Report says ban 'too-sexy' music videos until after watershed

MUSIC videos that are "sexually provocative" should be banned before the watershed, a Home Office report said today.

The study, by psychologist Dr Linda Papadopoulos, warned that children were being damaged by exposure to sexual and violent images and lyrics on television.

She said videos sexualised girls at a young age, encouraging them to aspire to an unhealthy ideal – but unlike other sexual content were not banned before 9pm.

As well as music videos, the report points to greater exposure of children to sexual and violent content from a younger age – through magazines, advertising, the internet and video games.

The report said: "Music channels and videos across all genres have been found to sexualise and objectify women. Women are often shown in provocative and revealing clothing and are depicted as being in a state of sexual readiness. Males on the other hand are shown as hyper-masculine and sexually dominant."

It added: "A Pussycat Dolls video, say, will mean very different things to a three-year-old, an eight year-old and a 14-year-old."

As well as a ban on "sexualised" music videos before the watershed, the report called for:

• A bar on jobcentres advertising positions in lapdance clubs and other parts of the sex industry.

• Internet service providers to block access to pro-bulimia and pro-anorexia websites.

• A ratings system for pictures of models in magazines so airbrushing was out in the open.

• Video game consoles to be sold with the parental restrictions turned on by default.

• An age rating system for so-called lads' mags to make clear that they are "top shelf" titles.

• A website where parents can report "irresponsible" marketing which sexualises young children.