A2 MEDIA BLOG

Regulation is a form of controlling and protecting vulnerable viewers such as children or people who may be intellectually disabled from seeing content that may influence to them imitate the behaviour or make them feel uncomfortable. It can also be used to uphold what society deems as normal and acceptable and to prevent negative messages being projected into society. I will be analysing how contemporary media, such as films, are regulated in the UK and the effectiveness of their practices with regards to social change. The BBFC (British Board of Film Classification) is one of the main film regulators for films shown in the UK and they are a non-statutory institution based on the principal that film is a from of art and is shown universally so they’re decisions are made primarily from the film industry and reflects their interests. They regulate film proactively as content is reviewed before a theatrical release and they regulate films by either giving age classifications, censoring

General definition, information – The BBFC and PEGI are the two organisations who certificate and rate media products. The BBFC are an non-government regulatory body to which films are submitted for classification based on their content. PEGI used descriptors that are placed on the back of the video games packaging. These descriptors explain the main reason behind why games have been given a particular age rating. Specific points/debates However this role means that we have to place our trust in these organisations as we, the audience, rely upon them to make the decision of what we should and shouldn’t be subjected to in media products.  Problems are faced by these gatekeepers when it comes to media that they are unable to regulate.  Thesis statement Although these regulatory bodies are in place there are problems with the systems that prevent them from being used as a means of protection, for the public, from the media.  For example, it is not i