Ireland

[IE] Film Classification Office publishes report on parents and film classification

IRIS 2016-3:1/22

Ronan Ó Fathaigh

Institute for Information Law (IViR), University of Amsterdam

The Irish Film Classification Office (IFCO) has published its new report Parental Attitudes (Post Primary) 2015. The report examines film classification and the views of parents of adolescent children, and forms part of earlier studies which examined similar issues relating to parents of primary school children, and adolescents themselves (see IRIS 2005-4/22 and IRIS 2004-9/27).

The 16-page report is divided into two main sections, detailing, first, parental awareness of IFCO’s functions, and second, parental attitudes to the current classification system. The key findings include that the “vast majority” (over 98%) of parents feel it is important to have IFCO’s classifications for guidance, while 80% feel that IFCO is effective in providing film classifications they could rely on. Notably, 78% of parents “always” check the age classification before allowing their adolescent children to watch a film. The report notes that this is a 12% drop from the previous survey on parents of primary school children, which the report explains is either due to parents becoming more relaxed, or “perhaps not in a position to be as vigilant as they were previously.”

IFCO also noted that “one area of habitual concern for IFCO has been whether parents were sufficiently aware of what individual ratings mean, in particular as to whether accompaniment was compulsory or discretionary with regard to the 12A and 15A categories.” However, the report notes that 60% of parents were accurate in defining the precise meaning of the 15A classification.

In relation to classification issues, the primary concern of parents with regard to classification issues is violence. This is followed by sex and then drug use. Of IFCO’s four main classification issues, language continues to be of least concern to parents. The report notes that “these results closely correspond to those received from parents/guardians of primary school children.” Of particular note is that a majority of respondents (77%) have allowed their children to watch a film that was classified for an older age group. Finally, on the need for film censorship in general, 76% of respondents disagreed with the statement: “there is no longer a need for film censorship (the banning or cutting of films)”.