The UK's current system of film classification

 What are the pros and cons of the UK's current system of film classification?

Pros

• Simple, set straightforward guidelines which allow people to be able to easily follow them when choosing a film
• The BBFC update their guidelines in order to keep up to date with our society and culture, therefore they take into account modern day issues
• The 13 issues that they use are current in this day and age
• Local coucil are responsible for the films screened and can over rule decision made by the BBFC
• Parents government-approved authority to rate films for their children

Cons

• It puts people under set catergorys however should it really be decided upon by age? Some people are more mature for there age, some people have differnt like and dislikes etc
• Althought the regulations are set out they are not actually really enforced, particularly in cinema- people use fake ID or they aren't actually asked for any form of ID
• The classification can become quite restrictive and when actually classifying a film it can be subjective as it could fall between 2 catergories therfore is actually a matter of opinion.
• Althougth there is a lot of information it is not neccesarily being used or people are not actually aware of the information on offer.

 Do you think the way films are regulated is sensible, useful to society and achieves its aim of protecting the vulnerable and upholding the law?

I think in some ways yes it is a useful and sensible the way films are regulated for society. I think particularly parents rely heavily on the classifications and use them as way to tell there children if they can or cannot watch a film and they can trust the classification ratings. However parents can become too reliant on the BBFC and are not actually aware what each rating actrually involves. Although there is plenty of advice  avaliable not many people are actually aware of this, therefore more needs to be done in order to raise awareness.

Although films are regulated sensibly and are useful I don't think it protects the vunerable. Children are able to see films at ratings which should not be accesible to them. The guidelines do not take into account different childrens feelings and upbringings and therefore children can see films which are not suitable for them. I also think new technologies e.g. the internet is making the way in which films are regulated much harder and films are now put online with no rating or protection

 Is there anything you think could be done to improve the system? 

I think mainly awareness needs to be raised and more done to promote the work of the BBFC and the ways in which films are classified. Unlike issues such as 'bullying' and ' car safety' I don't think the government see the issue of the UK's film classification as such an important issue. Although parents complain about films if they disagree with the classification many aren't aware of all the information that is actually already on the BBFC websites because of the fact it isnt promoted and perhaps ignored by the government.


I also think judging the rating of films on age perhaps isn't actually the best way, many children grown up with different unbringings e.g. siblings thereofore people have different fears, personalitites and can be more grown up for their age. Therefore restrictign films on age could be problamatic, however I think this is probably the simplest way but no the most effective