Making Parents' Voices Heard
2011). Matters of taste and decency in print can only be raised with the publication in question, although complaints specifically about the sexual content of teenage magazines can be directed to the Teenage Magazine Arbitration Panel (TMAP) but only after the complaints process of the magazine in question has been exhausted (Teenage Magazine Arbitration Panel, 2011). However, the panel has only ever ruled on three complaints, with its last adjudication in April 2005, and Sue Palmer, author of Toxic Childhood, has described TMAP as a "toothless watchdog".
Knowing how to complain – making it quick and easy to express a view
When we asked parents in our Call for Evidence what would make it easier for them to complain about things they thought were inappropriate for their children, it was obvious that the quickness and ease of making a complaint was a big factor (Figure 14).
Figure 14: Making it easier for parents to complain
| What would make it easier for you to complain about things you think are inappropriate? | Total |
| Knowing someone would take my complaint seriously | 763 |
| Knowing a website I could use to make a complaint | 604 |
| Knowing there would be a quick complaints process – no need to fill in long forms etc | 533 |
| Knowing a telephone or text number to make a complaint | 302 |
| Knowing an address to write to make a complaint | 201 |
| Nothing – I probably wouldn't complain more than I do now even if it was easier | 33 |
| Other | 18 |
*There were 968 responses to this question: figures do not total 968 as respondents could select more than one suggestion. Source: Parental Call for Evidence
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