Time to BRAWL! Cool characters, exciting matches, jewels and trophies – that’s the colorful game world of Brawl Stars. We present the popular mobile app.
Brawl Stars is a mobile battle arena game for mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets, developed by Finnish game provider Supercell. It is based on the “free-to-play” model and is basically free of charge. In the game, you fight either alone or in teams of two or three against friends or other players. A round of the game lasts only a few minutes.
The players control characters, so-called “Brawlers”. Each Brawler has their own abilities and play styles. The aim is to defeat opponents and other teams, collect gems or complete certain tasks. Over the course of the game, new Brawlers can be unlocked, their skills improved and their appearance customized with skins and accessories. These extras can be purchased with the in-game coins earned or obtained through rewards. Real money can be used to buy in-game coins and thus achieve faster progress in the game. The colorful and vibrant graphics and simple controls make the game accessible and entertaining for players of all ages. Brawl Stars also features regular updates, events and an active community that keeps the game fresh and engaging.
Free game apps are interesting for many children and young people as they promise free fun. Playing together as a team and competing against other players is particularly exciting and fun. The rounds are entertaining and you can progress quickly. The look of the game is also impressive: Everything in the game is colorfully designed in cartoon graphics and the brawlers look funny. Winning a round earns you rewards. The game features loot boxes (surprise boxes) with a star symbol – also known as “Starrdrops”. Whoever opens the Starrdrops receives random rewards such as new skins, sprays, accessories, coins, jewels or new brawlers. The surprise effect and the prospect of stronger characters can quickly motivate children and young people to keep playing to get more Starrdrops and become more and more “powerful” for duels.
The short game rounds and regular rewards make the game attractive and tempt you to keep playing. Brawl Stars is played in teams. Players can create and join clubs.
Your child may come into contact with strangers who, in the worst case, are not who they say they are. Following random game rounds, your child can receive friend requests from players. There is a risk of cyberbullying and cybergrooming here.
For the chance to get rare brawlers or new coins, your child may be tempted to spend real money on in-game items and loot boxes. These purchases make it possible to equip their favorite Brawler with better abilities. There is also the option to purchase so-called “Brawl Passes”, which offer significantly more rewards and faster game progress. The game provider earns a lot of money with such mechanisms.
There is a guide for parents on the official website of the provider Supercell. Among other things, it refers to existing in-app purchases in the game and explains how parents can manage and, if necessary, disable them. Supercell states that it does not pass on personal data to third parties for commercial purposes or in any other way. The provider has created a “blacklist” for safe chatting. This allows certain terms to be quickly and automatically removed from chats. Chat messages can be muted and are then no longer displayed.
The best way to start is to discover the game together. Play together with your child to understand your child’s enthusiasm for the game.
Be wary of third-party vendors offering Brawl Stars enhancements such as free jewels. Here, personal information and/or money are often demanded without delivering the promised product.
On the children’s portal Frieden-fragen.de, questions about war, conflict, violence and peace are explained in a child-friendly way. Children can find age-appropriate information and individual answers to their questions. This enables a sensitive approach to difficult topics.
War and peace, conflict and violence – these are topics that even younger children are concerned with. They often have many questions that are not so easy to answer. At Frieden-fragen.de, children’s questions are answered individually. The answers are sent to the children by e-mail (if specified) or published on the website. Answers to many questions asked by children can also be found on the website.
The Berghof Foundation / Friedenspädagogik Tübingen project also tackles difficult questions. Frieden-fragen.de describes its approach as being “based on the fundamental values of peace, justice and non-violence and the state of the art. Differences and controversies in politics and society are named and made visible.” The aim is to make connections recognizable and to provide children with knowledge about the background and coexistence of people and states.
In addition to the question portal and factual information, children will find various areas to browse through. There are stories from children and adults from all over the world to discover as well as pictures and videos to watch. The characters Sakina, Cody and Frieda accompany children through the site. Many difficult terms are explained in a child-friendly way in the lexicon.
The website also offers various hands-on activities for children.
There are suggestions on how children can make their own contribution to peaceful coexistence, e.g. they can use the peace machine peace messages for classmates.
Teachers can find further background information and teaching materials in the adult section.
The service provides information on wars in a sensitive and age-appropriate way. Nevertheless, topics relating to war and conflict can overwhelm, frighten or unsettle children. Many children have heard about current wars on social media, on television, in class or in the playground. Some are affected by the topic themselves, e.g. through relatives or their own experience of flight. Take your child’s concerns about these issues seriously and help them to find answers to their questions. You know your child best and can assess which media content they can cope with. It is best to take a look at the Frieden-fragen.de website together. Then you will immediately notice how your child reacts to the content and can support your child accordingly. Read more about war in the media or news for children and young people here.
This article is part of the “Parents’ tips on children’s participation platforms” project, which is funded under the “Child-friendly digital services and orientation measures” program of the Federal Agency for the Child and Youth Protection in the Media (BzKJ) and realised by JFF – Institute for Media Research and Media Education and the German Association for Voluntary Self-Regulation of Digital Media Service Providers (FSM e.V.).
“Hang on, I need to post on BeReal for a minute!” – Many families are familiar with statements like this.
The BeReal app was the seventh most popular social media app among young Germans in 2023.
Authenticity is a top priority here, which is why the service scores points with its unusual concept: spontaneous snapshots from everyday life instead of staged pictures and videos.
We explain the concept behind it.
BeReal translates as “Be real!”. Users are prompted to take a photo once a day by the app via a push message. The random time varies from day to day and is sent to all users at the same time.
Within two minutes, a photo must be taken with the front and rear cameras at the same time and published. Pictures from the photo gallery cannot be uploaded. The two photos are displayed as picture-in-picture. The photos of friends can then also be viewed. The posted photos are automatically deleted from the feed after 24 hours and are saved under Memories for private viewing only. If uploaded on time, you can share up to five additional snapshots per day.
In addition to the daily prompt, you can record videos in “Behind the Scenes” mode, which show what happens before or after the actual photo. There is also the option to add music to the BeReals. The RealChat function allows friends to chat directly with each other and connect with several friends in up to two RealGroups.
There are no filters or image editing in the app and your follower count is not publicly visible. You can react to other people’s posts with emojis or so-called RealMojis, which are grimaces that you create yourself. Public photos can be seen at any time. Friends can be found and added via synchronization with your own contacts or by searching for user names. Profiles from the public feed can also be added.
New apps are particularly interesting for young users if they offer something out of the ordinary. In times of superficiality and image editing on social networks, BeReal stands out with its concept of spontaneity and authenticity. The tension increases because the push message with the request to take a snapshot can come at any time. A photo must then be taken spontaneously and under time pressure – without preparation or many attempts, without filters or image editing.
Connecting with brands and celebrities via the RealBrands and RealPeople categories and participating in their “real” lives as a RealFan is fun for young people and makes them feel connected to their role models.
Complying with the app’s requests can be challenging, for example because young people actually want to concentrate on their homework or can’t get their smartphone out at school. For some, the pressure exerted by the push message can be unpleasant or lead to impulsive photos being taken and published in private situations. There can also be social pressure to share particularly interesting pictures on the platform without filters and edits.
BeReal collects personal data such as name and telephone number and stores the IP address. If access to the address book is permitted, the app also receives data from people who do not use BeReal. There is also a risk that photos of other people who appear unintentionally in the picture will end up in the public feed. Photos can also be screenshotted and shared by others without being noticed.
According to the terms of use, BeReal is permitted from the age of 13. If an age between 13 and 15 is specified when registering, the app indicates that parental consent is required. This is because, due to the GDPR, use without parental consent is only possible from the age of 16. However, this can be easily circumvented.
The app was sold to the French game developer Voodoo in 2024. Further features could change, advertising has already been integrated. BeReal has community guidelines and prohibits harassment, violence and bullying, for example. Violations can be reported directly in the app.
If your child is interested in the app, you should also take a closer look at BeReal – preferably together. Talk to your child about the potential communication risks associated with using the app and keep in touch about your child’s experience of using it. Agree beforehand which photos may be published there, so that your child can react consciously in the pressure situation.
The app accesses many functions of the smartphone, some of which are unfounded, such as microphone and location. Check the app permissions immediately after registration and consider together with your child which accesses are necessary and useful. It is best to set the account to private in the privacy settings so that only people in the friends list can see the posted pictures. Discuss with your child that they should only add people they actually know as friends. You can find instructions on other BeReal security settings on the website medien-kindersicher.de.
The children’s website kindersache.de is a participatory website for children between the ages of 8 and 13.
It provides lots of information, especially about children’s rights, but also offers opportunities for children to become active on the Internet themselves.
Here children can find age-appropriate information and interactive offers, e.g. they can
The topic of children’s rights is given a lot of space on kindersache.de: It describes in a child-friendly way what children’s rights actually are and what they are. Various game ideas and puzzles on the site provide fun.
In the theme area Genial Digital there are interactive digital learning modules that provide information about the Internet and the first smartphone in a fun way.
In the JUKI animation studio on kindersache.de, there is not only a multitude of videos to discover.
In the animated film study, children can easily create their own animated films, receive tips for their own film production and learn what they need to bear in mind.
In the section Join in section, children can become active themselves: They can write an article or a story, make and upload their own videos or tell a joke.
To do this, they have to register at kindersache.de.
All content on kindersache.de is selected and checked by the editorial team.
Sharing with others is also safe, as comments and contributions are checked before publication.
In this way, children learn about the opportunities for participation on the Internet in a protected space kindersache.de is an Internet service for children from the Deutsches Kinderhilfswerk.
As the website is specially designed for children, it places great emphasis on security and data protection.
Personal data is only collected to the extent necessary and is not passed on to third parties.
The platform is also free of advertising.
As with all services used by children up to the age of 12, you should find out more about kindersache.de and explore the site together with your child. It is important for your child to share their experiences with you. Talking about the content on kindersache.de, such as joining in, promotes your child’s autonomy and knowledge. This article is part of the project “Parents’ tips on children’s participation platforms”, which is part of the funding program “Child-friendly digital offerings and orientation measures” of the Federal Center for Child and Youth Media Protection (BzKJ) and in cooperation with JFF – Institute for Media Education in Research and Practice and the Voluntary Self-Regulation of Multimedia Service Providers (FSM e.V.) is being implemented.
With the Internet ABC children learn to navigate the Internet independently and safely through playful learning modules. Parents and teachers can find lots of tips and support for the media education of primary school children in separate sub-sections.
Internet ABC helps children of primary school age to gradually learn how to use the Internet safely. Here you will find interactive learning modules on topics such as chats, data protection and research, while varied exercises, puzzles and tasks bring complex content closer in a child-friendly and clear way. Animal companions guide children through the four subject areas “Learning School”, “Hobby Leisure”, “Fun Games” and “Join in Have a Say”. A comprehensive lexicon explains online terms such as posting and spam.
Internet ABC enables children to learn the basics of using the Internet safely on their own. The games and puzzles are fun and the website is updated regularly. Children can test their knowledge and obtain a “driver’s license for the Internet” with the so-called surfing certificate. A short online course to understand the technical basics and how to use a PC, notebook and tablet can be found in the Computer ABC.
In the join-in area, children can create pictures, write in the forum, take part in surveys or comment on the joke of the month and exchange ideas with each other. The comments are first checked for insults or private information and only then activated.
The service is also aimed at parents and educational professionals and supports them in teaching media skills on the Internet. In addition to tips and explanations, there is concrete assistance such as the media usage contract.
The Internet ABC provider of the same name is an association whose members include all 14 state media authorities in Germany. Internet-ABC does not use advertising, is free of charge and explains exactly what data is collected from users and what happens to it.
Independent media use is important for children and promotes media literacy.
Services such as Internet ABC enable children to participate in the Internet and help you to teach your child how to use it responsibly.
Such services are therefore a useful addition to their media education at home.
Even if children can navigate independently on sites such as Internet ABC, it is important that you initially discover the Internet together with your children and are there to help with questions and problems.
For example, the website warns against leaving Internet ABC when clicking on links.
Nevertheless, your child may come across unsuitable content on other websites. Therefore, talk to your child and accompany him or her as often as possible when using media. Protection programs such as JusProg, which block age-inappropriate content, are also helpful.
Equally important are common rules and time limits within which your child can navigate the internet alone. You can get tips and help with media education via the Internet ABC website or other offers and stay informed about current phenomena and topics. In addition, the exchange with other parents can be helpful.
This article is part of the “Parents’ tips on children’s participation platforms” project, which is funded under the “Child-friendly digital services and orientation measures” program of the Federal Agency for the Child and Youth Protection in the Media (BzKJ) and realised by JFF – Institute for Media Research and Media Education and the German Association for Voluntary Self-Regulation of Digital Media Service Providers (FSM e.V.).
Klexikon is an online encyclopedia as a comprehensive and understandable Wikipedia for children. Here you will find over 3,400 articles on a wide range of topics for school and leisure.
Klexikon describes itself as the Wikipedia for children. From A-Z, children can find knowledge articles on a wide range of topics. The articles are written in a child-friendly way so that children can find understandable answers to their questions.
At Klexikon.de, children can search for terms directly in the search field. They can also browse through 12 knowledge areas – from “People we know” and “Body and health” to “Sport and fun” or “Politics and society” – to find topics in the various areas. If you want to be surprised, you can click on the “Random article” tab and be shown a random text from the more than 3,400 articles.
The Klexikon is a project of the Zentrale für Unterrichtsmedien im Internet e.V. (ZUM.de). The articles are written by volunteer authors. The Klexikon also offers writing workshops for school classes together with the German Museum of Technology and Wikimedia. Here, children get to know the service and, with the help of adults, can also create articles themselves and thus actively help shape the Klexikon . In the miniKlexikon contains articles in particularly simple language.
Whether for school or in their free time, children have lots of questions and want to find out about a wide range of topics. Like us adults, they are increasingly turning to the Internet for information on topics that interest them. Children also like to access information on the Internet when researching for school. Child-friendly services help them to find answers to their questions.
The following also applies to websites for children: Take into account your child’s level of development and accompany your child when using the Internet. Take a look at the website together first, especially with younger children, and discuss what your child has read in the articles. Who knows – maybe they will learn something new too! You can also search for answers with your child on the Internet and compare information that you find on different pages about a question. This way, your child can learn what to look out for when searching for information online and how to classify it.
This article is part of the “Parents’ tips on children’s participation platforms” project, which is part of the “Child-friendly digital services and orientation measures” funding program of the Federal Center for Child and Youth Media Protection (BzKJ) and in cooperation with JFF – Institute for Media Education in Research and Practice and the Voluntary Self-Regulation of Multimedia Service Providers (FSM e.V.) is being implemented.
Whether it’s cyberbullying, computer game addiction or data protection, young people can quickly, easily and free of charge contact the young scouts and experts at JUUUPORT turn. Young people can now also find a reporting form for problematic online content on the website.
When young people have problems or questions, they sometimes find it difficult to talk to their parents or other adults, especially about sensitive topics such as cyberbullying or sexting. That’s why JUUUPORT has youth scouts who have experienced something similar and can advise other youth. They have undergone special training on Internet topics and in the areas of psychology and law and can be requested anonymously. If they don’t know what to do, the young people’s concerns are passed on to adult experts who then take care of them.
JUUUPORT offers online counseling by young people for young people, supported by the association JUUUPORT e. V. On juuuport.de counseling is free, anonymous and complies with data protection regulations. In addition to the contact form on the website, there is also the option of contacting us via WhatsApp to get advice. The scouts will reply within two days. In the “Your questions” section, you can find answers from the scouts to common problems faced by young people.
The JUUUPORT website also contains a wide range of information on Internet topics. In addition to a guide on how to deal with online dangers such as cyberbullying, media addiction or sexual harassment, there is also up-to-date information on various topics such as artificial intelligence and fake news. JUUUPORT also offers a collection of links to other contact points for young people.
Young people can also use a separate reporting form to report things that do not belong online, such as violent videos, extremism or hate speech. The internet complaints offices FSM, eco and jugendschutz.net then deal with these complaints.
JUUUPORT is active on the social media platforms YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and X active. Here, the scouts share photos, videos and information about the advisory services and current media topics.
JUUUPORT also offers free online seminars for schools, youth clubs and associations. Topics here include “Hate on the Net” and “WhatsApp Stress.” Perhaps there is a need for a seminar at your child’s school or you would like to draw attention to the offer with information material.
Tell your child about JUUUPORT – perhaps there are topics that they would rather discuss anonymously with other young people than with you. If your child would like to get involved with JUUUPORT themselves and become a scout, they can sign up for training here.
About fragFINN children only surf on verified and safe websites. As a result, they do not encounter inappropriate content. In addition to the centerpiece, the search engine, the homepage of fragFINN.de offers editorial surfing tips on particularly good and interesting children’s websites. This allows children to gain their first positive online experiences.
The search engine for children only shows safe and interesting content for children in the results.
The search results are based on a so-called positive list, in which all the websites included are checked beforehand by a media education team.
You can use fragFINN to find explicit children’s sites, but also harmless adult sites (e.g. zoo sites, club sites).
The children’s sites are marked as such in the search results and displayed first.
On the fragFINN homepage, children can find surfing tips on many different topics, videos, games, podcasts and news.
Children can also get involved as “FINNreporters” by producing great videos by and for children.
When using the search function on the website and in the app, the user’s search query is sent directly to the fragFINN server in Germany.
No user data is collected or stored in the process.
The free fragFINNchild protection app can also be installed for mobile devices such as smartphones or tablets with Android, iOS and Fire OS operating systems.
Within the app, you can only surf on the fragFINN positive list, which ensures an even safer surfing experience.
Children’s search engines offer a safe introduction to the world of the Internet. They can be a good preparation for using common and well-known search engines. The pre-testing of all content provides a very high level of security for your child. Nevertheless, you should accompany your child, especially when using it for the first time, and explore the search engine together. This way you can explain important functions for the search in more detail. The fragFINN search tips also provide child-friendly answers to questions about children’s search engines and tips for good search results.
If your child finds a page among the results that scares them, they can report this using the “Report page” button. The alarms received are checked daily. Your child also has the option of suggesting websites. The media education team checks the pages and can approve them for the children’s search engine if necessary. The search engine is also particularly compatible with additional child protection solutions such as JusProg.
Further information for parents can be found here: eltern.fragFINN.de
This article is part of the “Parents’ tips on children’s participation platforms” project, which is funded under the “Child-friendly digital services and orientation measures” program of the Federal Agency for the Child and Youth Protection in the Media (BzKJ) and realised by JFF – Institute for Media Research and Media Education and the German Association for Voluntary Self-Regulation of Digital Media Service Providers (FSM e.V.).
Does your child love taking photos and want to publish their own artwork? They may still be too young for Instagram, but in the snapsclub they can learn more about photography in a child-friendly way and share their experiences with others.
The snapsclub is a photo community for children between the ages of 8 and 12. Here they can publish photos, share them with others and talk about them. knipsclub offers a safe space on the Internet. Through blog posts, video clips and hands-on activities such as “#ofthemonth“, children learn more about photography and safe online behavior, e.g. on topics such as data protection, copyrights and safe communication with others. What is a portrait, the right light, interesting facts about the right to one’s own image and much more – in the “snapping tips” children will regularly find helpful and practical tips.
Many children love picture stories or comics and like to draw. With photos, they can discover their environment in a new way and learn how to deal with (digital) technology. Children of primary school age are curious and want to know a lot. Many are already on the Internet and social networks are becoming increasingly interesting. At knipsclub , they can gain their first safe experiences and learn what they need to watch out for, e.g. that you can’t simply upload pictures of others to the internet.
Take your child’s wish seriously if they like to share their photos and be independent on the web. Social networks such as Instagram offer little protection and no supervision for children and are only recommended from the age of 13. There they may come across advertising, cyberbullying and cybergrooming, which can overwhelm or frighten them.
At knipsclub, you can slowly introduce your child to the use of a photo platform and the rules of the internet.
To register your child free of charge, you must upload a written declaration of consent. Familiarize your child with the rules on the net and discover the platform together. For example, start a joint photo project. Here you will find some ideas for this.
This article is part of the “Parents’ tips on children’s participation platforms” project, which is part of the “Child-friendly digital services and orientation measures” funding program of the Federal Center for Child and Youth Media Protection (BzKJ) and in cooperation with JFF – Institute for Media Education in Research and Practice and the Voluntary Self-Regulation of Multimedia Service Providers (FSM e.V.) is being implemented.
Fortnite and Minecraft have long been among the most popular games among children and young people.
Perhaps your child also plays one of these games with great enthusiasm.
In addition to pure entertainment, playing games can also have added educational value and encourage your child’s creativity.
In this article, we explain what needs to be considered and what challenges arise.
Fortnite and Minecraft have been on the market for a number of years and continue to attract a great deal of interest from users thanks to new expansions.
Both games can be played on game consoles as well as on computers or mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets.
Both games have different game modes. Fortnite was initially intended more as a cooperative shooter or survival game.
In Minecraft, on the other hand, building houses, cities and entire worlds has always been a central game principle.
In the classic modes of the games, however, creating tools and shaping the environment is dedicated to the purpose of defense: in Fortnite mainly against other players, in Minecraft against zombies.
In the meantime, the respective manufacturers have integrated a creative mode into both games.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IMGwtB5y940 In Fortnite‘s creative mode, players can build their own island alone or together with up to 15 friends.
And without any time pressure or attacks. For this purpose, the players have at their disposal not only the materials and components, but also ready-made objects. They can be customized and combined as desired to form entire cities or landscapes.
For example, there are objects in the categories Wild West, Factory, Music and Parkour.
In creative mode, players can visit the islands of friends and edit them further depending on the settings of their fellow players.
The special thing about Fortnite‘s creative mode is that players can not only create an island entirely according to their own ideas, but also adapt the rules of the game.
Settings can be made for the game mode or the time limit and the number of ammunition and resources. The game state or the construction progress is saved. Players can play with friends in battle mode on the specially created island.
Many players train here for battle royale mode.
Creative mode is one of five game modes in Minecraft. It focuses on the creation of extensive and artistic buildings. Unlike Fortnite, there are no prefabricated objects here. Players create buildings or even entire cities from building blocks made of different materials.
The simple blocks offer players the opportunity to create their own worlds according to their own ideas.
In creative mode, the materials are unlimited, the game state is always saved and there are no zombie attacks.
Characters cannot be harmed and do not have to eat any food during the game.
You can concentrate fully on building your own creations.
Both games offer children and young people the opportunity to creatively design virtual worlds themselves and move around in them with their characters.
When children build their own world together with others, this can have a positive influence on their willingness to cooperate and their social behavior.
This is because the players negotiate the design of new worlds together and help each other with building problems.
Minecraft is also used in schools, for example, to promote creativity and imagination among pupils.
In general, it can always make sense for children to agree on rules in advance when choosing games. If your child is a fan of Fortnite or Minecraft, ask them what they like about the games and have them show you the game. If your child has not yet discovered the creative mode, draw their attention to it.
This will allow your child to perceive the game in a completely different way and become active themselves.
When selecting games, pay attention to the USK age rating and your child’s level of development.
Play without pressure and battles – creative mode can be a good introduction to both games for younger children.
The NRW Game Guide has helpful articles on both games that provide a good overview of the respective content.
As the world’s largest video portal, YouTube is very popular with children and young people thanks to its variety of formats and topics. They subscribe to their idols‘ channels, participate in the community via likes and comments, post videos themselves and share the latest clips and trends.
YouTube presents challenges such as personalized advertising, content that is not age-appropriate or hate speech. Younger children are not yet able to deal with such hurdles on their own. That is why the provider Google parents with YouTube Kids and Parental Controls to make their child’s use of YouTube safer, depending on their age and stage of development.
YouTube Kids is a special video platform for children. It filters out child-friendly content using a special algorithm and uploads it to the app or website. YouTube Kids is easy to use, but you cannot upload your own videos.
Technical errors can cause unsuitable videos to be uploaded to YouTube Kids . Further information on the service can be found in this parents’ guide article.
YouTube Kids no longer offers older children quite as much content that suits their age and interests. For example, many Let’s Play videos of Minecraft and the like, which are very popular with older primary school children, are filtered out. If you have a child account and a parent account, you can share individual videos with your child and expand the range of content on YouTube Kids according to your child’s interests.
Another option is parental control. With this function, YouTube offers parents the opportunity to set age-appropriate settings for children’s YouTube usage. To do this, parents must link the parent and child accounts, for example via Google Family Link. Select the “YouTube (parental control)” app in the child account settings. In the “Content settings”, you can choose from three setting options, which we explain below.
YouTube offers these additional setting options for every age group:
You can find more tips on how parents can set up YouTube safely on Media Safe for Kids and in the family section of YouTube.
Note: The format YouTube Shorts format shows an endless feed of short video clips and cannot be controlled with settings functions.
Stay informed about the safety settings on YouTube and adjust them again and again in consultation with your child and according to their stage of development.
Important: Attitudes towards technical youth media protection do not replace media education. Your child may still be confronted with content and situations that are too much for them. Remain open and interested and ask which videos and channels your child enjoys and what exactly fascinates them about them. Encourage your child’s media skills. Talk to your child openly and as non-judgementally as possible about topics such as advertising, communication risks or the influence of influencers. This way, your child will feel safe with you as a contact person and can confide in you if they have problems.
YouTube Kids is the child-friendly little sister of YouTube. The platform offers a large collection of age-appropriate videos for children. It was developed especially for families.
YouTube Kids is a special offer for children. The video platform uses a special algorithm to filter out child-friendly content and plays it into the app or website. YouTube Kids can be used anonymously and without registration. At the start of use, parents can choose between three age groups: Preschool age (up to four years), Younger (from 5-8 years) and Older (from 9-12 years).
The content is divided into four categories: Series, Music, Learn, Discover and Recommended. You’ll find more exciting content around topics like music, gaming, science, or crafts. The little ones’ favorite heroes are also available on YouTube Kids: Little Dragon Coconut, Bibi and Tina, the Sandman, etc.
YouTube Kids is designed so that children can use the platform easily. With large illustrations and a voice search function, the app is also aimed at children who are not yet able to read. It is not possible to upload your own videos like on the “real” YouTube.
Only those who log in to the app with a Google account can create a separate profile for each child, set it up individually and exercise more control.
There are two options:
With both options, videos and channels can be blocked so that they are not displayed.
Children – like adults – like entertainment. They can access their favorite characters and stories in the app virtually at any time. In this way, YouTube gives kids a certain degree of independence – if their parents allow it. For example, content can be searched for and viewed independently.
Also, it is possible to share videos and channels from the parents’ YouTube account to their child’s. These are videos that are not normally found on YouTube Kids.
The offer is based on an algorithm. This means that content is not selected by humans and is not checked for quality. Errors can occur during this technical selection process. In rare cases, children may come across disturbing content, as videos are sometimes incorrectly classified as suitable for children.
The algorithm plays videos with a large reach and a high number of views first. For example, in addition to well-known and popular cartoon characters, children’s influencers and family YouTube channels are particularly popular. These often also receive product placements and the like.
The free service contains advertising that is adapted to the target group. However, the advertising is less frequent than on YouTube and does not interrupt the videos. Only with a subscription to YouTube Premium, the YouTube Kids channel can also be viewed without advertising. However, it is positive that no other websites can be opened from the offer.
There may be errors in the selection of videos. No system is perfect. Therefore, the algorithm is constantly improved and manual checks take place. Parents are explicitly asked to report videos if they appear problematic.
The provider Google explicitly points out that YouTube Kids does not replace parental control and guidance of their children. Parents can track which videos their child has watched via the playback history. YouTube Kids provides further tips for parents on parental control settings on its website.
Since features like uploading, sharing or rating videos are not available, YouTube Kids is safer than its big sister YouTube. Nevertheless, unsuitable content may be uploaded due to the algorithm. Therefore, watch the videos together with your child or at least stay close to them. This will help you to recognize which content is suitable for your child and which is not.
Parents can create a password for the settings and use it, for example, to switch off the autoplay function, delete the search history or activate the timer to limit the time your child spends in front of the screen.
Try the app without your child first and then decide if it’s right for you and your family! There are detailed instructions on how to set up YouTube Kids at Medien kindersicher.
Chatting with friends, posting content, following stars – social media is very popular with many children and young people and an important part of their everyday lives. In this article, we present some popular platforms and apps and explain why they are so fascinating.
Dance challenges, LipSyncs and comedy – the Chinese platform TikTok offers an endless variety of entertaining short videos and is one of the most popular social media apps among children and young people. Users design their clips with trendy music, fun effects and creative filters. A special feature is the algorithm that displays personalized content in the “For you” feed according to the user’s preferences. Following viral trends and influencers, discovering new functions and video formats and connecting with each other via chat and hashtags fascinates children and young people. TikTok harbors risks such as data protection issues, inappropriate content such as war videos, pornography or drugs and entails communication risks. Endless scrolling can lead to extreme media use and promote digital stress. Parents can use the Accompanied mode control function for younger children.
Instagram is a popular social network where users share photos and videos. The app offers functions such as stories, reels and livestreams and focuses primarily on aesthetics. A variety of image and video editing tools such as filters give users the opportunity to express themselves creatively. The platform encourages interaction through likes, comments and direct messages. Children and young people use Instagram to network, follow role models and trends and present themselves online. Young users find it appealing to post selfies, test their impact and share beautiful moments with friends and family. The platform belongs to the large US internet company Meta. Challenges include the illusory world of perfect self-presentation and advertising by influencers. With parental control, Instagram can be set up safely and usage times can be controlled.
Threads is a text-based app from Instagramthat was specially developed for close friends. The functions of threads are the platform X platform. Users can share photos, videos and messages with selected contacts and view real-time updates about their location, activities or mood. This intimacy and the link to Instagram make threads attractive to young people. As on all social media platforms, there are risks in online communication and in being confronted with harmful content.
Snapchat is a social media app for sharing photos and videos. The so-called “snaps” disappear automatically after 24 hours. The relaxed, spontaneous communication and the fun filters and effects make the app popular with children and young people. Young people use the app to connect with their friends in particular. Snapchat rewards daily exchanges between friends with the Snapstreaks function and awards flame symbols. If the location function is activated, users can see where their contacts are currently located on the Snapmap. Snapchat users are automatically connected to the AI chatbotMy AI which answers questions and chats like a “real” friend. Snapchat is challenging in terms of privacy and data protection and can increase the pressure to be online all the time. The Snapchat Family Center offers parents setting options such as the activity overview and content controls.
BeReal is an ad-free social media app where users share spontaneous snapshots. Once a day, all users receive a simultaneous notification to take a photo with the front and rear camera within two minutes. Anyone who wants to can share their location. The spontaneity and authenticity make the app particularly popular with young people. Users can exchange ideas and network with each other via the comment function and in BeReal groups. The request to post a photo on time can cause digital stress for users and tempt them to disclose overly private information.
Knipsclub is a safe photo community that introduces children to social networks creatively and in a protected environment. Children can share, edit and comment on photos here under pedagogical supervision. In Knipsclub, users do not share any personal data and all content is moderated. This makes the platform a good alternative for parents who want to give their children a safe introduction to social media. Other protected options are platforms such as children’s issues of the DKHW or the children’s forum of Seitenstark. These children’s websites offer age-appropriate content, encourage creativity and offer moderated forums on specific topics.
TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, BeReal and Threads may be used from the age of 13 with parental consent according to the terms and conditions. When choosing social media services, make sure they are age-appropriate for your child. If your child is still younger, offer them alternatives such as the Knipsclub to make it easier for them to enter the world of online networking. Actively help your child get started with their own smartphone or on one of the popular social media platforms. Make sure your smartphone and apps are childproof and talk about the risks of social media use at an early stage. Educate your child about topics such as data protection, communication risks and community rules. Stay in touch about favorite channels and influencers to better understand and support your child’s media behavior.
An hour on the Internet sometimes feels like a few minutes. Adults know this feeling as well as children. A new notification, a new post, quickly finish the level and take a quick look at TikTok – but then it’s really over! Many apps are designed to keep us glued to the screen with constant new stimuli. This makes it increasingly difficult to simply put the device down. Special apps for regulating media time or setting options aim to help people use media more consciously.
Screen time is a function on the iPhone, iPad and MacBook that shows you how much time you spend each day with which apps. You can block certain apps for a certain period of time or after a set time has elapsed. It is also possible to block certain content (e.g. age-restricted movies or games). With the help of family sharing – another Apple function – these settings can also be made on other devices.
To set up the screen time:
You can find step-by-step instructions on how to set up Screen Time on the Apple support pages.
On Android devices, Digital Wellbeing is integrated as a function in the settings as of Android 9. Here you can see at a glance how often the smartphone and the individual apps were used. Android offers three options for regulating media time at once:
Android also offers a step-by-step guide to setting up Digital Wellbeing .
Parental controls on Apple devices: Screen Time also offers the option of regulating your child’s smartphone use and, for example, preventing purchases in the App Store or content with certain age ratings. Detailed instructions on parental controls are available from Apple Support.
Parental control on Android devices: The parental control functions are not directly integrated into the operating system of Android devices. You can still keep an eye on your child’s media use with the free Google Family Link app. More detailed information can be found on the Google help pages.
As a general rule, you should keep in mind that your child may feel controlled by you by regulating his or her media use. Therefore, talk openly with your child about the setting options and consider together which ones make sense.
As your child becomes more independent over time, settings should be reconsidered regularly. Of course, the older your child is, the more he or she will know how to avoid certain settings. However, if you trust your child, there is usually no reason to do so.
Also think together about how you want to organize media time and media-free time in the family. Set a good example by demonstrating responsible use of digital media yourself.
Paw Patrol, Pokémon, Peppa Wutz – the TOGGO app offers children a comprehensive range of entertainment tailored specifically to their needs and interests. With a wide selection of series, interactive games, radio plays and music, the app is aimed specifically at young users of different ages. We present the offer.
The app aims to offer children and young people a safe and entertaining platform. It contains a wide range of content with series, games, radio plays and music tailored to different age groups. The Toggolino area is specially designed for children between the ages of 2 and 5 and enables them to navigate easily and without text. This protected area can only be exited with a text code, so children cannot do this by mistake. You need support from someone who can read. The TOGGO area is aimed at older children up to the age of 14 and offers a greater variety of exciting content, such as multiplayer games that can also be played with friends.
The app meets the needs of children at different stages of development: Younger children enjoy the simple and fun content in the Toggolino section, while older children can discover exciting adventures and cool, challenging games in the TOGGO section. Regular updates and new content ensure that there is always something new to discover. The opportunity to interact with the app keeps children busy and encourages their creativity. Content that is tailored to the age and interests of the users ensures a personalized experience that children particularly enjoy.
Super RTL emphasizes that the app is designed to be safe and suitable for children. Various measures are taken to protect the privacy and safety of the children. This includes strict compliance with the data protection guidelines, which can be viewed on the app’s website.
Actively accompany the use of the offer: Select the content together and accompany the use depending on the age of your child to ensure that the content is suitable. Talk openly with your child about the safe use of digital media, especially about the importance of data protection.
Sharing: Discover the content together with your child to share their experiences. Integrate your child’s opinion when selecting new content to encourage interest and participation.
Use the available settings: Customize the content according to your child’s age and level of development.
Open communication: Discuss with your child what to do if they come across inappropriate content or have difficulties using it. Clarify what needs to be considered when playing virtual games together if your child networks with friends in multiplayer games within the app.
Set usage limits: Encourage balanced leisure activities by jointly defining the duration of use.
Encourage alternative learning and play resources: Motivate your child to explore non-digital learning and play resources.
Explain advertising: Explain to your child what advertising is and how it works to create an awareness of commercial content.
