Age Ratings and Maturity: What to Actually Look For
What age ratings mean, where they fall short, and how to assess whether content is right for your child.
Overview
Age ratings appear on games, films, apps, and streaming services, but many parents are unsure what they actually measure or how reliable they are. PEGI ratings on games, BBFC classifications on films, and app store age ratings each use different criteria. None of them can account for your individual child's maturity, emotional resilience, or context. This guide explains how major rating systems work and offers practical ways to assess whether specific content is appropriate for your child.
How the main rating systems work
PEGI (Pan European Game Information) rates video games from 3 to 18 based on content descriptors like violence, language, and online interaction. BBFC rates films and some streaming content using categories from U to 18. App store ratings (Apple and Google) are self-declared by developers, making them less reliable. Each system assesses content differently, so a game rated PEGI 12 and a film rated 12A are not measuring the same thing.
Different rating systems use different criteria. A '12' rating on a game does not mean the same thing as a '12' rating on a film.
Where age ratings fall short
Age ratings assess content — what is shown or depicted — but they cannot account for context, user-generated content, or in-game interactions. A game rated PEGI 7 may have a live chat feature where strangers can communicate with your child. App store ratings are self-certified by developers and frequently understate risks. Streaming platforms may auto-play content with a higher rating than what your child originally selected.
Age ratings do not cover user-generated content, in-game chat, or social features. Always check beyond the rating number.
Assessing your child's individual readiness
No rating system knows your child. A sensitive 14-year-old may be more affected by psychological horror than a resilient 11-year-old. Consider your child's emotional maturity, how they process frightening or upsetting content, whether they can distinguish fiction from reality, and whether you can be available to discuss what they see. Common Sense Media provides detailed, parent-written reviews that often give a more nuanced picture than official ratings.
You know your child better than any rating system. Use ratings as a starting point, not the final word.
Practical steps for making decisions
Before allowing access to new content, look up the specific content descriptors (not just the age number), read parent reviews on Common Sense Media, watch a gameplay video or trailer yourself, and discuss what your child might encounter. For online games and apps, check whether the platform has chat, friend requests, or user-generated content features — these are often the bigger risk, regardless of the age rating.
Check content descriptors, read parent reviews, and always look for social and chat features that ratings may not cover.
Practical Actions
- 1Look up the content descriptors for any game or app your child wants, not just the age number — PEGI, BBFC, and Common Sense Media all provide them.
- 2Check whether games and apps include live chat, friend requests, or user-generated content — these features carry separate risks that ratings may not cover.
- 3Use Common Sense Media reviews for a parent-perspective assessment before allowing access to new content.
Sources
This is practical educational content to support families. For case-specific concerns about a child's safety, contact the NSPCC helpline on 0808 800 5000 or your local safeguarding team.
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Last reviewed: 2026-03-15