How accurate are the ratings?
According to a survey by Peter D. Hart Research in February 2005, 78% of parents are aware of the rating system and nearly three-quarters (70%) of parents say they “check the ESRB rating” for age appropriateness when buying computer and video games for their children “every time” or “most of the time.” Over half (54%) of parents check the content descriptors, which are found on the back of game packaging and indicate elements in a game that may have triggered a particular rating and/or may be of interest or concern. In addition, 53% of parents say they “never” allow their kids to play M-rated games, an additional 37% say they “sometimes allow” their children to play M-rated games and 82% said they “generally allow” their children to play M-rated games. Parents of children under the age of 13 are almost twice as likely to “never” allow their children to play an M-rated game. When parents do allow their children to play M-rated games, they do so after checking the rating information, con
