Selected storefronts for digital games and apps use USK age ratings according to the IARC procedure.
About IARC
The International Age Rating Coalition (IARC) represents the worldwide coalition of age rating organizations of computer and video games. Since its official founding in 2013 IARC provides a framework that is being implemented by technical platforms such as mobile app stores for the purpose of youth protection. This system enables developers to rate their games and apps using a complex questionnaire. Resulting from the information provided in the questionnaire an age classification along the guidelines of the respective rating authority (for Germany the USK) is being issued.
The USK is monitoring these classifications on a regular basis to guarantee its quality. Also external complaints can trigger a review. With this system, the USK works in the range of the legal parameters of the Youth Media Protection State Agreement (“JMStV”) with regard to online media and broadcasting according to which the USK is recognized as self-regulation body since 2011.
The IARC system provides Age Ratings based on criteria of media deemed inappropriate for certain age groups. Aspects involving penal codes, copyright and other related rights and legal parameters are excluded.
Age classifications according to the Children and Young Persons Protection Act (“JuSchG”) result from a separate rating procedure in which governmental representatives issue the binding classification. These age ratings are primarily used for games distributed in stationary retail.
The rating procedure
The process within the IARC system is as follows:
- The applicant submits the game or app to one of the attached storefronts for publication.
- Within the publishing process the applicant gets automatically redirected to the IARC questionnaire.
- Once the questionnaire has been completed, an age rating is generated according to the IARC matrix.
The age ratings explained
USK age ratings inform about a potential developmental impairment for children and young persons. Therefore they do not imply if a certain content deemed „USK ab 0 Jahren“ (all ages) can be understood or controlled by younger users. The age ratings and content descriptors give information about youth protection relevant aspects contained.
Additional content information
Besides the classification itself the system displays additional information about youth protection relevant contents. The following terms are being used:
The game/app contains depictions of violence. Those depictions can be realized in different graphical styles spanning from comic-like and abstract to realistic. The intensity and contextual conflict situation of said violent displays varies dependent from the age category.
Descriptors: Angedeutete Gewalt (Implied violence), Comic-Gewalt (Comic violence), Fantasy-Gewalt (Fantasy violence), Gewalt (violence), Drastische Gewalt (explicit violence), Kriegsthematik (war themes)
More information on the individual descriptors can be found here.
The game/app contains scary or even disturbing scenes. This content ranges from a gloomy mood through images and sound to horror effects that can trigger disgust and/or shock. This also includes emotionally distressing topics, such as the death of a loved one or psychological violence.
Descriptors: Schreckmomente (Scary contents), Düstere Atmosphäre (Dark atmosphere), Horror (Horror), Belastende Themen (Burdensome themes)
More information on the individual descriptors can be found here.
The game/app contains themes or visualizations of erotic or sexual nature. The sexualized depictions or sexual references must always stay below the level of actual pornography.
Descriptors: Sexuelle Andeutungen (Sexual innuendo), Sexuelle Inhalte (Sexual content)
More information on the individual descriptors can be found here.
The game/app contains coarse, vulgar or generally crude language and expressions.
Descriptors: Fluchen (Occasional swearing), Derbe Sprache (Explicit language)
More information on the individual descriptors can be found here.
The game/app contains references, themes or depictions of drug use. This includes legal, medicinal and illegal drugs equally.
Descriptors: Tabakkonsum (Tobacco use), Alkoholkonsum (Alcohol use), Drogenkonsum (Drug use)
More information on the individual descriptors can be found here.
The game/app contains elements and designs similar to gambling or conveys an atmosphere typical of a gambling hall. Depending on the design, the game content can promote a positive attitude towards real gambling and therefore represent a developmental impairment.
Descriptors: Glücksspielthematik (Gambling themes)
More information on the individual descriptors can be found here.
The game/app contains hectic sequences such as boss battles, intrusive purchase offers or mechanisms that can tempt players to play for too long and/or exert pressure to return to the game. These can lead to sustained overexcitement in younger children and build up a strong pressure to take action.
Descriptors: Handlungsdruck (Pressure to act), Erhöhte Kaufanreize (Increased incentives to buy), Druck zum Vielspielen (Pressure to play excessively)
More information on the individual descriptors can be found here.
The game/app contains advertisements that are more relevant to the protection of minors than the actual game.
Descriptors: Problematische Werbeinhalte (Problematic advertising content)
More information on the individual descriptors can be found here.
The game/app contains functions that can lead to unwanted, inappropriate or unsecured contact. This includes uncontrolled chat and/or comment functions, as well as the possibility of location tracking.
Descriptors: Erhöhte Kommunikationsrisiken (Increased communication risks), Kontaktrisiken (Contact risks)
More information on the individual descriptors can be found here.
The game/app contains gambling using real currency and cash payouts/losses.
Descriptors: Glücksspiel mit Barauszahlungen (Gambling with cash payouts)
The game/app is a streaming service or contains a shop with various products. This primarily refers to services that offer a wide range of content, such as films, series or music.
Descriptors: Inhalte für verschiedene Altersgruppen (Contents for different age groups)
Information on additional functions
The following descriptors can be displayed for information regarding interactive elements:
The game/app offers the possibility to individually exchange and share content with other players in the game.
There are many ways to communicate with other players: integrated (voice) chats, direct messages, group chats. This does not include fixed response options or reactions that are integrated into the game by the game provider, such as “emotes”, “dances” or “smileys”.
Tip: Communication in games can also involve risks, especially for children and young people. Be aware that your child can also come into contact with unfamiliar people through communication in games. On many platforms, games or consoles, chat functions can be limited or completely deactivated to prevent unwanted contact.
Players have the option of displaying or sharing their location with other game participants.
Tip: Location information is sensitive data that should not be shared carelessly with others or even unknown persons. If a game includes the option to share the location, you will often be asked when starting the game whether sharing the location should be allowed. Select the appropriate setting for your child’s age together with your child. Location settings can also be made afterwards in the device settings.
The game/app includes options to purchase additional content directly within the game.
These are often smaller additional items that add variety to the gameplay, such as “bonus levels”, “skins” (outfits for game characters), virtual coins and other forms of in-game currency, subscriptions and upgrades (e.g. to disable advertising). In-game purchases are mostly optional and thus usually not required to progress in the game.
Tip: On all common platforms, consoles or devices, in-game purchases can be password-protected or completely deactivated via account settings or parental control systems. In addition, make agreements with your child on whether purchases may be made and if so, how much.
The game/app includes the possibility to acquire “random items”, e.g. in the form of in-game currency that can be bought with real currency.
Usually, in these cases, the players are not aware of the specific digital items or rewards they will receive prior to the purchase. These purchases are, for example, so-called “loot boxes”, “item packs” or “mystery awards”.
Tip: On all common platforms, consoles or devices, in-game purchases can be password-protected or completely deactivated via account settings or parental control systems. Furthermore, make agreements with your child as to whether purchases may be made and if so, how much.
The app allows unrestricted access to the internet.
