Programmes with harmful content for children

Television programmes that excite horror or whose violent or sexual content, or similar, may contribute negatively to children's development, must be broadcast at a time when children do not normally watch television.

In 2004, a comprehensive survey on programmes with adverse effect on children's development was completed, on the basis of which national operators renewed their rules on the placing of programmes and advance warning. According to the new practice, programmes with adverse content for children under 11 are not to be broadcast before 17:00 on weekdays and with regard to children under 15, harmful programmes are not to be broadcast before 21:00, and with regard to children under 18, harmful programmes are not to be broadcast before 23:00. FICORA regularly monitors whether the placement of programmes is functioning.

Parents can also protect their children from harmful content by making use of technology. Digital set-top boxes have an option to restrict the viewing of a certain channel by putting it behind a password. Because this so-called child lock may function differently in different devices, parents should contact the salesperson for instructions or consult the instruction manual. Internet operators and producers of virus protection software provide services and programmes parents can use to prevent their children and the young from accessing websites containing harmful material.

Additional information on child protection can be found from these links:

Save the Children

The Mannerheim League for Child Welfare