Mobile Content

The BBFC Mobile Classification Framework allows commercial content supplied via mobile networks, that is unsuitable for people under the age of 18, to be put behind access controls.

The Classification Framework is also used to calibrate the filters used by the Operators to restrict access to Internet Content (i.e. content delivered by URLs) via mobile networks by those under 18.

Part A

The BBFC has created and will maintain the Classification Framework.

The Classification Framework is based on the BBFC’s Classification Guidelines which are the result of regular large scale public consultation as well as UK Law and credible media effects research.

The Classification Framework is a living document which adapts to reflect evolving public attitudes and societal concerns.

The Classification Framework does not cover the following: 

• Apps. It is the responsibility of the Apps store provider to enforce their own terms and conditions 
• Online advertisements. These remain the responsibility of the ASA. 
• Sites which supply age restricted goods or services such as knives, fireworks, tobacco, legal highs, alcohol, gambling or adult entertainment unless any adult filters in place block on the basis of the types of content listed in Part B of this schedule.  It is the retailer’s responsibility to utilise effective age verification systems when it comes to supplying customers with age restricted goods or services, and the relevant local Trading Standards service is responsible for the enforcement of this consumer related legislation
• UK political parties with representatives elected in local, regional, national and European elections
• Premium rate voice or premium rate SMS text only services, which continue to operate under the Phone-paid Services Authority Code of Practice
• VPNs (Virtual Private Networks). It is the responsibility of the VPN provider to enforce their own terms and conditions.

It is the Content Provider’s responsibility to ensure that none of the content subject to the Classification Framework contains any illegal material.

The Classification Framework operates a binary classification system. It defines what the BBFC considers suitable for adults only (i.e. those customers that are at least 18 years old).

Responsibility for the interpretation of the Classification Framework rests with the BBFC and is subject to normal considerations of fairness and reasonableness.

Content which is not defined in the Classification Framework will not always be suitable for all children.  Some sites may be placed behind filters if they are a known method of circumventing parental controls.

There is no one determining factor which would lead to advice being given by the BBFC that particular content is suitable for adults only. The BBFC can take into account a variety of factors, including but not limited to the nature of the material and the public acceptability of a particular product or service in relation to those under 18. We may consider legal products or services, which children can commit an offence by using, to be suitable for adults only unless prominent warnings are displayed.

The context in which an issue (such as sex, language or violence) is presented is also central to the question of whether or not it is suitable only for adults. That context may either aggravate an issue (for example when language is used aggressively) or mitigate (for example comedy may soften the effect). 

In addition to the content listed in Part B, the BBFC will also take account of content which directly promotes in a way which could appeal to children the depiction of smoking; drinking to excess.  It will also take into account the portrayal of accurate instructional detail of novel criminal techniques which could be copied.   In certain circumstances, such content may be suitable for adults only according to BBFC standards.

Part B

The following type of content is what the BBFC considers suitable for adults only (i.e. those customers that are at least 18 years old):

Behaviour

• Detailed and / or instructional references to suicide and self-harming, including ‘pro-Ana’ content
• Any other content that promotes self-harm or suicide by any technique

Discrimination

• Discriminatory language or behaviour which is frequent and / or aggressive, and / or accompanied by violence and not condemned.
• Language or behaviour which attacks a person or group on the basis of race, religion, gender, disability or sexual orientation and is not condemned.

Drugs

• Instructional portrayal of hard drug use or use of any easily accessible and / or highly dangerous substances (for example, aerosols or solvents)
• The promotion, glamorisation or encouragement of the misuse of illegal drugs

Language

• Repeated / aggressive use of ‘c**t’

Sex

• All sex works. A sex work is a work whose primary purpose is sexual arousal or stimulation. These works need not contain nudity. The BBFC may consider certain ‘glamour’ works to be sex works.    Please refer to the Q&A section for more information about ‘glamour’ material. 
• Very strong references to sexual behaviour using strong pornographic terms                       
• Explicit images of real sexual activity (for example, masturbation, oral sex, penetration, ejaculation)
• Sexual activity with graphic detail (for example, sight of genitalia or non explicit images of masturbation, oral sex, penetration, ejaculation)
• Fetish material
• Detailed breast and genital nudity within a sexualised context unless the images (i) form part of a genuine sex education work aimed at minors and (ii) are present only for the purpose of education.
• Sex education and advice which is (i) aimed at adults and (ii) inappropriate for children.

Violence and Horror

• Strong sadistic, masochistic or sado-masochistic violence or torture against humans or animals
• A focus on graphic images of real injury, violence or death
• A dwelling on the infliction of pain or injury (for example, sadistic, masochistic or sado-masochistic violence, clear sight of bloody injury, explicit gory images)
• Detailed depictions of sexual or sexualised violence or threat (for example, rape, sexual molestation, the impending threat of sexual violence)
• Very gory images 
• The promotion of real life violence (for example backyard wrestling, football hooliganism, gang violence, use of easily accessible weapons).

The Classification Framework applies across a broad range of content accessible over mobile networks.

For Commercial Content, the Classification Framework will be applied to the following categories:

• Still pictures
• Video and audio/video material
• Mobile (including java based) games

The definition of commercial content and commercial content provider is set out in the mobile operators’ Code of Practice. 

The Classification Framework will also be used to calibrate the filters used by the Operators to restrict access to Internet Content via mobile networks by those under 18.

The Framework defines content which meets the BBFC’s 18 or R18 Guidelines and is therefore suitable for adults only. This may include strong sadistic violence, sexual violence, dangerous behaviour, hard drug use and so on.

Mobile operators have different responsibilities for commercial content – where they have contractual agreements with content providers – than they do for general content on the Internet.

The mobile operators’ commercial content is classified in accordance with the framework provided by the independent body and any content with an 18 rating is placed behind access controls.   

With respect to Internet content, the mobile operators are not rating content or services but offer a filter to customers. The Classification Framework will be used to calibrate the filters used by the Operators to restrict access to Internet Content (ie content delivered by URLs) via mobile networks by those under 18.

The Framework applies to content accessed via mobile networks only, not other wireless technologies such as wi-fi and Bluetooth.

For Apps stores, it is the responsibility of the Apps store provider to enforce their own terms and conditions.

Online advertisements remain the responsibility of the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA).

For more information please refer to https://www.asa.org.uk/

The Classification Framework does not cover sites which supply age restricted goods or services such as knives, fireworks, tobacco, legal highs, alcohol, gambling or adult entertainment unless any adult filters in place block on the basis of the types of content listed in Part B of the Classification Framework. It is the retailer’s responsibility to utilise effective age verification systems when it comes to supplying customers with age restricted goods or services, and the relevant local Trading Standards service is responsible for the enforcement of this consumer related legislation.

The Framework will not cover premium rate voice or premium rate SMS text only services, which continue to operate under the PhonepayPlus Code of Practice.

For more information go to https://www.phonepayplus.org.uk.

If you or your child attempt to access content where access controls or an internet filter is in place, an appropriate message will appear on the screen informing you how the age restriction can be removed. Only those that can demonstrate that they are at least 18 will be able to do so. 

We offer an advice service to mobile operators and commercial content providers for borderline cases, specifically whether or not particular content should be behind access controls according to the Classification Framework. 

Content which is not placed behind access controls will not always be suitable for all children. Such content may include strong language, sexualised content, violence and so on, and may typically be rated 12 or 15 by the BBFC at the cinema or on video. The context in which such issues are presented is also central to the question of whether or not they need to go behind access controls.  That context may either aggravate an issue (for example language is used aggressively) or mitigate (for example comedy may soften the effect). Parents are advised to consider whether the content their children access is suitable for their age.

Content which primary purpose is sexual arousal or stimulation are considered sex works and will be restricted to adults only. While pornographic content is restricted to adults, our BBFC policy on ‘glamour’ works makes some allowance for content whose primary purpose may fall short of sexual arousal or stimulation, but which has clear suggestive intentions. Such 'glamour' video content may contain brief moments of sexualised posing where there is no focus on such content. Obvious sexual posing which is intended to arouse or stimulate rather than being merely suggestive is unlikely to be allowable in still images that are not placed behind access controls.

No. Any customer that is able to demonstrate that they are at least 18 is able to have access controls and filters removed.

No. You will not see BBFC symbols in relation to the Classification Framework.

You can access the guidelines here.

It is a content provider’s responsibility to ensure that they are not posting any illegal content on the internet. 

Please contact the Internet Watch Foundation if you find child sex abuse content.

No. OFCOM has been designated as the appropriate regulatory authority for the editorial content of UK On Demand Programme Services.

For more information please refer to Ofcom’s website.

These are covered only if they contain material that is considered by the BBFC to be suitable only for 18 year olds or over (as set out in Part B of the Classification Framework).  The ASA will regulate all advertising material related to dating websites.

The Classification Framework is updated regularly to reflect evolving public attitudes and societal concerns. It has been developed using the BBFC’s Classification Guidelines. The guidelines are based on large scale public consultations involving around 10,000 people, and are revised every 4-5 years. 

In the first instance please contact the mobile operator. If this does not resolve the issue, appellants can contact us for adjudication. 

Complaints can be made using the form found here.