Why is Purple Hearts a 12?

As a fellow parent and media consumer, I get how age ratings help us make decisions about what content is appropriate for our kids. Recently the new romantic drama Purple Hearts on Netflix earned a mature rating that sparked discussion. Let‘s unravel why this popular movie got a 12 rating despite no nudity or extreme violence.

A Detailed Look at the Content

I decided to watch Purple Hearts and dig into the reviews to get the full picture. Going beyond the trailer, which seems tame, here are the specific elements that likely contributed to the 12 rating:

Frequent Strong Language

There is pervasive profanity including over 60 F-bombs according to parentpreviews.com. As you might have experienced with your own kids, exposure to this level of strong language can normalize it.

Sexual Situations

While not extremely graphic, there are a few scenes that imply or show sexual intimacy between the lead characters. As a parent, I felt the sensuality pushed boundaries for a young teen audience.

Alcohol Abuse

We see troubling binge drinking behaviors like Cassie getting falling-down drunk regularly. As commonsensemedia.org notes, this glamorization of alcohol abuse also makes it unsuitable for young kids.

Violent Content

Some plot-related combat violence and injuries including PTSD flashbacks. A scene where Cassie gets beaten up violently may disturb sensitive pre-teens.

In my opinion, Purple Hearts tackles themes and content that kids under 13 or 14 lack the maturity and context to handle or understand properly. But ratings are subjective, so as parents we get the final say in what media we expose our kids to and when.

Purpose and Process Behind Age Ratings

Movie and TV ratings provide guidance to parents on age-appropriateness, but who decides the ratings and how?

History of Age-Based Media Ratings

• Film ratings started in 1930 after public outrage over adult content. TV ratings debuted in 1997.1

• Various ratings systems have aimed to balance parental awareness with creative freedom.

Rating Criteria

The Motion Picture Association (MPAA) considers the following elements 2:

• Violence
• Sex and Nudity
• Substance Use
• Profanity
• Other (theme, dialogue, etc.)

Ratings Process

The MPAA has committees of parents who review films based on the above criteria and cultural suitability standards. Directors can appeal ratings they disagree with.

Ratings Effect on Revenue

Stricter ratings like R or TV-MA can reduce potential audience and box office revenue compared to PG-13 and TV-14.

Societal Changes Raise Age Rating Dilemmas

Factors like evolving cultural standards and new streaming content make age ratings more complex now:

• Mature themes in "young adult" shows blur the lines between adult and teen programming.

• Some parents argue today‘s ratings understate content compared to decades ago.

• Binge-watching increases kids‘ exposure to questionable content in adult-rated shows.

• On-demand access makes ratings enforcement challenging for streaming services.

So the context around age-appropriate entertainment continues evolving. As parents we must go beyond just ratings to determine what‘s best for our families.

My Take as a Media-Literate Parent

With a decade of navigating my kids‘ media choices under my belt, here are my guiding principles:

Ratings Are a Starting Point

I use ratings to screen out clearly objectionable content, but don‘t rely on them blindly. I dig deeper through reviews and my own judgement.

Balance Freedom with Protection

As kids mature, they need more autonomy to make media choices while still providing some guardrails. I aim to empower, not restrict.

Co-view and Discuss

By experiencing shows together, we can have open conversations around concerning themes and behaviors. I try not to just censor but educate.

Monitor Response

Every child reacts to media differently. I pay attention to how my kids handle challenging content and adjust restrictions accordingly.

Promote Positivity

There are amazing movies, books and shows out there that enrich kids‘ lives! I focus more on exposing them to quality media versus over-monitoring every little thing.

At the end of the day, age ratings give us helpful signposts, but parents have to navigate what‘s ultimately best for our kids‘ wellbeing and development. As with most parenting challenges, our own judgment, values and active engagement matter most.

So in summary, while Purple Hearts tackles mature themes that contribute to its 12 rating, every child and situation is different. Let‘s not get so caught up in ratings that we lose perspective on what really matters – raising good people.