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23 November 2009
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Online Services Guidelines in Full

Harm & Offence

• Introduction
• Harm and offence online
• Programme-related content
• Offensive language
• BBC Search
• International audiences

Harm and offence online

Online, there is no Watershed. Our approach to harm and offence on the Internet is based on the principle that we consider the expectations of the likely audience for the specific service. See Section 8 of the Editorial Guidelines: Harm & Offence - Audience expectations .

We offer a whole range of material and services on the Internet which appeal to different sections of the public and are often targeted at specific groups. Online producers should be aware of what may offend the likely audience of any web site. We should respect the views of that audience. This approach accords with our policy for BBC Radio, which approaches these matters with regard to the expectations of the channel's likely audience.

Judgements on the audience for web pages and its expectations will need to be informed by continuing research into usage:

• any material on the BBC Home page must be suitable for a general audience including children
• the first click from the BBC Home page should not normally lead straight to a page which includes material which is unsuitable for a general audience
• on other pages, material should be suitable for the likely audience. Where appropriate, online producers should clearly label difficult material so as to avoid offending users or taking them by surprise. This includes difficult material which might be unsuitable for children. Such signposts should do the same job as presentation announcements. They should be clear and factual but not inappropriately graphic
• those planning web pages should be clear about whether they are likely to appeal to a high proportion of children or young people and choose material accordingly.

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