Instagram, WhatsApp, YouTube or TikTok – the internet is not a legal vacuum. Anyone who uses social networks or messengers should know the basic rules. This applies to adults as well as children and young people. As a parent, you can help your child to use photos, videos, texts and personal data responsibly. And also set a good example yourself.
From the very first steps online, it is important to introduce children to Instagram and how to handle personal data. Vivid comparisons help: Does your child not want personal details or secrets to be shared in class? The same applies online.
Advise your child to check whether the information is really necessary before sharing it. This includes name, telephone number, address, date of birth, photos, videos, messenger IDs, location data or passwords. Personal data of others may also only be shared with their consent.
Also take a look at app permissions together. Not every app needs access to location, contacts, microphone or camera. Check the settings when you first start the device and regularly after updates.
Parents should also reflect on their own online behavior. Sharing children’s photos or information (“sharenting”) can have long-term consequences, for example through AI-generated deepfakes. Children have a right to privacy, even from their parents.
On platforms such as YouTube, TikTok or Instagram, there is a lot of content that has been uploaded but not created by the user. This includes music, films, series, texts, images, graphics and computer games. These works are protected by copyright and may only be shared publicly with the consent of the copyright holder.
It becomes problematic, for example, if a dance video with a protected music title is uploaded or a picture of a well-known sportswoman is used as a profile picture. Screenshots, memes or short video clips can also be relevant under copyright law. Infringements can result in fines of up to 500,000 euros or account suspensions.
There is content with free licenses, for example under Creative Commons(CC) licenses, which may be used and shared depending on the license. The name, license link and changes must be specified. In addition, photos and videos are now often edited with filters or AI tools. Rights and personal rights remain intact; an image does not automatically become “free to use” just because it has been technically modified.
The right to one’s own image is part of personal rights and applies to all people, including children. Photos or videos may only be published or passed on if the person depicted has given their consent. In the case of underage children, the parents generally decide. However, as they get older, children should be involved in an age-appropriate manner and be able to participate in decision-making. This applies to public posts as well as messenger messages.
This is often underestimated, especially in class or group chats. Screenshots or forwarding without consent are legally problematic, even if they are only shared with friends. As children get older, they should decide for themselves what content to share. Agree clear rules with family and friends and check the privacy settings of the apps. Messengers are not a legal vacuum.
In recent years, platforms have been more heavily regulated, for example by the Digital Services Act (DSA, fully implemented since 2024) or the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Providers must take risks for minors into account: no personalized advertising, age-appropriate algorithms, rapid reporting of harmful content and uniform complaints procedures.
Nevertheless, responsibility remains in everyday family life. Instagram, privacy settings and a conscious approach to content cannot be completely outsourced to platforms. Many conflicts do not arise from bad intentions, but from ignorance, peer pressure or insecurity.
