Offensive content best practices

Both online and in real life, we encounter things that shock us, make us uncomfortable, or that we don’t understand.

Online, disturbing content can surprise a child by appearing in an advert, video, game or search results. Talking about it as a family allows you to put your emotions into words and discuss ways of finding solutions together.

It’s not always easy for children to express themselves if they are shocked. They may also be ashamed or afraid of being deprived of a screen.

Set aside some time to discuss with your child what they’ve seen on their devices, what they did or didn’t like.

Remind them that you are there to listen, help and protect them.

Our sensitivity to certain content will vary depending on our age and personality.

An image in the news, a violent sound, a cartoon or video game monster, a crime show–lots of things can be frightening!

Content that may seem trivial to some may frighten or shock others…

To be sure you’re watching a programme that suits everyone during your TV nights, choose it together.

And don’t forget, the age ratings are there to help you (‘not recommended for under-10s, under-12s’, etc.).

It’s all too easy to mindlessly scroll through content. Learning to use screens with a specific goal in mind can both improve the quality of the content and prevent this from happening.

Before you begin using a screen, pause and ask yourself: ‘What am I going to do?’

You can also make a list of the programmes or activities you want to do before you start.

Simply knowing what you want to do can limit the risk of mindless scrolling.

There is so much information and things you can do online, so it can be hard to decide on what to do once in front of the screen. Having ‘too much choice’ is a well-known phenomenon where, instead of making a decision, you get stuck and search for hours. You’ve probably already experienced this when desperately looking for a film to watch on Netflix. Choosing in advance saves a lot of time!

Screens can be a way of bringing people together.

Children learn best from what they’re watching when they share the experience with an adult.

Deciding on a film or game together can be a great opportunity for bonding. It can also be the basis for difficult conversations.

Why not choose a fixed time (Thursday evenings, for example) when everyone watches a film together? You can alternate who chooses the film or ask everyone to write down a film suggestion before deciding which one to watch.

Beyond the type of screen and content, the way viewers interact also plays a key role in the experience. Studies show that when parents and children use screens together (i.e. watch the same content at the same time), the experience is more beneficial for children (Anderson & Hanson, 2017). Children have the chance to ask questions, and parents can better assess how much time they spend in front of the screen. Having a discussion together after the activity also helps children to develop their oral language skills.

Depending on our age, personality, and sensitivity, certain upsetting content can impact us, cause worry, and even shape how we perceive reality.

Setting up your search engine to block offensive content helps you to choose programmes suited to the age and maturity of your children.

You can also take a look at age ratings for TV shows as well as video games (PEGI).

The -10, -12, -16 and -18 symbols, which can be seen on television programmes, help you identify age-appropriate content.

If there is no symbol, the programme can be watched by everyone.

-10s may contain shocking scenes for the youngest children. -12s contain repeated scenes of sex and violence.

You can explain these symbols to children and help them choose programmes suited to their age and maturity.

Even if it’s not the child playing, they can see what’s happening on screen.

They may be overwhelmed or shocked by the content of a video game (film, series or programme) that is not suitable for their age group.

It’s important to wait until the children are in bed or outside before playing games made for adults.

When grown-ups play, keep the little ones away, even if they’re just watching.You also have to be careful when watching the news or a film on television, even if you think your child isn’t watching. Depending on their age and sensitivity, they may be shocked but not know how to express it.

Being present when children are on screens is an opportunity to take an interest in what they are doing and the content they are discovering.

It’s also a good way of giving them age-appropriate advice on what they’re doing.

We make ourselves available when children are on screens. We are there to explain, guide and answer their questions.

And to ensure that this rule is followed, it’s best to ensure screens are not easily accessible at all times.

When children are young, it’s best not to leave screens, tablets and smartphones around. This is to prevent temptation, protect them (they are fragile objects) and ensure they are not an easy option as soon as the child gets bored.

Tablets and smartphones can be stored in an inaccessible place, as can remote controls.