We aggregate data from multiple trusted sources to build a complete picture of each media item:

No single source tells the whole story. By combining multiple perspectives, we get a more accurate picture than any one rating system provides.

This is what makes Screenwise fundamentally different. Through our family survey, we collect anonymized data about what real families are doing — what their kids watch and play, at what ages, with what rules and boundaries.

This data powers our community benchmarks. When we tell you "65% of 3rd graders at schools like yours play Roblox," that's real data from real families, not a guess.

We use AI (primarily Google Gemini and Anthropic Claude) to analyze each media item across the four WISE dimensions. The AI considers the content itself, external ratings and reviews, age-appropriateness factors, online safety features, and educational and developmental value.

AI analysis is supplemented with web search for current information — important for games and platforms that update frequently.

AI scores are audited for accuracy. When scores seem off — and they sometimes do — we investigate and correct. We also flag items where the AI might lack sufficient context, like niche indie games or very new releases.

When a media item enters our system (through our automated import pipeline or manual addition), we fetch metadata and ratings from all available external sources.

The AI analyzes all available data and produces scores for each WISE dimension (0-25), along with confidence levels and reasoning. It also generates parent-facing copy: a one-liner summary, key things to watch for, conversation starters, and an age-fit assessment.

Scores are checked against known benchmarks. A children's show that scores low on Safe, or a mature-rated game that scores high, gets flagged for review. We run automated content audits to catch inconsistencies.

Scores are recalculated when new data becomes available — game updates, new seasons of shows, emerging safety concerns, or shifts in community data.

Strengths:

Limitations we're transparent about:

If you think a score is wrong, we want to know. Parent feedback directly informs our audit process. We'd rather fix a wrong score than defend it — because a wrong score is bad advice to a parent about their kid.

Q: Is Screenwise's rating system automated or human-reviewed?

Both. AI generates initial scores using multiple data sources. Those scores are then audited through automated quality checks and human review. When discrepancies are found, humans make the final call.

Q: How does Screenwise handle media that updates frequently, like Roblox or Fortnite?

We recalculate scores when significant updates occur. For platform-style media (Roblox, Minecraft servers, YouTube channels), we focus on the core platform safety and features rather than individual user-created content, and we note the distinction clearly.

Q: Can I trust AI-generated ratings?

Our AI scoring is one input among many — it's combined with external ratings from established sources, community data from real families, and human auditing. We don't ship a score we can't defend, and we're transparent when confidence is lower for a particular item.

Q: How is Screenwise funded? Does that affect ratings?

Screenwise is funded through premium subscriptions. We do not accept payment from media companies, game studios, or streaming platforms for ratings or placement. Our ratings are independent.

We believe parents deserve to know how recommendations are made. Our methodology combines the best available data, AI analysis, community context, and human oversight to produce ratings that are accurate, transparent, and genuinely useful for real families making real decisions.

Browse all Screenwise ratings or learn how WISE scores work.