Study of Parental Mediation Strategies in Children's Game playing: Necessity of Game Rating Systems

The purpose of this research was to study the significance of creating video game rating system from Iranian parents’ point of view. To study this significance, we studied extensions of governmental mediation in video game reproduction and distribution. We also explored the extent of parental supervision on children video game behavior. Through in-depth interview from 5 parents we extracted common categories of parental mediation pattern, parents’ point of view toward video game rating system, and parents’ point of view toward game effects. Based on extracted common categories and literature in parental studies we surveyed 230 parents. One of main results of this study proves that from Iranian parents’ point of view, it is highly essential to create video game rating system. However, they were also concerned with objectivity during formation of any video game rating system. There is some incongruence between governmental mediation and parents’ expectations to be informed on how to mediate in their children’s video game behavior. Due to lack of various mediation mechanisms in Iran, limiting time spent on games is the most common pattern in parental mediation. Enthusiastic parental category in point of view toward video game rating system is also popular. Most Iranian parents have a negative view toward video game effects on their children. They also believe in the strictest way to prevent all their young children from accessing games with higher age label.