Ofcom research

Concerns about children's viewing vary amongst parents and carers. Most, however, agree that children under 10 are the most vulnerable and so in need of protection. A key period, however, for parental concern about media consumption in general is when children are aged between 10 and 14. These general concerns should be taken into account when applying rules 1.1 – 1.7 in this section. Viewers and listeners make a distinction between channels which appeal to children, and those that attract a smaller, niche audience, unlikely to appeal to children. Although broadcasters of these niche channels still carry a responsibility towards a potential child audience, the majority of homes do not contain children and viewers and listeners have a right to expect a range of subject matter.

The 'watershed' is a well understood concept and audiences are concerned if they believe a programme content is 'pushing the boundaries' of what is generally accepted close to the watershed. Audience research shows strong support and recognition for the watershed on all television channels. The watershed plays a crucial role for parents and carers with children aged 5 to 8 and trust in pre-watershed programming is essential, particularly leading up to 1930.It is also important that the content of pre watershed trials is appropriate for the time of broadcast. Some programmes scheduled to start before the watershed and finishing after 2100 may be of special appeal to children, especially during school holidays. Depending on the channel and audience it attracts, views can be concerned at strong, adults material.

Even with appropriate scheduling, some addition information about pre-watershed and post- watershed programmes may be necessary  Where appropriate, viewers appreciate information about content that may be problematic for certain ages-  particularly if a programme appeals to a wide-ranging audience. However the watershed and new it is accepted that it is in the public interest that, in certain circumstances, news 

programmes may show material which is stronger than may be expected prewatershed in other programmes as long as clear information is given in advance so that adults may regulate the viewing of children.

The findings were revealed when adults were asked what methods they used at least once a day to communicate with friends and family. The average UK consumer now sends 50 texts per week – which has more doubled in four years – with over 150 billion text messages sent in 2011. Almost another ninety minutes per week is spent accessing social networking sites and e-mail, or using a mobile to access the internet, while for the first time ever fewer phone calls are being made on both fixed and mobile phones. Teenagers and young adults are leading these changes, increasingly socialising with friends and family online and through text messages despite saying they prefer to talk face to face. Ofcom’s Communications Market Report 2012 also shows that traditional forms of communications are declining in popularity, with the overall time spent on the phone falling by 5% in 2011. 

In this review we have focused on how to ensure the delivery of content which fulfills public purposes and meets the interests of citizens and consumers throughout the UK. Our aim has been to make recommendations that respond to the huge changes brought about by the transition to the digital era. The central question is how a historically strong and successful public service broadcasting system can navigate from its analogue form to a new digital model. We need to sustain its quality and creative spirit while also capturing the opportunities of broadband distribution, mobility and interactivity.

‘When someone gets shot rapidly with a rifle and how they move when they get shot.'  
The movements and seeing the effects of the violence.

Children’s ‘knowledge’ of violence is changed by their experience of violence in reality, in their own lives. Therefore, it is not surprising that for these participants to feel that something can be classified as ‘violent’, it must be grounded in realism and feel credible.This is especially true for older boys, who think of many scenes of violence as nothing more than a string of special effects. Should the violence not be realistic, then children find ways of distancing themselves from it. And yet, the participants talk of the physical and dramatic representations of violence such as the ‘blood, guts and gore’ and it is doubtful that they have experienced this. A sense of violence can be heightened if it reflects on to the child’s own fears or anxieties. For example, isolation, the dark, and places where help would not easily be forthcoming are all environments which serve to increase the violence loading in a programme.

Our recommendations are based on detailed audience research, a wide range of views from stakeholders within industry and our own analysis. The recommendations we present to government and Parliament set out what we believe is required to fulfil a vision of diverse, vibrant and engaging public service content enjoyed across a range of digital media, which complements a flourishing and expansive market sector. In summary, we believe that the four top priorities are: 

- The issues and concerns surrounding smoking, the misuse of alcohol, drugs (both legal and illegal) and solvent abuse are varied and complex. They are all a feature of modern British society and clearly a legitimate component or theme for programming. The prevalence of use amongst this age group is given in a annual reports from the nation centre for social education research. The current figures highlight the vulnerable groups and the areas where broadcasters should exercise the most care. Programme makers should always consider the impact that the representation of the use of illegal drugs, the abuse drugs, smoking, solvent abuse and the misuse of alcohol, may have on younger viewers and listeners. Any such inclusion prewatershed or at times when children are particularly likely to be listening must therefore be editorially justified. 

Research shows that children may emulate what they see on television. This is mediated to a certain extent by factors such as a child’s ability to distinguish between degrees of fantasy and reality and the identification with the character. Children have different stages of development and broadcasters should bear this in mind. Areas of concern include: 

• the use of accessible domestic implements, such as knives, or other offensive weapons, articles or substances portrayed in a dangerous or harmful manner 
• any portrayal of household items, such as micro-waves and tumble-dryers, which can cause harm if misused, 
• certain locations, such as railway lines; 
• certain material which may lead children to fail to recognize potentially
  dangerous play especially if there is no serious outcome; and 
• hanging or the preparations for hanging, if easily imitable, particularly if shown before the watershed, unless the setting gives strong grounds for believing that imitation is unlikely."

Programme makers should always consider the impact that the representation of the use of illegal drugs, the abuse of drugs, smoking, solvent abuse and the misuse of alcohol, may have on younger viewers and listeners. Any such inclusion pre watershed or at times when children are particularly likely to be listening must therefore be editorially justified. 

Offensive language is a feature of British life and, in certain contexts, it has an appropriate place in broadcasting. However it raises concerns about harm to children and offence in general. There is a concern that children may imitate offensive language or be upset to hear this language, when their parents or carers have told them it is wrong, before they have worked out their own attitude to its use.Milder language in the early part of the evening may be acceptable, for example, if mitigated by a humorous context. However, in general, viewers and listeners do not wish to hear frequent or regular use of such language, including profanity, before 2100.

‘There’s always going to be somebody watching. Like a child maybe, because if he’s not going to pick it up from TV, he’s going to pick it up from somewhere else.’

Children enjoy a wide variety of music. However, where lyrics in songs might cause 

offence, broadcasters will wish to consider the context which may increase or 

mitigate the offence, and the possible use of track remixes and edits. 

Rolling live news channels face different challenges, in terms of compliance, to 

other broadcasters. These channels provide services which, as a matter of public 

interest, should be able to report accurately the news as it happens. 

Because of the immediacy of news and the necessity to go to events live, at times, 

the broadcaster has less control of its editorial output. This is understood by the 

audience to these services which is both overwhelmingly adult and ‘self-selecting’. 

There is therefore always a possibility that material transmitted on these channels 

may be unsuitable for children (see also the guidance to Rule 1.7 Information, the 

watershed and news). 

While news channels should always aim to minimise the use of offensive language 

pre-watershed, there are exceptional occasions when, because of their nature, such 

language is broadcast. Under such circumstances, Ofcom will consider: 

• The editorial justification for the coverage 

• Whether it was live or pre-recorded 

• Whether it was at a time when any children are likely to be in the audience 

• The context in which the language was used 

• Whether there was an apology made - this may help mitigate offence /distress