some platforms require age verification

most places don't require age verification to purchase age classified products and it is easy to lie about your age without consequences

BBFC, PEGI ineffective when it comes to purchasing digitally and seen as more of a slight guide.

Regulation theory (Livingstone and Lunt)

Some age regulations are also controversial and are considered to be for an older audience than the regulatory boards say, for example 

Theories:

• Bandura 
• Desensitization
• Charlton 
• Hypodermic needle
• Reception theory
• Uses and gratification

Examples:

• GTA
• Spectre
• social media
• websites

One way in which the regulation of digital media is effective is in the film industry. All films in the UK need to have been rated by the BBFC which looks out for such things as level of violence, language, upsetting scenes/ images. Based on the content film will be give an age appropriate rating. For example the Dark Knight was given a 12A rating most due to its violent content (such as the scene where the Joker slams a guys head into a pencil). Spectre was initially given a 15 rating but after they removed some scene it was dropped to 12A. Many people think that regulation is important because people can be influenced by what they see in the media. They can become desensitised to the levels of violence and act out what they see. The media effects debates suggests that we can be directly influence by what we see. 

However film regulation is not effective because……….. when viewing films online on websites such as Netflix the age rating of the film is often ignored as no proof of age is required. Also the way in which some films are regulated can also be incorrect or seen as controversial for example films such as back to the future which contains themes of incest, threats of sexual violence and bad language and is rated at PG by the BBFC. This shows that regulation can be ineffective even from the regulatory board itself and this supports regulation theory as the ineffectiveness of the regulation system makes it seen as less of guidance and a barrier for peoples choice and freewill as they are restricted from certain content without verifying their age and this is seen as more of an inconvenience.