Content issue

Content issues are elements in media that determine the age rating given by a ratings authority. The highest degree of impact of a content issue is what determines the age rating of a work. Content issues may also help adults decide on whether it is appropriate for their children to consume it. For example, most works that have been given an age rating by the BBFC have a "Content Advice" which shows the content issues of a work that determines the age rating given by the BBFC.

Common content issues

• Theme(s): the overall theme of the work. Themes are usually more mature at higher age ratings.
• Violence: how scenes of violence are shown in a work. There may be gory violence at higher age ratings.
• Sex: how sexuality is treated in a work. Strong sexual images are usually present at higher age ratings while unsimulated sex works are normally confined to adult ratings; however, such works involving minors, bestiality, actual rape or other kind of abhorrent activities are more likely to be banned.
• Nudity: how nudity is treated in a work. Sexual nudity may be present at higher age ratings while if graphic and the main-focus of the work as a whole normally would be confined to at least fully restricted ratings.
• Offensive language: how profanity is said (written or voiced) in a work. Strong language may be present at high age ratings.
• Substance use: how substances such as alcohol, tobacco, and drugs are treated in a work. There may be illegal drug use at higher age ratings, but instructional details on how to prepare it will normally result in a ban.
• Gambling: specifically used for video games; how gambling elements are shown in a video game. At higher age ratings, there may be times where the player can gamble with in-game currency, while games containing real gambling are generally confined to adult ratings. More recently, even games with just simulated gambling are usually being rated at the adult tier.
• Fear: how scary content is presented in a work. Sustained horror may be present at higher age ratings.

Other content issues

• Imitability: How and what types of imitable techniques and behaviors are shown in a work. Criminal and suicidal act details may be present at higher age ratings, but instructional details will usually result in a ban.
• Discrimination: How discriminatory acts and language are treated in a work. Banalization or glorification of discriminatory behavior may be present at higher age ratings.
• Blasphemy: How religiously profane content is presented in a work. Explicit language and elements that are religiously profane may be present at higher age ratings.

If a work does not have any content issues, it is likely to be suitable for all ages. However, works may receive age ratings based on unorthodox content advisories that do not have any of the above content issues.

Notes

• There are instances where two or more different content issues intersect (e.g., sexual violence, sexual nudity, horror themes).
• Almost always there are mitigating and aggravating factors, most commonly:
  • Realistic treatment/context gives a higher degree of impact unlike unrealistic or stylised ones which are milder
  • Actual/real is stronger in impact than fictional/simulated
  • Verbal/text references are considered softer than visuals or implicit
    • Implicit is less stronger than visuals
    • Visual references are taken more lightly than depictions
    • References are considered heavier the more descriptive/detailed they are
  • Frequent or prolonged are taken more severely being the opposite for occasional, infrequent or brief
    • Infrequent is milder than occasional
  • Educative, historical, medical, naturalistic or artistic context mitigates the impact
    • As well as comedic or light-hearted tone in contrast with more serious or darker ones.
  • Exploitative or gratuitous treatment heightens the impact in contrast with contextual justification
  • Incidental, discreet or subtle display dimishes the impact contrary if focused, indiscreet or directly.
  • Accentuation techniques/details (lightning, perspective, resolution, sound effects, graphicness etc...) increases the impact.
  • Negative, neutral or positive presentation, depending on the specific acts, can either amplify or reduce the impact.
  • Interactivity increases the impact
    • Following this; even more if it has incentives and rewards.
• The level of strictness between content issues in an age rating system normally is asymmetric:
  • USA age rating organizations (e.g., MPA, ESRB, TV Parental Guidelines) are more concerned with sex than for violence.
  • FPB is more severe with criminal techniques than with any other classifiable element (language, nudity, sexual conduct, violence, imitable acts and techniques etc.).
  • FSK/USK are more lenient with sex, nudity and coarse language than with violence or horror.
  • Kijkwijzer is very lenient on coarse language and nudity, while being far more concerned with sex, violence, drugs or fear.
  • OFLC can ban a work for matters of sex, violence, drugs, etc. but they can only restricted for offensive language.
  • IMDA treats violence, horror and coarse language less severely than nudity or sex.
  • BBFC can't reject a work on the grounds of bad language and horror but it can for the rest of classifiable elements.