Bailey Review says parents want age ratings for 'sexual' music videos

Music videos should be given age ratings, according to a report by The Mothers' Union into the commercialisation and sexualisation of children.

Reg Bailey, chief executive of the organisation which carried out the six-month review for the Department for Education, found that among parents there was particular concern about music videos; many of which were seen by parents to be "inappropriately sexually suggestive or which illustrate the value or role of women as sexual only".

The Bailey review said parents would like to see music videos given appropriate age ratings and for broadcasters to take more responsibility over when these are shown.

Parents surveyed also voiced concern about the lack of information given on 18+ rated video games that appear "to be ‘openly' marketed at a younger audience on pre-watershed television".

The review also called for a single website to be set up where parents can log complaints about adult content or sexualised imagery in TV programmes, adverts, products or services aimed at children.

Angie Lopez, co-founder of Wesee, developer of online content detection system piFilter, said: "All other forms of entertainment, such as music, films and video games, carry age restrictions to restrict vulnerable people being subjected to content that is not appropriate to them.

"Yet the internet, which is potentially much more dangerous and is vastly less protected carries much laxer restrictions.

The Let Children be Children report has been published at the same time as a European Commission report on the use of social networking sites by youngsters.

The Digital Agenda report found that almost half of nine- to 12-year-olds in the UK have a Facebook profile. Many of these are leaving their profiles set to 'public' failing to realise the danger that sharing personal information and images can place them in.

Neelie Kroes, vice-president of the European Commission for the Digital Agenda, said: "Growing numbers of children are on social networking sites but many are not taking all necessary steps to protect themselves online.

"These children are placing themselves in harm's way, vulnerable to stalkers and groomers. All social networking companies should therefore immediately make minors' profiles accessible by default only to their approved list of contacts and out of search engines' reach.

"And those companies that have not yet signed up to the EU's Safer Networking Principles should do so without delay so as to ensure our children's safety."

The Government is expected to give its reponse to the Bailey review tomorrow.