Kijkwijzer

The Kijkwijzer (; ) is a film rating tool originally from the Netherlands that can be used to check whether watching a film, television programme or computer game could be harmful to children. The tool is also the guideline for possible criminal liability in the category "from 16 years" and can be used by the judge. In 2011, the tenth anniversary was extensively celebrated with various YouTube videos and questions, for example through a study by the Jeugdjournaal. To be able to make a realistic assessment of whether to assign a certain pictogram to films and television programmes, Kijkwijzer uses a uniform questionnaire. Since 2020, the system has also been in use in Belgium, where it is referred to in French and German as "Cinecheck". In addition, the age classifications of 14 years and 18 years were added in 2020, of which the classification of "18 years and older" is not enforced by law and can be viewed from the age of 16.

== Description == Since 2002, the Kijkwijzer has been determined by the Netherlands Institute for the Classification of Audiovisual Media (NICAM), or at least, film distributors do this themselves after training from NICAM. Kijkwijzer advice is applied to almost all audiovisual products offered in the Netherlands, from television programs and cinema films to films on DVD and video. The pictograms appear on the screen at the beginning of a television programme/film and are in broadcasting guides and on packaging. The Commissariat for the Media supervises the implementation of Kijkwijzer. Kijkwijzer does not judge the content or quality of television programmes or films. The preferences and standards of parents differ too much for that. Kijkwijzer only warns of potentially harmful images in television programmes or films. Initially, the starting point was that parents themselves are responsible for what their children are allowed to see. The government has linked a legal provision to the various age limits. Kijkwijzer is the successor and an important extension of the Film Screening Act, by expanding it to include the categories of violence, fear, sex, discrimination, drug and alcohol abuse and coarse language. In addition to audiovisual media, games (computer games) are assessed using the same standards by the equivalent organization PEGI. There are plans to also include the internet under the provisions of Kijkwijzer and PEGI.