The British Board of Film Classification (The BBFC) are planning to introduce a new system which would see music videos which are streamed online receive an age rating.

The new system will undergo a trial to see how it would work and has been created by the BBFC in conjunction with the British Phonographic Industry as well as internet giant Google.

David Austin, assistant director of the BBFC told The Guardian: "Google has said that if we start to age-rate videos, they will carry the BBFC age rating. They've also said they will look at the possibility of parental controls in relation to age rating."

"The classification of a music video will take account of any elements which are of concern to parents, including glamorisation of behaviour which they consider inappropriate."

One of the most prominent celebrities to air her support of a new age rating system on music videos is Annie Lennox. She said in an interview last year: "I'm all for freedom of expression but this is clearly one step beyond, and it's clearly into the realm of porn… How do you stop your kids being exposed to it? It's so powerful. You don't want to see your seven-year-old girls twerking all over the place."

"I have nothing against these artists, I was never bashing them…There's nothing wrong with sexuality and sensuality and I think these artists are beautiful. And, in many ways, what they do is fantastic, but it needs to be age-appropriate."

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