- There is a wealth of content and services online that have been designed for children, and many of the more popular entertainment services may offer categories of content (such as TV shows and movies) specifically for children. Some services even offer specific versions of their app for children.
- It is important to remember that some of the most popular games and apps may be suitable for children to play/use but will also be enjoyed by young people and adults. So games or apps that allow communication may enable children and adults to share the same online space.
- All PC and video games are rated by the PEGI system (www.pegi.info) – this system provides age ratings as well as descriptions of the type of themes that can be encountered in the game (such as swearing, sexual content, violence, gambling and discrimination). Apps provided on Microsoft Store and Google Play are also PEGI rated, and this includes apps other than games.
- Not all apps use the PEGI rating system – some app stores use their own system to give age recommendations. Social networks have a minimum age requirement – this is explained in ‘Age restrictions on social networks’. Other online services may set a minimum age based on laws that restrict access or sale of content to children.
- Online video content such as TV shows and movies will be age rated using the age rating system of the country you reside in.
- There are online services and content specifically designed for those aged 18 and over. These include online dating services, pornography, gambling services. These services are aimed at adults only and for some services, it may be illegal for them to sell to or allow a minor to use them.
Advice:
- Before allowing your child to access or purchase online content (including apps and games), always check the age ratings as well as any user reviews. This can help you make an informed decision as to whether it is suitable for your child.
- Consider using parental controls to restrict the content your child can access online. There are restrictions that can be set on devices and app stores to limit the content children can search for and access. More information on parental controls can be found in ‘Filtering, monitoring and parental controls’.
- Be interested and engaged in what your child likes to do online. You can explore and enjoy age appropriate content together. This also gives opportunities to discuss with your child what is and is not suitable for them online.
- Another way to help your child find age appropriate content is to consider the use of child friendly services such as versions of apps that have been designed for children or a child friendly search engine.