think it’s right [to do this] we are obliged to see what is the best way of delivering it.”
The Department of Culture, Media and Sport will launch a formal consultation on the proposals next month.