How important are rating systems to parents in Malta? : a quantitative study

Abstract

This quantitative research study explores how seriously parents/guardians in Malta regard film and television rating systems with respect to their children. This is done by collecting and analysing information about their supervising behaviours, their knowledge of their children’s film/television watching habits, and their opinions about the effectiveness of such systems. The sample of 81 voluntary participants who answered the self-administered questionnaire was formed of parents of children aged 9-10, 11-12, and 13-14, who attend 3 selected mainstream schools. Another question at the forefront of the study is whether parents/guardians consider information about potentially harmful content (violence, sex, profanity) to be important. The results demonstrate contradictory evidence. While most of the sample claim to be knowledgeable about Maltese ratings systems and consider information about content to be important, less than half consult and abide by them very frequently or all the time. As is often the case, education is the answer. Namely educating the public about media, thus giving them the tools to critically analyse controversial content and give more thought as to what is being presented in pictorial media.