The Coalition for Independent Ratings Services
is a non-profit organization that promotes independent ratings services. We believe is crucial that the groups rating the movies, TV, video games, etc are not the same ones who are trying to sell those products to you. Since they don't have a financial interest in any particular product, independent ratings providers can be much more objective.
The goal of this site is to be a "one-stop shop" for everything related to independent ratings systems and services.
Click the links above to
- Read our blog
- Read the latest news related to ratings
- See the most complete list of independent ratings on the web
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Is the iPad Negatively Affecting a Child's Brain Development? |
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 iPads and other Apple technology are at the fingertips of many young children today. Apple touts its iPad as a learning tool, but some experts say that too much of this technology can have a negative effect on developing minds. TheFiscalTimes.com reports that:
The American Academy of Pediatrics discourages any media use by children younger than two years. David Hill, a pediatrician and a member of AAP's Council on Communications and the Media, and author of the forthcoming book, Dad to Dad: Parenting Like a Pro, agrees and recommends that any child over the age of two limit screen time to two hours a day.
"Evidence suggests that viewing the sorts of rapid fire images present in videos or video games can lead to future problems in children's ability to concentrate," he says, adding that some research suggests a strong link between media exposure and ADHD. He says problems are likely to surface when the device is used as a substitute for communication between parent and child. A ">YouTube video last October showing a one-year-old trying to use a paper magazine like an iPad proved how impressionable children could be. The video has over 3.5 million views to date and thousands of heated comments.
More information on this topic can be seen at TheFiscalTimes.com.
Photo courtesy of Ambro/FreeDigitalPhotos |
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Oklahoma Lawmaker Proposes Tax on Violent Video Games |
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 Oklahoma State Representative Will Fourkiller is proposing a 1 percent sales tax on all violent video games sold in the state. Fourkiller believes there is a link between these video games and teen bullying. This quote from the representative is from The Huffington Post:
“Violent video games contribute to some of our societal problems like obesity and bullying, but because they raise a lot of revenue, they can also provide part of the solution,” William Fourkiller, the State Representative who introduced the bill, told Oklahoma City’s KFOR. Fourkiller also cited an incident where a car thief admitted to having played Grand Theft Auto before committing the crime.
Games rated "Teen", "Mature", and "Adult Only" would be subject to this tax. These include "Call of Duty", "Grand Theft Auto", "Skyrim". The Huffington Post states that the extra tax collected from these game sales would be donated to Oklahoma's Childhood Outdoor Education Revolving Fund to fight obesity and the Bullying Prevention Revolving Fund.
Read the full article from The Huffington Post here.
Update: This bill was voted down 5-6 in an Oklahoma House of Representatives sub-committee in February, 2012. The committee felt the bill broadly grouped all "T"-rated games in the "violent" category. The committee also questioned why games were the only target. |
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Safeguards for Children's Online Privacy Needed, Advocates Say |
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 The Children's Online Privacy Act of 1998 may have some changes coming, and, according to experts, they are very much needed. Kathryn C. Montgomery, professor of communications at American University, testified before Congress last week urging for more safeguards for children's online privacy. Said Mongomery:
"Today’s children are growing up in a ubiquitous digital media environment, where mobile devices, instant messaging, social networks, virtual reality, avatars, interactive games, and online video have become ingrained in their personal and social experience. Members of this generation of young people are, in many ways, living their lives online. With the current expansion of digital media platforms and the growing sophistication of online data collection and profiling, however, it is now critically important that the intent of COPPA be fully implemented to protect young people from new commercial practices in today’s digital media environment."
Her testimony came as the Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing and Trade of the House Energy and Commerce Committee began hearings on possible changes in COPA of 1998. Whether “surfing, studying, chatting or playing video games, kids today are spending more and more time online,” said Rep. Mary Bono Mack, leader of the subcommittee, in opening comments.
Read Ms. Montgomery's full here, at the Center for Digital Democracy's web site. |
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New Mobile Application Rating System Announced by ESRB & CTIA |
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CTIA - The Wireless Association and the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) have announced a new rating system that AT&T, Microsoft, Sprint, T-Mobile USA, US Cellular, and Verizon Wireless will voluntarily support.
A press release on CTIA's web site states:
"The CTIA Mobile Application Rating System with ESRB will utilize the well-known and trusted age rating icons that ESRB assigns to computer and video games to provide parents and consumers reliable information about the age-appropriateness of applications...When developers submit their applications to a participating storefront they will be able to complete a detailed yet quick multiple choice questionnaire that is designed to assess an application’s content and context with respect to its age-appropriateness. This includes violence or sexual content, language, substances, etc., as well as other elements such as a minimum age requirement, the exchange of user-generated content, the sharing of a user’s location with other users of the application and the sharing of user-provided personal information with third parties. Once developers complete all answers to these questions, their applications are rated within seconds. Each rated app is issued a certificate and a unique identifying code that may be subsequently submitted to other storefronts during their respective onboarding processes, avoiding the need for developers to repeat the rating process. This means consistent ratings across participating storefronts and a convenient, cost-free process for app developers."
The ESRB says that it will monitor consumer complaints and frequently test the most popular applications.
For the full press release, see the CTIA's web site. |
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Fast-Paced Cartoons Shown to Affect Children's Concentration |
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 A new study published in the journal Pediatrics has found that fast-paced cartoons have an immediate impact on a child's executive functions. Sixty four-year-olds were randomly assigned to either draw for 9 minutes or watch 9 minutes of the cartoon Sponge Bob Square Pants on Nickelodeon or Caillou, an educational PBS show about a 4-year old boy.
The study found:
Just 9 minutes of viewing a fast-paced television cartoon had immediate negative effects on 4-year-olds' executive function. Parents should be aware that fast-paced television shows could at least temporarily impair young children's executive function.
Angeline Lillard, lead author of the study says that fast-paced or unrealistic events may over-stimulate the brain, making it more difficult to trigger executive function, a process used to complete tasks.
Information on the study, along with a link to the full text, can be seen here. |
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