Discussion Paper

FPB CLASSIFICATION

GUIDELINES

February 2018

Presentation Outline

• FPB Mandate

• About the Classification Guidelines

• What informs the Guidelines Review

• Key Considerations for review

• Guidelines review process

• Deadline for written inputs

FPB MANDATE

FPB Mandate

• to provide consumer advice to enable adults to make informed viewing, reading and gaming choices, both for themselves and for children in their care;

• to protect children from exposure to disturbing and harmful materials and from premature exposure to adult experiences; and

• to make the use of children in and the exposure of children to pornography punishable.

About the Guidelines

What are Classification Guidelines

The Classification Guidelines ensure:

• the consistent classification of material;

• that no content that is prohibited in terms of the Act is classified;

• that content created through the commission of a criminal offence is appropriately channelled to the relevant authorities by the FPB;

• that classification of material reflects public opinion;

• that material does not cause any moral harm in the category in which it was classified.

Classification Considerations

What informs the review process?

What informs the Guidelines Review?

• Impact of Media Material on Children

• Convergence Surveys (Public Perception Surveys)Research

• Number of public complaints received and nature of complaints received (SA still very conservative when it comes to sexual content)

Public Complaints

• Rulings of the Tribunal assist in improving understanding and applicability of Guidelines within the legislative framework

• Industry Appeals further assist to gauge level of industry satisfaction with FPB Classification decision

Appeal Tribunal Rulings

Classifier Engagements

Child Development Stages (Piaget and Kohlberg Theory)

FPB Age Category Piaget Theory(Cognitive Development)

Kohlberg’s Theory(Moral Development)

APG(Birth to 7 Years)

• Basic identification of objects

• Basic use of language• Motor sensory • Ego Centric : difficulty in

seeing things from different view points

• See things from a single features

• No difference between doing the right thing or avoiding punishment

• Pre- school, more self interested- secure benefit for oneself

7 – 9 PG1010 – 12 PG

Concrete Operational • Logical thinking• Recognise numbers, mass

and weight• Classify objects by several

features

• Effort to secure approval and maintain friendly relations with others

• Orientation to fixed rules.

• Morality if there to maintain social order

• Little less selfishness

Child Development Stages (Piaget and Kohlberg Theory)

FPB Age Category Piaget Theory Kohlberg’s Theory

13 • Logical thinking about Abstract tasks

• Concerned about the future

• Understand between morally right and legally right

• Rules makes life better for everyone

16

18 • Morality is based on principles that transcend mutual benefit (Can think beyond selfish needs)

Key Findings

Complaints Analysis Most harmful content as per public perceptions

71%

15%8% 7%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

Sex Violence Nudity Badlanguage

Most Harmful Rank 1

Classification Trends

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

CT D H IAT L N P S SV V B PPS

% of total 0,27% 15,28% 5,36% 1,34% 31,64% 5,36% 7,51% 12,87% 1,61% 41,55% 0,54% 0,27%

No. of total 1 57 20 5 118 20 28 48 6 155 2 1

1

57

205

118

20 2848

6

155

2 1

15%

5%

32%

5%8%

13%

42%

CONSUMER ADVICE: GENERAL MATERIALS Total 337 (236 features, 101 trailers)

Levels of Convergence (2014, 2016)

2014 Surveys

9000 (physical surveys Northern Cape / Western Cape)

5000 Online Surveys

74 % agreement with the need to regulate

content

63% Alignment of FPB ratings to individual values and norms

2016 Surveys

9000 households in all 9 provinces

81% agreement that FPB ratings cover all

harmful content

66% alignment of FPB ratings to individual values and norms

Discussion Paper Focus Areas

Key considerations for review• Applicability of current age categories? (7-9PG in

particular)

• Expansion of definition and use of ‘Blasphemy’ to consider matters of cultural blasphemy or should it be a separate element?

• Increasing the ages where low impact Violence and Sexual content is permissible from PG to 13?

• Adding Gender Based Violence as consumer advisory to warn consumers?

Public Consultations and review process

Guidelines Review ProcessFebruary – October 2018

Discussion Paper

Launch

Draft Findings

Document and Draft

Guidelines Draft Final Guidelines

Public Consultations

Gazette draft Guidelines for public comment

Gazette final guidelines

Public Consultations

Province City/Town Dates

Gauteng Midrand JHB 19 February 2018

Eastern Cape Grahamstown 20 February 2018

Western Cape Cape Town 21 February 2018

Northern Cape Kimberly 22 February 2018

Free State Bloemfontein 23 February 2018

Mpumalanga Nelspruit 27 February 2018

North West Rustenburg 06 March 2018

Limpopo Polokwane 08 March 2018

Kwa-Zulu Natal Durban 13 March 2018

Written Submissions

• Date: 30 March 2018

• Email: Classificationguidelines@fpb.org.za

• Documents available on:

www.fpb.org.za

The end: Thank You