Byron Review 

On 6 September 2007, the Prime Minister asked to conduct an independent review looking at the risks to children from exposure to potentially harmful or inappropriate material on the internet and in video games. This review was about the needs of children and about their right to take the risks that are a part of their development by enabling them to play video games and surf the net in a safe and informed way.

Consequences of Byron Review

Many systems in place to inform parents and help them to restrict children’s access to inappropriate games

Current ratings systems (such as PEGI) are sometimes misunderstood by parents as difficulty ratings.

The classification system reformed so that the BBFC plays a bigger role in classifying games correctly

There are also steps that need to be taken in the UK and on a global platform to make the waters of new technology easier to navigate safely. This is about providing children and their parents with the proper tools, clear standards and signposts and somewhere to go when things go wrong.

Alongside new technology a new culture of responsibility is needed, where all in society focus not on defending entrenched positions, but on working together to help children keep themselves safe, to help parents to keep their children safe and to help each other support children and parents in this task.