Video games

Classified under the same guidelines as works such as film and DVD. 
BBFC have recognized that gaming is more of a interactive experience. 
However, limited research has been done to see whether interactivity has any significant effect on potential harm. 
In certain contexts, it may lead to a greater potential harm based on certain age groups. 
In a game, the gamer has the ability to partake in activities and behaviour such as sex, drugs, realistic violence etc... may be important as the level of detail shown especially when the game surrounds the theme of violence and where the level of interactivity is high. 
Frequency is also hard to quantify and depends on how the player wants to play the game, and how many times the player repeats the same level. Hence, BBFC bases and judges its classification on the frequency which the player will experience during normal game play. 
BBFC highly takes into consideration video game works which are borderline, or raises issues of acceptability at the adult categories. 

Public Information

If an advertisement is part of a public information campaign or has a charitable purpose, the more restrictive approach set out above will not normally apply. 
Potentially shocking or offensive content must not go beyond what is likely to be acceptable for the target audience. 

Trailers/advertisements

Audience actively choose to see a full length feature based on expectations of the particular genre at the given classification (including Consumer Advice and Extended Classification Information)
But, they have no choice about which trailers can be shown and may be completely different to the tone and content of the film that they are watching. 
Trailers which are borderline material are less likely to be justified by context and more likely to cause offence based on that fact that they're short and self-contained. 
Therefore, when classifying promotional material, they need to be more restrictive than for equivalent material in a main feature i.e. 

• strong language is not permitted in trailers at any category below 15.
• only one use of strong language is permitted in a trailer at 15 and must not be neither threatening nor aggressive. 

Advertisements including alcohol of any type can be passed at any category. 

But, there is a more restrictive approach if the alcohol is glamorized or shows a successful lifestyle. 

BBFC not responsible for the exhibition of cinema trailers, including alcohol and has no involvement in deciding which films they appear before. This is the process of the cinema. 

Photo or pattern sensitivity, motion sickness and reactions to low frequency sound

Small proportion may be sensitive to flashing/flickering light. May cause seizures or other serious physical effects.
Some viewers may experience motion sickness due to hand-held camera shots.
Some might be affected by low frequency sounds. 
Responsibility of the film producers to warn viewers of such possible side effects. 
Usually, these effects aren't usually considered when rating work, but if it is likely to affect a large number of people, the BBFC may advise the distributor that the appropriate warnings are put in place. 
Extreme cases - assurance regarding the display of appropriate warnings may be required as a condition of classification. 

Titles

Titles incites hatred of race, religion, sexual orientation, criminal behaviour, encourages an interest in abusive/illegal sexual activity will be required to be changed. 
If title is likely to cause significant offence to a large number of people if it were to be displayed in a public place, distributor will be told to carefully place the material. (excluding R18 material - cannot be publicly shown)
Sometimes, changes to the full title may be required in order to be classed. 

Violence

Take into account the degree and nature of any violence in the work. 
More restrictive classifications: 

• portrayal of violence as a casual solution to problems
• heroes who inflict pain and injury
• callousness towards victims
• encouragement of aggressive attitudes
• characters shown to be taking pleasure in pain or humiliation 

Strict policy on sexual violence and rape applies.

Content which might "promote" sexual violence will usually be required to be cut. 

More likely to occur with videos rather then films at the risk that they can be played over and over again. 

Association of sex with non-consensual restraint, pain or humiliation may be cut. 

Theme

Depends significantly on the treatment of the theme, and more importantly the sensitivity of the presentation. 
Most problematic themes - drug abuse, sexual violence, paedophilia, incitement to racial hatred/violence 
Themes mentioned above - unlikely to be appropriate for the younger audience.

Sex

Sex works which primary aim is sexual arousal/stimulation will only be passed in adult categories. 
Sex works containing material which may be stimulated may be passed in 18.
Sex works containing clear images of real sex, strong fetish material, sexually explicit animated images will be classified as R18.
Only specially licensed cinemas show R18 movies. 

Nudity

Natural nudity is acceptable with no sexual content. - will occur more occasionally in lowest category. 
Nudity with sexual content will receive a far more restrictive classification. 
Strong detail will only be passed in adult categories. 

Language

Many people are offended by bad language. 
May include use of sexual, religious, racial associations which is offensive. 
Also includes common rude gestures. 
However, extent of the offence depends on the content which it is provided in. May vary according to age, gender, race, background, beliefs + expectations. 
Therefore, difficult to class films based on a set list of words and gestures. 

Imitable behaviour

Detailed portrayal of criminal/violent techniques. Glamourisation of accessible weapons (knives, pans...). Portrayal of anti-social behaviour (bullying, graffiti...) are more likely to receive a more restrictive classification. Work which promote illegal behaviour will be cut or rejected. Portrayals of potentially dangerous behaviour (hanging, suicide, self-harming...) which teenagers could relate to/copy will be cut if a more restrictive classification is not appropriate. 

Horror

Films targeted at a younger audience, classification decisions will take into consideration the frequency, length and detail of the scary scenes, including the horror effects such as music and sound, and whether there is a smooth + reassuring outcome.
Older audiences often seek out to see horror films to be frightened. Therefore, they need to ensure that the younger audience are protected from seeing such films, as the experience would be too intense/scarring.

Drugs

Cannot promote the misuse of drugs. 
Cannot glamorize the activity of mis-using drugs in any sense. 
Works which emphasizes the risks of mis-using drugs will be approached with a less restrictive classification. 
Material which is specifically aimed at children, the extent to which what can be promoted will be stated in the Consumer Advice and Extended Classification Information. 

Discrimination

Offensive content that relates to matters such as race, gender, religious, disability or sexuality can appear in media content, and hence when rating the material, the BBFC need to consider to impact/strength that this content will have on the viewing audience.
The context in which it appears in also has some influence on the given classification.
The BBFC might be less restrictive with their classification if the work is obviously out-dated, or the discriminatory language + behaviour is implicitly or explicitly criticized, or the material's purpose is to challenge peoples perception.