Season 4 of “Stranger Things” took the entertainment world by storm this past month, pulling 1.15 billion hours viewed within its first 28 days of availability, according to IndieWire. However, the abundance of dark and crass content within the season left many viewers reeling, and it has some parents concerned about whether the show received an appropriate maturity rating for its bolder language, fight scenes and monsters.
The Parent Television and Media Council is a “nonprofit, nonpartisan research and education organization advocating responsible entertainment,” according to its website, and it is dedicated to protecting children from harmful and inappropriate media.
In a report released on July 7, the council found a drastic increase in violence and profanity in the fourth season of “Stranger Things” compared to the three prior season. The organization utilized content-filtering data from VidAngel, a video streaming service used to skip over potentially harmful or disturbing content in shows and movies.
Since the frequency of profanity in “Stranger Things” has increased by 217% since Season 1, the PTC concluded that Netflix’s TV maturity rating for the show was inaccurate.
“Stranger Things did not introduce the ‘f-word’ until partway through its second season, but then used it six times in Season 2, and five times in Season 3, and nine times in Season 4,” the PTC wrote. “It is useful here to remember that under the TVOMB content ratings system, the use of a single ‘f-word’ on basic cable and expanded-basic cable television programming has traditionally triggered a ‘TV-MA’ content rating.”
Violence in “Stranger Things” became more, as well; the PTC found a 307% jump in the frequency of violence. Some of the scenes in Season 4 were so graphic, that Netflix included a disclaimer before the first episode of the new season plays.
Netflix’s disclaimer reads, “We filmed this season of ‘Stranger Things’ a year ago. But given the recent tragic shooting at a school in Texas, viewers may find the opening scene of Episode 1 distressing. We are deeply saddened by this unspeakable violence, and our hearts go out to every family mourning a loved one.”
This disclaimer references the shooting in Uvalde, Texas, that occurred in May of this year, and warns viewers of the violent actions involving children in the first episode.
The PTC explained, “Parents deserve a ratings system that is transparent and consistent across platforms. Our report suggests there to be a vastly different standard between streaming content and broadcast content — even if that content is similarly-rated.”
It continued, “If a TV-14 doesn’t mean the same thing on Netflix as it does on CBS, it is of little to no value to parents.”
The video streaming and production company has consistently given “Stranger Things” a rating of TV-14 since Season 1. According to its website, Netflix currently rates the TV shows included in its streaming service from TV-Y to NC-17, and wrote that its TV show maturity ratings indicate the level of mature content for the entire series.
Netflix additionally noted, “In some countries, we may also show season-level ratings. Those ratings may differ from the show’s overall rating or mature content themes.”
“Stranger Things” is one of few Netflix Original Series that is TV-14. Movie Guide reports that 61% of its series are rated as TV-MA.
FAQs
However, the abundance of dark and crass content within the season left many viewers reeling, and it has some parents concerned about whether the show received an appropriate maturity rating for its bolder language, fight scenes and monsters.
Is Stranger Things season 4 bad for kids? ›
4th season warning
Season 4 has taken a huge leap into adult content and no longer safe-ish for the children. So far so good, but we no longer watch with the family. The gore/violence is terrifying. Parents may want to watch an episode and decide.
Is Stranger Things season 4 mature? ›
In season four, a group of younger kids are killed in a horrific massacre. A lovable character is brutally disemboweled, lots of blood shown. There is also some sex, including a girl taking off her shirt and showing her bra.
Can a mature 10 year old watch Stranger Things? ›
I personally wouldn't recommend watching Stranger Things until you're at least 13. Also, the reason this is so long is because I tried to cover all the bases, just in case. “Adult” Scenes/Kissing: There are some “adult” scenes in the first two episodes of season 1 which are pretty skippable.
Why is season 4 of Stranger Things rated TV ma? ›
Harmful Content ❗️ Rating: As mentioned, Stranger Things hits on some mature themes that parents should know. For one, the violence and gore are a huge part of the show, and we'll delve into more details about that further down.
Is there anything inappropriate in Stranger Things? ›
A few kisses, sex talks and having fun about other girls. Vickie's boyfriend is shown kissing her neck. Max sees drawing made by Billy but nothing is shown. Teen characters kiss frequently; discussion of dating, flirting.
Is it OK for a 9 year old to watch Stranger Things? ›
With a TV-14 rating, Stranger Things, is very heavy for elementary school kids. The plot and villains are scary and dark.
How many F bombs are in Stranger Things? ›
Stranger Things has only featured characters using the F-word three times during its run, and one of those instances doesn't even finish the word. It's also surprising that all three instances happen in Stranger Things season 3, despite the mistaken belief that it has been used throughout the series.
Why is Stranger Things 4 so scary? ›
Season 4 definitely has a darker tone and is a lot more horror focused than the first 3 seasons. Both the monster and its backstory are quite unsettling. The episodes of season 4 contain a various amounts of triggers, mentioning suicide for example. The first death catches the viewer off guard and it can be shocking.
Is Wednesday appropriate for 9 year olds? ›
Wednesday is rated TV-14 for violence, fear, and profanity, which means it may not be suitable for children under 14 years old. Keep in mind that age ratings are simply suggestions — your child might be able to handle the show before age 14, or you may have a child older than 14 who finds it too scary.
First, it's worth noting that the maker of Stranger Things, Netflix, has rated it TV-14. That means they don't think it's appropriate for anyone under 14 to watch it. Of course, not all 14-year-olds are the same. At 14 years old, I watched things much more gruesome (I became a wimp later in life).
Can a 10 year old watch Stranger Things Season 4? ›
Despite the scary, disturbing and otherwise crass content present in the Netflix original series, “Stranger Things,” the show still holds a TV-14 rating.
Why is Wednesday rated TV-14? ›
In addition to meeting a few supernatural creatures along the way, there are plenty of jumps and scares as she uses her powers of visions to uncover a mysterious killer on the loose. With the series being rated TV-14 for fear, language, and violence, some content might prove too mysterious and spooky for kids under 14.
What age can watch Ginny and Georgia? ›
Ginny & Georgia is rated TV-14 for a reason and will probably be better handled by teens. Common Sense Media recommends only kids aged 15+ watch the series. Parents on the site counter that 16+ should be the recommended age rating, while kids on the site say 14+ is fine.
Is the end of the F world appropriate for 14 year olds? ›
The End of the F***ing World, which is based on Charles Forsman's 2013 graphic novel, is much more than a Thelma and Louise story for the teen set. In fact, given the often mature content, its appropriateness for teens is questionable at best.
Is the Umbrella Academy inappropriate? ›
In a sense it's a creator of a lot of good conversation between you and your older teen. But the level of violence is inappropriate for younger teens who are still trying to separate fantasy violence from reality, and even many adults can become desensitized to violence and abuse, and this series is rife with them.
Is Stranger Things 4 too scary? ›
Season 4 definitely has a darker tone and is a lot more horror focused than the first 3 seasons. Both the monster and its backstory are quite unsettling. The episodes of season 4 contain a various amounts of triggers, mentioning suicide for example. The first death catches the viewer off guard and it can be shocking.
Is Stranger Things bad for a 12 year old? ›
What's the Stranger Things Age Rating? First, it's worth noting that the maker of Stranger Things, Netflix, has rated it TV-14. That means they don't think it's appropriate for anyone under 14 to watch it. Of course, not all 14-year-olds are the same.
What grade are the kids in Stranger Things Season 4? ›
Finn Wolfhard is now 19 years old, though his character Mike Wheeler is meant to be around 14. Like Eleven, Mike and his friends should all be just about 14 years old. They graduated from middle school between seasons two and three, and are now freshman in high school on "Stranger Things" season four.
