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
EU and Social Networking Sites Sign Pact to Protect Children PDF Print E-mail
News
Thursday, 12 February 2009 00:00

Seventeen European social networking sites have signed an agreement with the European Union that provides for more protection of children under 18. Sites such as Facebook and MySpace will aim to shield children from cyber bullying and other inappropriate activity by keeping profiles of those under 18 private by default and non-searchable, and by providing an easy-to-use "report abuse" button on their sites. The companies are also aiming to make it more difficult for children under the age of 13 to create accounts.

More information on this agreement is available on the EU's portal web site, Europa.com.
 
BYU Research Examines Risk of Video Games PDF Print E-mail
News
Tuesday, 10 February 2009 00:00

Researchers at Brigham Young University have found that, among college students, there is a connection between video game playing and poor personal relationships, alcohol and drug abuse, and low levels of self-esteem. Faculty member Laura Walker and undergraduate Alex Jensen collected information from 813 students around the country who reported how often they played video games and answered questions regarding the quality of their relationships with friends and family.

"It may be that young adults remove themselves from important social settings to play video games, or that people who already struggle with relationships are trying to find other ways to spend their time,” Walker said. “My guess is that it’s some of both and becomes circular.”

For more information on this study, visit the BYU web site.
 
TV Linked to Risk of Depression in Teens PDF Print E-mail
News
Friday, 06 February 2009 00:00

Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh and Harvard Medical School recently released the results of a study conducted on the link between increased television viewing and depression in teens. The media habits of more than 4,000 teens were observed in the study, which found that increasing television viewing by one hour per day boosted the odds of depression later in life by nerly 8%. An article in the LA Times notes:

The programs and ads teens watched may have made them feel inadequate and worthless, or they could have stirred feelings of anxiety and fear, all of which contribute to depression, researchers said.

To read more about the study, see this article from the LA Times.
 
Study by UK Children's Group Warns of Effects of Too Much Media PDF Print E-mail
News
Tuesday, 03 February 2009 00:00

The Children's Society, a UK group established in 1881 with the goal of helping youth to have a happier and healthier childhood, has released the results of a new study, entitled "The Good Childhood Inquiry", which, in part, details its finindings of the effects of too much media. The study finds:

The more a child is exposed to TV and the internet the more materialistic they become, the worse they relate to their parents and the worse their mental health. The way firms are promoting sugary, salty high-fat foods to children is leading to rising levels of obesity. If current trends continue, by 2023 there will be a 54% rise in Type II diabetes and by 2051 life expectancy will fall five years.

According to the study, a UK child watches 17 hours of television per week and use the computer or play video games 4 hours per week.

To read more about the study's findings on this topic and to download the full version, visit the Children's Society's web site.
 
Study Shows NFL Ads Contain Sex, Violence, and Alcohol PDF Print E-mail
News
Friday, 30 January 2009 00:00

According to Common Sense Media, children are seeing more than football when tuning in to NFL games. CSM recently conducted a study that monitored nearly 5,000 commercials during 50 NFL games. The results? Nearly half of the commercials were full of ads for sex- and violent-related TV programming on the network, and 40 percent of the games showed ads for erectile disfunction drugs. Common Sense Media has started a campaign to urge NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell to clean up these ads. James Stayer, founder and CEO of Common Sense Media, says:

"We don't object that they can advertise their products. It's OK on the Howard Stern show at 2 a.m.," he said. "But here on the West Coast, you sit down with your kids to watch a football game on Sunday at 10 a.m. and ka-boom, they hit you right between the eyes. By 10:07, your 5-year-old is asking what erectile dysfunction means."

To learn more about Common Sense Media's campaign and to read the study, see CSM's web site.
 
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