For its 30th anniversary, the self-control entertainment software is supporting the relevance of the USK age indicators with a study.
The games industry's self-control institution has carried out around 56,000 procedures since it was founded in 1994: The result is the well-known colorful, square seals that indicate the suitability of computer and console games for children and young people aged 0, 6 and 12 or 16 years – or 'USK 18' for games without youth approval. Age ratings for mobile games can be generated semi-automatically via IARC self-rating.
The question remains: Are the USK license plates actually used in the intended manner?
In advance of a ceremony on October 9th to mark the 30th birthday, the USK is presenting an online survey in which around 1,000 parents and legal guardians took part. The result: 86 percent consider the USK seal to be important – 42 percent say they choose games together with their children.
The additional information that has been provided since the beginning of 2022 “Use risks” such as chats, pressure to act, advertising content or in-game purchases, are rated as important and useful by 85 percent of those surveyed. Nevertheless, although these 'descriptors' are printed on the back of game packs, they are still not widely displayed on leading platforms and online shops (more on this in the current Friday column).
USK Managing Director Elisabeth Secker: “The study shows that parents and carers take the protection of minors in games seriously and that the USK age indicators provide central guidance. The positive signal: Thanks to the right tools such as age indicators, additional information and parental control settings on consoles and devices, child and youth protection is already being actively implemented in families in many places today. The data also shows which areas still have potential. In particular, parents would like more information about technical child protection settings or, for example, uniform age labeling on all platforms.”
The USK is sponsored by the Game Industry Association – financing is provided, among other things, by testing fees (e.g. for Gamescom demos) or by advising and supporting games companies on youth protection law.
Always Fridays, always free: Subscribe to the GamesWirtschaft newsletter now!
GamesWirtschaft on social media: LinkedIn ● Facebook ● X ● threads ● Bluesky