As reported by MCV, the Northamptonshire Police and Crime Commissioner has called for violent video games to be labelled "Adults Only", following publication of a new report that suggests children as young as five have been "deeply affected" by exposure to graphic images.
According to the Northants PCC statistics - drawn from a panel of 13,000 Northants parents and children aged between 5 and 18 (presumably that's just the children) - one in four primary school kids have been exposed to something online that has upset them, most typically sexual or violent content contained within video games. Five-year-olds are particularly affected by graphic images, with 42% saying they have seen something that they've been rattled by.
The report found that just over a quarter of children had accessed games that they knew they were too young to play, with over one in ten very, very, very, very, very, very, very naughty children aged eleven saying they had downloaded a Call of Duty game.
According to the Northants PCC statistics - drawn from a panel of 13,000 Northants parents and children aged between 5 and 18 (presumably that's just the children) - one in four primary school kids have been exposed to something online that has upset them, most typically sexual or violent content contained within video games. Five-year-olds are particularly affected by graphic images, with 42% saying they have seen something that they've been rattled by.
The report found that just over a quarter of children had accessed games that they knew they were too young to play, with over one in ten very, very, very, very, very, very, very naughty children aged eleven saying they had downloaded a Call of Duty game.
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Adam Simmonds, Police & Crime Commissioner for Northamptonshire, yelped: “Controversy creates cash. However, today’s report shows that children as young as five are being subject to graphic scenes while playing video games that have left them feeling extremely upset.
"Many parents might not be fully aware that these games contain such disturbing scenes. It is time for the industry to play a more proactive role in protecting young minds.
“A new Adult Only rating alongside parental locks on consoles will better support parents in safeguarding their children. If companies fail to do this, games involving extreme violence or sexual content should be banned altogether.”
Other statistics revealed by the report include:
If you ask us, the statistics are obviously deeply concerning, but we're not sure that slapping "Adults Only" labels on games, which are already labelled "18+", will do the trick. That's a bit like adding a sign that reads "NO REALLY - WE WEREN'T JOKING ABOUT THE SPEED LIMIT, MANG" to a 30mph zone.
Adam Simmonds, Police & Crime Commissioner for Northamptonshire, yelped: “Controversy creates cash. However, today’s report shows that children as young as five are being subject to graphic scenes while playing video games that have left them feeling extremely upset.
"Many parents might not be fully aware that these games contain such disturbing scenes. It is time for the industry to play a more proactive role in protecting young minds.
“A new Adult Only rating alongside parental locks on consoles will better support parents in safeguarding their children. If companies fail to do this, games involving extreme violence or sexual content should be banned altogether.”
Other statistics revealed by the report include:
- Online gaming is the most popular activity (84 per cent) for primary school-age children while YouTube (87%) is the main reason why young people of secondary school age are accessing the internet.
- 30 per cent of children and young people are viewing material online for which they are under-age, most commonly accessing games, music and television programmes.
- A quarter of 11-15 year olds, and nearly half of 16-18 year olds, have talked to people they have never met in person online.
- 30 per cent of children and young people are viewing material online for which they are under-age, most commonly accessing games, music and television programmes.
If you ask us, the statistics are obviously deeply concerning, but we're not sure that slapping "Adults Only" labels on games, which are already labelled "18+", will do the trick. That's a bit like adding a sign that reads "NO REALLY - WE WEREN'T JOKING ABOUT THE SPEED LIMIT, MANG" to a 30mph zone.
CHIP SHOP MAN SAYS: "Sorry, mate - were you talking to me? Yeah, sorry, sorry. Not really with it today. Been up since five, 'cause we've got a new supplier, and he keeps turning up early. Last time he got here five minutes before I did, and would've driven off with a lorryload of plaice if I hadn't rocked up.
"And then - get this - last night me other half kept me up until gone midnight, 'cause he's started doing that kundalini meditation rubbish before he drops off. It's all that New Age whale noise and gongs going bong and that. And apparently, he can't switch it off 'because it's relaxin'', but... bloody ada! Relaxin'? I've listening to a load of monks trying to out-sigh one another.
"Anyway, what was you saying? Something about kids playing violent video games? Yeah. Don't really know what you expect me to say about that. I only know about chips."
"And then - get this - last night me other half kept me up until gone midnight, 'cause he's started doing that kundalini meditation rubbish before he drops off. It's all that New Age whale noise and gongs going bong and that. And apparently, he can't switch it off 'because it's relaxin'', but... bloody ada! Relaxin'? I've listening to a load of monks trying to out-sigh one another.
"Anyway, what was you saying? Something about kids playing violent video games? Yeah. Don't really know what you expect me to say about that. I only know about chips."
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