U.K. Head Teachers Group Threatens To Report Parents Allowing Children To Play 18-rated Games

GTA Online was released on 17 September. rockstargames

The anti-videogame lobby has always maintained that your average garden variety of console and PC games are bad for children. However, a recent development in U.K. suggests that videogames can be bad for parents as well. A head teachers group in UK has threatened to report parents who allow their children to play videogames rated for audiences aged 18 and above.

Like films, videogames too are governed by ratings bodies such as ESRB and PEGI, which grade videogames with ratings certificates according to the extent of violent and sexual themes contained within the titles. Unlike films, where ratings cane be enforced through theatres, videogames are primarily distributed through retail and digital delivery mediums. This makes rating restrictions especially difficult to enforce.

Eurogamer reports that Nantwich Education Partnership, which is a collective consisting of 14 primary and two secondary schools in Cheshire, intends to take a much harsher route to make sure parents adhere to these ratings standards. The group sent a notice to parents last month after discovering that some pupils studying in its affiliated schools had been playing mature videogames such as Grand Theft Auto, Gears of War and Call of Duty.

"If your child is allowed to have inappropriate access to any game or associated product that is designated 18+, we are advised to contact the police and children's social care as this is deemed neglectful," warned the notice sent to parents by the Nantwich Education Partnership. The letter was drafted by head teacher Mary Hennessy Jones, who spoke to The Sunday Times following outrage by parents.

The parents viewed this as a threat and an unreasonable intrusion by the education body. Responding to parents' reaction that the treat to report them to police and social care was overstepping the line, Jones explained that it was an attempt to assist parents in ensuring safety of their children "in this digital era," according to Daily Mail. She added that parents "find it helpful" to have clear guidelines that prevent children from "ending up in the wrong place" by being exposed to violent videogames.

U.K.-based parents groups such as Parents Outloud and Parent Practice acknowledged that children shouldn't be allowed to access violent games, but they argue that this move to involve cops and social care is excessive and inappropriate. The parents' bodies believe that threats of such order will be construed as a threat. Their main bone of contention is that instead of working together to solve the problem, this will only serve to alienate the parents and distract from the core issue.

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