PEGI ratings are considered very important by many, but what do parents think of the age restrictions suggested by the ratings board? Childcare recently asked 2,000 parents about the ratings and whether they stick to them and it turns out that over 50% of parents have let their children play games intended for players 18 and over without supervision (although it doesn't detail just how old the children are - obviously it's a very different situation if a 17-year-old is playing GTA V than if a 10-year-old is). Meanwhile, 86% of parents admit to not following the age restrictions.
Despite it not being as prominent in other areas, this issue isn't isolated to video games. According to the report, 18% of the same parents also said they would let their children aged 10-14 watch a film rated 18. Based on that evidence, it seems as though PEGI ratings don't carry as much clout as similar BBFC ratings for movies.
The study also shows that 43% of the parents letting their children play adult games have seen changes in their behaviour, and roughly a quarter have said that the children have started to use foul language after playing these games. Childcare founder Richard Conway says he understands how hard it is to keep track of these things when their children are already playing these at friend's houses, but it's still important to pay attention.
"It's difficult in this day and age to govern what your child is exposed to, because if your 10-year-old has friends who are playing Fortnite, which is rated 12, you want them to be included in the fun. However, it's always worth looking into the game to see if it's suitable rather than leaving them to their own devices," he said.
Do you think it matters whether children are playing games intended for adults or not?