Should the law be tougher on Parents who knowingly purchase age rated video games for underage kids?

[Deleted User] · January 2021

Above.

I don't play games like Call of Duty online myself but I've heard of kids as young as 12 being online on it even though the game is 18 rated therefore it's illegal for under 18s to even play it.

However, due to the increasing popularity of the games such as COD and also Grand Theft Auto, which is also 18 rated as it features violence and bad words, and also more kids are online due to all 3 lockdowns, Parents are under pressure to buy games to keep the kids occupied.

However, should Parents who knowingly buy age rated games for underage kids get done for it more severely? IMO they should but what do you guys think?

Geoark · January 2021

Other (Please keep comments clean)

I voted other, first of all the premise of your argument is faulty. It is not illegal for children to play them, or for adults to buy them and give them to underage children.The law relates specifically to selling these games to underage children.

I am also not keen on open ended questions like 'should the law be tougher' but then conveniently not saying what is meant by 'tougher'.

Is it right, no, but again I have to go back to your arguments for doing so.

Bad language, I have heard much worse from kids aged 12 and younger than I have witnessed in games. Still doesn't make it right, but is a fact of life.

Violence, take away anything age related and our children are still exposed to it. I am not talking about knife or gang violence, but the day to day interactions they witness from angry adults tackling some perceived wrong. On tv news, in papers etc.

Personally I would prefer to see better education on parenting and parenting skills so parents can make better decisions.

[Deleted User] · January 2021

Yes

Geoark said:

I voted other, first of all the premise of your argument is faulty. It is not illegal for children to play them, or for adults to buy them and give them to underage children.The law relates specifically to selling these games to underage children.

I am also not keen on open ended questions like 'should the law be tougher' but then conveniently not saying what is meant by 'tougher'.

Is it right, no, but again I have to go back to your arguments for doing so.

Bad language, I have heard much worse from kids aged 12 and younger than I have witnessed in games. Still doesn't make it right, but is a fact of life.

Violence, take away anything age related and our children are still exposed to it. I am not talking about knife or gang violence, but the day to day interactions they witness from angry adults tackling some perceived wrong. On tv news, in papers etc.

Personally I would prefer to see better education on parenting and parenting skills so parents can make better decisions.

Look, <moderator removed - offensive language> it IS illegal for underage kids to play age rated games or watch age rated movies... I know the Mods won't thank me for calling you a <moderator removed - offensive language> but it's a lot softer than what I could've said.

Google is your friend for the current laws in the UK.

Cher_Alumni · January 2021

@MrAllen1976 This is a reminder to be mindful of the language you use to address other people. Although they may have a different opinion to you, this doesn't excuse using offensive terms.

@Geoark This is a subject, I'll be honest, I know nothing about. Do you have any good links to where we can read more about video game legislation?

[Deleted User] · January 2021

Yes

@Cher_Scope how is the word <moderator removed - offensive language> offensive? I seriously give up on the moderating on this board, it's PC gone mad.

Cher_Alumni · January 2021

@MrAllen1976 I'd be happy to discuss this with you privately to avoid adding further conflict to this thread. Please email me at community@scope.org.uk and we can have a chat.

Lisatho11987777 · January 2021

Yes

Video games videos anything like that have an age on it an adult can buy any game as they are adults or any aged related item becsuse they are adults

If for example someone under the age of 18 tries to buy an 18 rated item sale would be refused becsuse its against the law same as selling alcohol or cigarettes is against the law if they are under the legal age to purchase

Many adults do buy age related items for people under age but the law only comes to light if they have been reported or caught on camera

In large supermarkets if someone is trying to buy age related items and they don't look their age they will be asked for id to prove their age

Example tesco policy is think 25 and anyone selling to anyone under age can be prosecuted along with tesco and loss of job

All the above is from experience in my employment and advocacy work

Lisatho11987777 · January 2021

Yes

@Cher_Scope if an adult was in tesco and were known to be buying an age related item then the sale wouldn't be allowed

I cant find anything appropriate on line to cover what @Geoark is saying
As it mostly says what an underage person can't buy

Its an interesting subject but is also a very large subject and adults can be prosecuted for buying under age products for children but it depends in what situation

Its best if you look online yourself realy instead of me trying to go into detail I think as there are cases in law to read there are all the items you cant buy there are lots of things about this subject

From what I can see from mr allens Post it was just a vote to see what people thought

BrettW · January 2021

Other (Please keep comments clean)

Realistically I think it would be impossible to enforce

Lisatho11987777 · January 2021

Yes

@woodbine that is the problem with games a shop can stop a sale

But say some one brought a violent game for an under age person if that person went out and committed a crime similar to the game then the parents become responsible

It is a very big subject but there are lots of examples online

Lisatho11987777 · January 2021

Yes

@woodbine that is very true but all the customer assistant who sold it

How I look at it from a parents point of view is would I want someone to sell my child something they shouldn't be buying

I think its a very good topic to discuss as it is a big subject and also has alot of implications to what could happen if people either buy or sell something to some one who is under age it has a knock on affect ?

Lisatho11987777 · January 2021

Yes

And the customer assistant not all

Geoark · January 2021

Other (Please keep comments clean)

Cher_Scope said:

@MrAllen1976 This is a reminder to be mindful of the language you use to address other people. Although they may have a different opinion to you, this doesn't excuse using offensive terms.

@Geoark This is a subject, I'll be honest, I know nothing about. Do you have any good links to where we can read more about video game legislation?

@Cher_Scope the relevant legislation is the 'Videos Recording Act 1984 and this refers to the distribution and selling of such items for profit or for the furtherance of a business. A current copy of the act can be found at https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1984/39/contents

In particular:

3Exempted supplies.E+W+S

[F1(1)The provisions of this section apply to determine whether or not a supply of a video recording is an exempted supply for the purposes of this Act.

(2)The supply of a video recording by any person is an exempted supply if it is neither—

(a)a supply for reward, nor

(b)a supply in the course or furtherance of a business.

This is what PEGI say in their tips to parents:

PEGI provides advice regarding the age suitability of a game. However, every child is different. Ultimately parents should decide what their children are capable of viewing or experiencing:

https://pegi.info/page/tips-parents

@MrAllen1976, yes google is my friend as is being able to discern between opinion and fact. But for something to be illegal it requires an act of parliament, I was unable to find this, if you can supply evidence to such an act to back what you say I will stand corrected and concede the point.

Should the law be tougher on Parents who knowingly purchase age rated video games for underage kids?

Should the law be tougher on Parents who knowingly purchase age rated video games for underage kids? 6 votes

Comments

3Exempted supplies.E+W+S

Categories