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May 07, 2007
ESRB: Parents are Increasingly Using Ratings
Having talked much about parental responsibility, the ESRB's latest press release was welcome news: "Parents Increasingly Using ESRB Ratings to Restrict the Video Games Their Children Play."
The study found that 6 in 10 parents (60%) with children under 18 “never” allow their children to play games rated M for Mature, while 34% only do so “sometimes” - one of several findings that is consistent with those reported recently by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). Moreover, parents of children under the age of 13 are twice as likely as those with children 13 and older to “never” allow them to play M-rated games.
Among the study’s other findings:
* 87% of parents find it “very important” to be able to monitor and regulate what their children watch, read and play
* 90% of parents surveyed said that the ratings are “very” (55%) to “somewhat” (35%) helpful in helping them buy and rent games they deem appropriate for their children
* 91% say the ESRB ratings are the “most important” (17%), a “very important” (52%), or a “somewhat important” (22%) consideration when selecting games
* Other than ESRB ratings, parents turn to packaging (31%), other parents (29%), or their children (21%) as the top three sources of information about games
* 83% said that they would consider parental control settings to be “very” (53%) to “somewhat” (30%) helpful in allowing them to control the games their kids play
Posted by BrendaBrathwaite at May 7, 2007 10:25 PM | Discuss this post on our forums