Under-15s will no longer be able to go to see films that depict rape and sexual violence under new rules set by Britain’s film ratings body.
The British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) surveyed more than 10,000 people and found it to be among parents’ main concerns.
Any film showing sexual violence will now get at least a 15 rating rather than a 12 or a 12A.
The BBFC also wants its ratings to appear on all streaming services.
BBFC chief executive David Austin said a film like Keira Knightley’s 2008 drama The Duchess, which was classed as a 12 at the time, would be made a 15 today because it included a rape scene.
“What parents told us was, that’s too much for 12-year-olds,” he told BBC News. “It’s enough that a 12-year-old knows that a rape has taken place. They do not need to see it, no matter how discreetly it’s filmed.”
In the survey, parents said they were worried about the “sexualisation of society and what they called the pornification of society”, according to Mr. Austin.
“They are worried about children growing up being exposed to too much too soon, and they want to hold onto their children’s childhood as far as they can,” he said.
“That’s another one of the reasons why from now on we will not be classifying any depiction of sexual violence at 12. We will limit it to 15.” Read more