Image
When a program contains scenes that may shock youngsters, or when the subject matter may disturb them.
Arcom youth signage awareness raising campaign: protecting persons under 18 from screens
Translations are provided as a service to Arcom users and are supplied “as is”, throught the DeepL tool. Consequently, only the text of the original version is authentic.
Please note that not all the files have been translated.
As of November 20 and for at least 3 weeks, the audiovisual media will be showing the annual youth signage information and awareness-raising campaign produced by Arcom.
Youth labelling is a scheme for classifying audiovisuel programmes to indicate to the public whether a programme is suitable for persons under 18, depending on their age.
The scheme was introduced for TV channels in 2005 and for on-demand audiovisual media services in 2011. These texts define the various program categories and set out their programming conditions.
There are five categories of programs, according to their acceptability for the protection of children and adolescents:
- all audiences (category I)
- - 10 years (category II)
- - 12 years (category III)
- - 16 years (category IV)
- - 18 years (category V)
This program classification is determined by the channels, which then apply the corresponding signage by affixing a pictogram to the screen indicating the age below which it is not advisable to watch the program.
TV channels classify their own programs before they are shown. To do this, each channel must set up a broadcast committee whose members are chosen by the channel and who recommend a rating.
Arcom has established a number of non-exhaustive criteria to help classify programs, including :
- the number and nature of violent scenes
- whether they are gratuitous or essential to the scenario
- scripted use of violence to resolve conflicts
- staging, image treatment, type of shot used, realism of representation, treatment of the soundtrack (which generates anguish), language
- evocation of difficult themes such as drugs, suicide, incest, domestic violence
- child abuse
- depiction of sexual acts
- image of women (respectful or degrading)
- character psychology and the cues it supplies to a child or teen audience (punishment or reward for acts of violence, etc.)
- the character of the hero, his motives, his recourse to violence or to dangerous or illegal behavior
- the presence of children in violent scenes.
These criteria are applied on a case-by-case basis and, for series, episode-by-episode.
Arcom encourages TV channels to use this system as soon as they suspect that a program may offend youngsters. 's aim is not to sanitize the small screen, but to inform the public .
Arcom verifies, after the program has been shown by the channel, the relevance of the classification chosen by the channel, the presence of the pictogram, the broadcast schedule, etc.
Arcom's mission: Protection of youth and persons under 18
One of Arcom's missions is to prevent children and teenagers from seeing or hearing online programs or content that could harm their mental, moral or physical development.
Which pictogram for which content?
Diffusion times
Free.
They cannot be programmed within the youth programs.
When a program is likely to disturb the reference points of a child under the age of 12, notably because it repeatedly uses physical or psychological violence, or evokes adult sexuality.
Diffusion times
From 10pm (with some exceptions).
As of 8:30pm on special-interest channels (movie channels and pay-per-view channels are subject to different rules).
When a program is likely to disturb the senses of under-16s, particularly erotic programs or those featuring particularly disturbing scenes of violence.
Diffusion times
As of 10:30pm.
As of 8:30pm on cinema channels and pay-per-view channels, which are subject to different rules.
Films that are forbidden to under-18s, as well as pornographic or extremely violent programs, are reserved for a warned adult audience and may harm the physical, mental or moral development of under-18s.
Diffusion times
Between midnight and 5 a.m.
Only certain channels accessible by contract, including cinema and pay-per-view channels, are authorized to show these programs, provided that they set up a locking scheme to prevent access by persons under 18. They may only be shown between midnight and 5am.
Download pictograms
- ZIP
- 44.05 KB
- in french
Campaign TV spots
TV spot for the 8-10 age segment
TV spot for the 11-13 age segment
TV spot for the 14 - 16 age segment
The TV spots were produced by writer-director Aymeric Coletta.
Campaign radio spots
Arcom youth signage campaign: radio spot
Arcom tutorials
Arcom youth signage campaign: Gary
Arcom youth signage campaign: Margaux
Arcom youth signage campaign: Agathange
Tutorials produced with the participation ofFrench actress, humorist, scriptwriter and columnist Lison Daniel and journalist Giulia Foïs.
Download the components of the Arcom campaign
The importance of dialogue
You can't monitor everything your child watches. But if he has been exposed to an image that has shocked or disturbed him, expressing his feelings can minimize the impact. He may not do so on his own initiative, because he may be ashamed or afraid of being laughed at or deprived of a screen.
Start a dialogue with him, to help him understand and express his emotions and develop his critical thinking skills. If he sees thatan adult is interested in what he has felt, the child will be more willing to share his emotions.
Explain to them that there are certain inappropriate images that can have harmful effects on them, and that it is therefore important to respect the "programmes for younger viewers" signage and choose programmes adapted to their age and sensitivity.
Evaluation of Arcom's youth signage campaign, media practices and exposure of person under 18s to inappropriate content
Arcom wanted to carry out a quantitative post-test to evaluate the campaign's effectiveness. The Authority also conducted a qualitative study to gain a better understanding of the media uses and practices of 8-16 year-olds, and the challenges posed by inappropriate content for parents and children.