We use video game age ratings as a guide before buying a game. Most use a letter or a number combo to show the ratings and they’re evaluated based on the levels of violence, sexual images or references, and language used.

These ratings are most important for parents, but according to recent studies, many are leaving kids to play above their age range. A UK survey, for instance, found that more than half of parents let their young children play 18+-rated video games.

With young kids getting their hands on 18+-rated games, do these ratings even matter?

Video Games Shape Children's Behavior

To illustrate just how powerful video games can be and how they can shape children’s behaviors, an Iowa State University study evaluated 191 children. Researchers asked the subjects, composed of 104 males and 87 females, to either play a pro-social game (Chibi Robo), neutral (Pure Pinball) or violent (Crash Twinsanity) and children’s video game (cartoon characters).

The results show that children who played games with pro-social content or those with characters that help each other had increased helpful and decreased hurtful behavior right after. Games with violent content, however, had the opposite effect on the children.

They conducted the same study among 330 college students, which produced similar results. This shows just how powerful video game content is and how it can influence kid’s behavior either positively or negatively.

Although, parents, according to the researchers, shouldn’t rely on ratings alone.

Don't Just Rely On Ratings

“In the children's study these were are all very cartoonish games—they were all rated appropriate for everyone—and yet we still show the violent harm aspect,” the researchers found.

“The rating system doesn't really capture the potential harmfulness or helpfulness of a game,” they concluded.

Researchers have found that some games deemed appropriate for children, even those rated E or for everyone, may still contain depictions of violence or references to content that are not appropriate for young children.

Related: What Do Video Game Ratings Mean? A Guide to ESRB and PEGI

What’s even worse is that age-ratings can sometimes make games more attractive to young kids. Yes, violent-content labels can even make games more irresistible to children.

The "Forbidden Fruit" Effect of Age Ratings

Instead of keeping kids away from inappropriate content, video game age ratings may have the opposite effect. Games rated 18+ are becoming even more attractive to young kids who often want what they’re not supposed to have.

A Journal of The American Academy of Pediatrics study published in 2009 found that violent content labels or 18+ ratings may actually increase the attractiveness of games for children younger than the indicated age rating.

The study included 310 youth divided into three age groups; 7-8, 12-13, and 16-17 years. Researchers asked participants to read fictitious video game descriptions and rate how much they would like to play the games.

Results of the study show that restrictive age labels and violent-content labels had a forbidden-fruit effect on children—it made them want to play these games even more.

What Can Parents Do to Monitor Game Content?

child and parents playing video games

While there are studies that support the effectiveness of game age-ratings in providing appropriate guidelines, even researchers behind these studies admit that the rating-system won’t be beneficial unless parents use them.

Parents should step in and mediate their kids’ purchase or use of video games. Considering how powerful these games can be in shaping children’s behavior and eventually their characters, in the long run, we shouldn't use these forms of entertainment as a convenient (and cheaper) babysitting alternative.

Adults need to play a more active role in mediating the use of video games, especially by very young children. Experts advise parents and other caregivers to do the following:

  • Don’t rely on ratings alone. Before purchasing a game, ask for a demo at the store or watch gameplay videos and trailers on YouTube. This will give you an idea about the actual content of the game and the type of language used by the characters in the game.
  • Read reviews and user feedback so you’ll know other people’s experiences with the game. Don’t rely on video game descriptions alone.
  • Play the game yourself. Many parents opt to sit and play with their children whenever they can so they can not just spend more quality time, but really get to know what their children are playing. They’ll understand what makes the game attractive, what makes it fun, what makes it appropriate or inappropriate. This will help them effectively guide their children away from the game or some aspects of the game.
  • Set limits on how long your children can play video games. We also advise parents to keep limits on the time children can spend playing video games and the type of games they can play.
  • Explain to children why there is a need to limit their exposure to certain content and why they should limit their playtime. There are several ways to check playtime on consoles.
  • Keep consoles or devices in a place where you can see them. Keeping the device inside the children’s room may limit your chances of monitoring the content. Also, ditch the headphones. It might give you a few hours of peace at home, but you’ll risk not hearing the type of language that your child is getting exposed to.

As for government agencies, regulatory-boards, and other organizations, researchers suggest superimposing ratings on the games themselves so parents will know what their kids are playing.

They also encourage more information campaigns about rating systems to help parents understand what ratings are for and how they can help protect their children from inappropriate content.

Age Ratings Matter, But You Need Parents’ Involvement Too

Choosing what’s appropriate or not should go beyond just reading the label. Considering how powerful video games can be, parents need to play a more active role in mediating their children’s gaming.

Getting to know the actual content and not just reading the label is the best way to keep young kids away from inappropriate content. Get to know the device (set parental controls), talk to your children about the need to regulate their video game use, and better yet, sit down and play with them as often as you can.

This will help you build and earn your children’s trust because they’ll see that you are trying your best to understand them.