Seeks to Increase Awareness and Utilization of Parental Advisories for
Entertainment Products
ENCINO, CA (May 27,
2008) – The Coalition of Entertainment Retail Trade
Associations (CERTA) today announced that it has declared June to be
“Entertainment Ratings and Labeling Awareness Month” in order to remind parents
to look at movie and video game ratings and parental advisories on music to
determine whether a particular entertainment offering is appropriate for their
families. CERTA annually designates June as to “Entertainment Ratings and
Labeling Awareness Month” because it is the start of the summer season, when
young people will be enjoying movies, music, and video games.
CERTA recommends that parents take a few simple steps
to ensure that entertainment is appropriate for their
children:
·
Look for the movie or
video game rating and content descriptors. Music that contains explicit lyrics
come with a “parental advisory” label on the cover;
·
Watch the movie, listen to
the music, or play the video game with your child. Communicate with your
children about what the entertainment is about and what they can learn from
it;
·
Set appropriate limits and
prevent play time from interfering with duties such as homework and chores;
and
·
Make full use of the
parental control features of new-generation video game consoles to lock out
access to Mature- and Adult Only-rated video games.
The purpose of Entertainment Ratings and
Labeling Awareness Month is to increase parents’ awareness of the ratings and
labeling systems for movies, music, and video games and let parents know that
stores, online services, and movie theaters are committed to helping them
control their children’s access to entertainment that may be inappropriate for
minors. Ratings and labeling guidance for entertainment products is particularly
important as children prepare to go on summer break.
The entertainment ratings systems and parental
advisory labels are guides and advisories for parents to help them decide
whether particular entertainment is appropriate for the family. CERTA endorses the
Entertainment Software Ratings Board’s video game rating system, the Motion
Picture Association of America’s movie rating system, and the Recording Industry
Association of America’s parental advisory warning for music
products.
Parents seeking additional information are invited to
go to www.ERLAM.org.
The
Coalition of Entertainment Retail Trade Associations (CERTA) represents
approximately 2,000 retailers and exhibitors, who operate more than 30,000
theatres, video and video game stores, music stores, online music and media
services, and other retail establishments that offer entertainment products.
CERTA is comprised of the Digital Media Association (DiMA), Entertainment
Merchants Association (EMA),
National Association of Recording Merchandisers (NARM), and National Association
of Theatre Owners (NATO)
