Research
Guidelines Consultations Research
We do large-scale research projects to understand what matters to people from communities and age groups across the country. We ask people across the UK about what they think is and isn’t safe or helpful for young people’s wellbeing and healthy development. Download all our Classification Guidelines consultations and see how attitudes have shifted over the years.
Parents and children research
We stay in tune with what children and families think about our age ratings and more. We find out what concerns parents and children about things they see on-screen, how their attitudes change over time, and how decisions are made about what to watch in the cinema and at home.
Policy and Classification Research
We do large-scale research projects to understand what matters to people from communities and age groups across the country. We ask people across the UK about what they think is and isn’t safe or helpful for young people’s wellbeing and healthy development. Take a look at our expert research on industry, media regulation, policy, classification and attitudes to age ratings. You can also download all our Classification Guidelines consultations and see how attitudes have shifted over the years.
Strong and Very Strong Language at 12A/12 and 15 - 2021
Download
Domestic Abuse Research - 2020
Download
Online Media Regulation Survey 2015
Download
Music Video Age Rating Pilot - 2015
Download
Acceptability of Glamour Images on Mobile - 2015
Download
Sexual and Sadistic Violence Report - 2012
Download
Sexual and Sadistic Violence Policy Response - 2012
Download
Guy Cumberbatch Review - 2012
Download
Online Media Regulation - 2011
Download
Discriminatory Language - 2011
Download
Receptions of Sexual Violence in Cinema - 2007
Download
Downloading Classifications Study - 2007
Download
Teen References at R18 - 2006
Download
12A National Research Findings - 2002
Download
12A Qualitative Research Findings - 2002
Download
Where Do you Draw The Line - 2002
Download
Perceptions of TV Wrestling - 2002
Download
Industry Research
We regularly conduct polls and research looking into people's attitudes towards the media industry, streaming services, and age ratings and labelling. Take a look at some of our reports below.
Further research on sexual and pornographic content
Some of our research documents contain graphic sexual content. You can request access to these documents by emailing us at press@bbfc.co.uk and requesting one or more of the following:
Non-Photographic Images of Child Sexual Abuse: The Risks and Public Policy Responses and Non-Photographic Images of Child Sexual Abuse: BBFC Content Investigation (2022)
Young People, Pornography and Age-verification (2020)
Filtering Glamour Content on Mobile Devices for Under 18 year olds (2015)
BBFC Expert Consultation - Violence and Abuse in R18 Sex Works (2007)
Research Into The Use Of Pornography (2006)
