Regulation

Discussion: What is regulation and why do we need it?

Who regulates what in the UK?

•TV, Radio and Streaming/on demand TV are regulated by Ofcom.

•Newspapers and Magazines are regulated by either IPSO or IMPRESS, depending on who the publication have chosen

•The internet is not regulated by any regulatory body, but a lot of sites self-regulate (such as YouTube, which rely upon the audience flagging and reporting inappropriate content)

•Video games are regulated by PEGI

•Films are regulated by the BBFC

Discuss: What are the advantages and disadvantages of regulation?

Clues: accuracy, advice, privacy, extreme censorship and unfair restrictions...

Research: How is Minecraft regulated? - Look into PEGI ratings, but also consider YouTube or Twitch videos, fansites, etc. Also consider: has Microsoft producing Minecraft affected the levels of regulation?

Regulation – Sonia Livingstone and Peter Lunt

Livingstone and Lunt studied four case studies of the work of Ofcom.

Ofcom is serving an audience who may be seen as consumers and/or citizens, with consequences for regulation: consumers have wants, are individuals, seek private benefits from the media, use the language of choice, and require regulation to protect against detriment; citizens have needs, are social, seek public or social benefits from the media, use the language of rights, and require regulation to promote the public interest.

Traditional regulation is being put at risk by: increasingly globalised media industries, the rise of the digital media, and media convergence.*

*Media convergence is a term that can refer to either: 1) the merging of previously distinct media technologies and media forms due to digitisation and computer networking; or 2) an economic strategy in which the media properties owned by communications companies employ digitisation and computer networking to work together.

TASK:

So, if traditional regulation is being put at risk by: increasingly globalised media industries, the rise of the digital media, and media convergence… what does this have to do with Minecraft?

Complete the following sentences:

Livingstone and Lunt believe that media regulation is at risk because…

This is not relevant to Minecraft because…

However, …