Age limits

The duties of the Finnish Board of Film Classification include inspecting all audiovisual media content – such as films – and determining the appropriate age limit of either 18, 15, 13, 11 or 7. Media content is considered harmful to the development of children when it is likely to have a detrimental effect on the development of children through its violent, horrific or sexual content. 

Interactive media content such as computer games fall within the Pan-European PEGI system, according to which games are registered with recommended age categories and content markings warning of potentially harmful content. Support services such as a website with information on the content of games are planned for the use of parents.

TV channels have signed a separate agreement of self-regulation concerning TV programmes based on child protection legislation.  So called watershed times are implemented in relation to TV programmes. According to the watershed rules, programmes with an age limit of 11 are only shown after 5 pm on weekdays, programmes with an age limit of 13 only after 7 pm, programmes with an age limit of 15 only after 9 pm, and programmes with an age limit of 18 are only shown after 11 pm.