The Classification Board has updated consumer advice to ensure Australians are better informed about whether a film contains potentially triggering content such as bullying, suicide and self-harm, as well as disturbing content related to horror, or blood and gore.
The updates come after the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts in 2022 surveyed 2,000 Australians on their values, understanding and use of classification information.
Many participants expressed a desire for modern and up-to-date classification information that reflected community standards and expectations, with 84% of people agreeing consumer advice should be given about content that could be distressing to some people.
Consumer advice accompanies a film's rating and provides detail on the most impactful content that is present.
Informed by this survey, the Board agreed to provide additional consumer advice for certain content, even when this content is not the most impactful content within the film.
For example, if a film has violence at the MA 15+ impact level but also contains blood and gore at the M impact level, the classification for the film would be MA 15+ and the consumer advice for the film will refer to both violence, and blood and gore.
These changes will improve the ability of Australians to make informed decisions about what they, and those in their care, watch.
