Whether in books, series, films or audio stories – children learn role models through the media. This is because children identify with characters that they like. Classic images are often conveyed, such as those of strong heroes and beautiful princesses. Children are guided by these role models in order to develop their own personality.
From primary school age at the latest, gender becomes increasingly important for children’s identity. In many children’s films and series, girls and boys are still portrayed differently. Studies such as the MaLisa Progress Study (2021) show: Male characters continue to be more visible than female characters in children’s television. This is particularly clear in the case of animal, fantasy, robot and machine characters – they are still predominantly portrayed as male. At the same time, there are positive developments: The proportion of female characters in German children’s television has increased and stood at 44 percent in 2020. However, when the media tell similar stories over and over again – the brave boy saves everyone, the girl is mainly beautiful or caring – this can restrict children.
Trans and non-binary people have only rarely appeared in children’s films and series to date. For the most part, children’s media continue to tell stories about girls and boys within a binary gender role model. International studies such as the See Jane 2024 study show that LGBTQIA+ characters make up only a very small proportion of popular children’s television, at one to two percent; non-binary characters are almost invisible. Yet diverse characters can help children to understand that there are different ways of living gender, family and identity.
Many media offerings also remain one-sided when it comes to the portrayal of bodies and roles. Female characters are more often shown as young, slim, beautiful or caring. Male characters appear muscular, strong and athletic and more often experience adventures or explain the world. In family stories, women are still more likely to be shown bringing up children and doing housework, while men appear more often in professional or public roles. If children and young people repeatedly see one-sided images of beauty and bodies, this can make them feel insecure – especially if they perceive these images as “normal” and compare themselves to them. Studies show: This can increase dissatisfaction with their own bodies.
Occupations help children to imagine their own future. They are also guided by characters from books, series, films or audio stories. In many stories, however, professions are still stereotypically distributed: Women are more likely to look after children, family or care. Men solve problems, experience adventures or act as experts.
This can give the impression: Some professions are more suited to girls, others to boys. But the world of work today is much more colorful. A mother can be an engineer, doctor or scientist; a father can be an educator, carer or househusband. Such examples are important because career aspirations are often influenced by role models from an early age. In addition, technology and digitalization are constantly giving rise to new professions that have hardly featured in children’s books and series to date. If a boy still wants to be a firefighter or a girl a ballerina, that is of course perfectly fine.
In many picture books, families consist of a woman, a man and one or two children. Fathers often only appear as a secondary character. However, the traditional mother-father-child model, in which the mother looks after the children and the father goes to work, is only one of many family types today. Many children have several caregivers who look after them. These include, for example, the new partners of the (separated) parents. Rainbow families with queer parents are also rarely depicted in children’s media. And where are the adults who are not in a relationship but still like to look after their friends’ or family members’ children?
If you notice any questionable gender portrayals, feel free to address them: Who gets to be strong in the story? Who cares? Who decides? In this way, children learn to question role models.
Children need different role models. A diverse range of media shows them different ways in which people can live, feel and act. Stories that break down typical role models encourage children to accept themselves and to be open, tolerant and respectful towards others. We have put together some media tips for you that show diverse gender roles and different family forms:
Diverse families
I am me: self-image and gender identity
Out of the gender pigeonhole
Strong friendships and diverse role models
You can find more media recommendations in this article and, for example, at Regenbogenfamilien München and PINKSTINKS. If you would like to know more about gender in children’s media, we recommend this brochure for parents on dealing with gender roles.
The new favorite profile looks friendly, responds to comments and constantly shares new photos from everyday life. For many children, the account looks like other influencers on Instagram or TikTok. But some profiles are not real people at all. More and more influencerson social media are created using artificial intelligence.
AI influencers are invented figures on social media. Images, videos, voices and texts are created or edited with the help of AI. Companies or agencies are usually behind the profiles. The figures present themselves as fashion influencers, gamers, musicians or lifestyle stars and talk about their supposed everyday lives.
Lil Miquela from the USA is particularly well known. The virtual influencer publishes fashion photos, music and political messages and has millions of followers. The German AI character Noonoouri also works with major fashion brands and publicly campaigns for sustainable fashion.
Today, AI can be used to create images, videos or texts for social media very quickly. Nevertheless, these figures do not act independently. Content, texts and collaborations are planned and controlled by humans. Such figures are attractive for companies because they can fully control the content. Many of these figures are designed in such a way that they attract a lot of attention on social media.
Right-wing populist and extremist groups also use AI influencers. The profiles often show young, attractive people. They combine harmless lifestyle content with radical or discriminatory messages; for example, they show German flags, classic family pictures or make statements against migration. Other accounts invent their own realities and show bizarre images of the future. In this way, right-wing world views are intended to appear more modern and gradually spread.
There are also projects with positive goals. Some virtual characters are intended to draw attention to social issues or show what is creatively possible with AI. The Itskamisworld account, for example, was developed to make people with Down’s syndrome more visible. Nevertheless, it remains important to classify content carefully and to be able to recognize advertising.
Children and young people use social media to switch off, share and belong. Influencers often play an important role in this. Virtual influencers often appear particularly perfect and professional, react quickly to trends and seem to be constantly available. This is precisely what makes them interesting for many young users.
Younger children in particular often do not question who is behind a profile. If an account comments regularly, talks about everyday life and responds to messages in a friendly manner, this quickly creates a feeling of closeness.
Although many young people are more likely to notice that content has been artificially created, they are under greater pressure from beauty ideals and comparisons on social media. High follower numbers, likes and positive comments reinforce the impression that the figure is popular and credible.
For some users, it is not even important whether a character is real. What matters most is whether the content is entertaining, creative or exciting.
What is particularly difficult is that AI influencers are often almost indistinguishable from real people.
Possible problems:
In addition, AI content is often not clearly labeled. It is often unclear to users whether images, videos or figures have been created artificially.
Accompany your child when using social media and take an interest in which profiles they follow. Take a look at profiles together and talk about how content is created on social media. Many AI-generated images appear perfect or particularly professional at first glance. However, some content shows small anomalies:
Children don’t have to recognize every AI fake immediately. It’s more important not to immediately believe everything that looks real on social media.
Also talk about the fact that many influencers earn money with their content. Virtual figures often seem like good friends or give seemingly honest recommendations. However, advertising and companies are often behind this.
Questions such as:
Younger children in particular can quickly mistake virtual characters for real friends. It is important that children can come to their parents openly with questions or uncertainties.
Not every child needs a smartphone with internet and apps right away. For younger children, a push-button cell phone can be a good first step: children can make calls and write messages without having to be online all the time. Many families experience this as a relaxed introduction because children learn to take responsibility for their own device, for example charging the battery, being reachable, looking after the device and adhering to rules.
Some families use a shared family device or an older smartphone belonging to the parents as a test phase, which is only used at certain times. Many children are already familiar with digital media via tablets or family devices. Their first smartphone is therefore usually not their first contact with media, but the next step towards greater independence.
You can find out more about how to assess your child’s maturity in our parent check-in “My child is getting their first smartphone – what should I look out for?“.
If you want a smartphone, it doesn’t have to be the latest or most expensive model. A solid, used or refurbished smartphone that is regularly updated is a good place to start. For many children, the smartphone is a status symbol, but parents do not have to fulfill the desire for a specific brand model.
Also helpful are:
A device that uses the same operating system as the parents’ smartphone is often practical. This makes it easier to set up security settings, screen time or family functions together and to help quickly in the event of problems. Some families also agree that older children will contribute to purchases or repairs. This makes many children more aware of how they use the device.
A prepaid card can be useful for the first smartphone. This means there are no additional costs and children learn how to use a fixed amount of credit. However, if the credit is empty, your child may not be able to contact you.
With a contract, there are usually fixed monthly costs, often with a telephony flat rate and a lot of mobile Internet. However, in-app purchases or additional data volume can result in additional costs. Younger children in particular can quickly lose track. Contracts are therefore more suitable for young people with some smartphone experience. Settings such as cost limits, third-party provider blocks or a limited data volume help to avoid unexpected bills.
Not only the device is important, but also the secure setup. Sensible basic settings are, for example:
For the first smartphone, blocked contacts or children’s versions of apps can also be useful. Regular updates keep the smartphone safer.
Technical protection functions support but do not replace supervision. Therefore, keep talking to your child about apps, chats and content. Also talk about what your child can do if something seems strange or unpleasant online. A jointly agreed media usage contract can help to make rules on usage times, mobile-free times and behavior in chats transparent for all family members.
Can’t find an answer to your question? Ask your personal questions about your child’s media use directly and conveniently via Messenger service via WhatsApp or Threema.
Class chats are conducted via WhatsApp, reels are shared on Instagram and people organize themselves in sports clubs via Facebook groups. Many children and young people use several Meta services every day, often without realizing that they all belong to the same company. It is helpful for parents to understand how these services are connected.
Meta Platforms was originally called Facebook Inc. and was founded in 2004. The company changed its name to Meta in 2021. The company wanted to show that it has long been offering more than just Facebook and is increasingly focusing on virtual worlds and artificial intelligence.
The company includes, among others:
The apps are free to use and are primarily financed by advertising. To do this, Meta collects a lot of information about what content users view, like, comment on or share and how long they are active. Location data, device information and interests are also included.
Meta’s various services are closely interlinked. People who use WhatsApp, Instagram and Facebook at the same time leave behind a lot of information about their own usage behavior. Meta uses this information to create interest profiles for personalized advertising and recommendations.
In addition to social media, Meta is investing heavily in digital and virtual worlds. Users can immerse themselves in digital gaming or leisure worlds via the VR goggles Meta Quest. Meta is also integrating AI functions(Meta AI) directly into WhatsApp, Instagram and Facebook. They can answer questions, formulate texts, generate images or summarize content. Incorrect or misleading answers are also possible.
Meta-services fulfill many needs at the same time. WhatsApp is often the most important communication channel for young people. Class chats, appointments or leisure groups usually take place directly via the messenger. Those who cannot be reached there quickly miss out on important information or feel excluded. Instagram offers entertainment and opportunities for self-expression. Likes, comments and follower numbers give many young people a sense of attention and belonging. A lot of content is automatically suggested. Reels, memes, influencer content and AI chatbots provide a constant supply. As a result, children and young people often spend significantly more time on the apps than planned.
Meta services are designed to hold your attention for as long as possible. Children and young people in particular often find it difficult to switch off as a result. Possible risks include
Younger children in particular often do not yet understand how platforms select content or why certain posts are displayed repeatedly. Advertising or AI-generated content is also often difficult for them to recognize.
Meta refers to various safety and parental control functions within the apps. These include privacy settings, reporting and blocking functions as well as parental controls for individual services such as Instagram. The company also emphasizes that AI functions should be developed responsibly. However, critics continue to criticize the extensive collection of data and the difficult-to-understand privacy settings.
Make connections visible: Explain to your child that WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook and Threads all belong to the same company. Many functions, advertisements and data collections are interlinked.
Set privacy settings together: Regularly go through the privacy settings together. Among other things, check who can see content or send messages, whether the location is visible and which data is used for advertising. Public profiles, groups or AI functions should also be checked regularly.
Talk about algorithms: Children and young people should understand that platforms do not display the most important content, but often what generates attention for a particularly long time. This can be funny, but also provocative or emotionally charged content.
Question advertising and influencers: Discuss together how influencers earn money and why certain products constantly appear. A lot of advertising content appears personal or spontaneous, but is part of targeted marketing strategies.
Critically accompany AI functions: Explain to your child that AI systems are not real friends and are not neutral sources of knowledge. Answers may be incorrect or contain prejudices. Personal information should not be entered in AI chats.
Consciously organize screen time: Endless feeds and push notifications make it difficult to take conscious media breaks. Help your child to plan offline times and reduce notifications.
Remain open to discussion: Prohibitions alone are usually of little help. It is important that your child receives support in the event of unpleasant experiences and can talk openly about problematic content, conflicts or contacts.
Replying to a message, scrolling through social media or looking something up – for many parents, the smartphone is a natural part of everyday life. At the same time, many ask themselves: Is my baby getting too little attention as a result? The important thing to remember is that it’s not about perfection, but about conscious use.
In the first few months of life, your baby learns primarily through interaction with you. Eye contact, voice, facial expressions and your reactions help him to understand the world and feel safe. When you respond to your baby’s signals, it experiences: “I am seen and understood.” This happens in many small everyday moments when feeding, changing, carrying or playing. Babies do not need constant entertainment. Short moments of shared attention are often enough.
If you frequently look at your smartphone, shared moments can be interrupted:
This usually happens unconsciously. Babies cannot yet understand why the shared moment suddenly ends. When adults look at their smartphones, their facial expressions and reactions are often less attentive and attuned. Frequent interruptions can unsettle babies, especially if they occur regularly.
The smartphone does not have to disappear completely from everyday family life. Short periods of cell phone use are normal and generally unproblematic. Especially with a baby, many parents use their smartphone to keep in touch with other adults, search for information or switch off briefly. Stressful days, distractions and interruptions are also part of everyday life with children. Parents don’t have to be constantly available or attentive. It is crucial that there are always conscious moments of closeness and attention.
Even babies experience the place that smartphones and other media play in everyday family life. When screens are constantly present, this quickly becomes the norm. This makes it all the more important to consciously organize times together without media.
If you notice that your smartphone often distracts you or that you feel less connected in everyday life, small changes can help. Fixed moments without a smartphone are often enough to experience time together more consciously.
Can’t find an answer to your question? Ask your personal questions about your child’s media use directly and conveniently using the messenger service via WhatsApp or Threema. You can find more information here.
Violent videos, inappropriate content or advertising: many parents worry about what their child could come into contact with in digital media. This often results in the desire to keep children away from smartphones, tablets or televisions for as long as possible. However, as digital media is present in many areas of life today, contact with it can hardly be avoided.
Many parents want their children to grow up without digital media for as long as possible. This is often based on the desire for a carefree childhood with lots of exercise, free play and direct contact with other people.
The development of basic skills is particularly important for young children: learning to speak, discovering the world around them, building relationships and gaining their own experiences. Some parents therefore fear that digital media could take up too much space in everyday life too early. Concerns about unsuitable content, advertising or excessive screen time also play a role.
Children experience at an early age that smartphones, tablets and televisions are taken for granted by adults. They see how messages are read, videos are watched and photos are sent. Children also encounter media outside the family with friends, relatives or later at nursery and school. By primary school age at the latest, digital media becomes a part of everyday life for many children. Children are curious and want to understand what is happening on screens. Especially when media is so present in their environment.
When parents try to ban media completely, it is precisely this ban that makes media particularly appealing to children. Furthermore, children only learn how to use media safely if they can gain experience. This is because media literacy does not come automatically, it develops step by step. Children have to learn to understand content, ask questions and categorize experiences. Discussions with parents play an important role in this. This is why many media education concepts do not aim to shield children completely, but to accompany them during their first media experiences.
For younger children in particular, it makes sense to use media together at first. Parents can select suitable content and explain what is happening on the screen. This creates shared media experiences that can be categorized and discussed.
This allows children to learn about media in a protected environment. Questions can be clarified directly and parents can react if children do not understand something or are frightened by content. It is not about trying out as many media offerings as possible. A small amount of age-appropriate content that is of interest to children and that they can understand is often sufficient. At the same time, other activities remain central: play, exercise, creative activities and conversations with family and friends. In addition to videos or games, children can also use media creatively, for example by taking photos or recording short stories.
Today, media is part of everyday life for many families. At the same time, this does not mean that it has to play a major role in family life.
For many families, a simple orientation helps:
In this way, children learn step by step to understand and use digital media responsibly.
Children and young people now use ChatGPT in many everyday situations, for example for homework, creative projects or research. The AI chatbot answers questions in just a few seconds and often acts like a real conversation partner. We explain what the tool is all about and what parents should look out for.
ChatGPT is an AI chatbot that has been trained with large volumes of text. It can understand language and formulate its own answers. Users enter a question or task and usually receive an answer within a few seconds.
The tool can summarize, explain or create new texts. Voice input is also possible. For children, using the tool often feels like talking to a real person, as the answers are formulated very naturally.
Parents can check data protection and security settings together with their child and supervise their use.
Note: As of January 2026, ChatGPT is no longer available via WhatsApp.
ChatGPT is easy to use and usually responds in just a few seconds. It helps with homework, explains difficult topics or provides creative ideas for stories and projects. Voice conversations are also possible. Questions can be asked verbally and answers are given in a natural-sounding voice. This makes it particularly easy for many children to use in everyday life.
OpenAI offers protection and control functions for families. Parents and teenagers can link their accounts and control various settings: quiet times, reduce sensitive content, restrict group chats, deactivate image generation and audio mode, switch off memory (storage function) and limit data usage for training and history. Stricter settings apply to linked accounts of young people. Parents do not see the chats, but can be notified in the event of potential risks.
OpenAI also uses age detection to automatically activate stricter protection functions for minors. These measures reduce risks, but do not offer complete protection.
Try out ChatGPT together: Use the tool together and talk about the answers.
Use the parental controls: activate and check the settings regularly.
Do not rely on technology aloneSupplement protective functions with discussions and support.
Encourage critical thinking: Explain that AI does not provide reliable facts. Ask ChatGPT to name sources and check them together with your child. A comparison with other AI offerings can also be useful.
Pay attention to data protection: Do not enter any personal data such as names, addresses or photos.
Talk about learning with AI: Make it clear that AI can support, but not replace your own performance.
Agree on clear rules: Decide together when and how ChatGPT will be used.
Keep the conversation going: Encourage your child to talk about experiences or problems.
Keep yourself regularly informed: Follow new functions and developments relating to AI offerings.
Mit Freund*innen chatten, auf Social Media aktiv sein, sich kreativ ausdrücken – mit dem Smartphone eröffnet sich für Kinder eine neue Welt. Viele Eltern fragen sich, wann ihr Kind alt genug ist für ein eigenes Smartphone. Eine pauschale Antwort darauf gibt es nicht, denn entscheidend ist vor allem der Entwicklungsstand des Kindes.
Der Wechsel von der Grundschule zu einer weiterführenden Schule ist für viele Eltern ein geeigneter Zeitpunkt, ein Smartphone anzuschaffen. Viele Kinder haben einen längeren Schulweg, den sie häufig allein zurücklegen. Über ein Handy oder Smartphone können sie schnell Kontakt aufnehmen. Die ständige Erreichbarkeit sollte jedoch nicht der Hauptgrund sein. Gerade für ältere Kinder und Jugendliche ist der wichtigste Grund für das eigene Smartphone der Kontakt mit ihren Freund*innen. Sie möchten dazugehören und mitreden können, wenn es um angesagte Apps und Social-Media-Trends geht.
Are you wondering whether your child is ready for their own smartphone? Then you should think about these things:
Ergänzend dazu bietet unsere Checkliste „Wann ist mein Kind reif für ein Smartphone?“ eine ausführlichere Orientierung. Sie geht Schritt für Schritt durch wichtige Kompetenzen.
Gehen Sie die Checkliste allein oder gemeinsam mit Ihrem Kind durch. Je mehr Punkte Sie ankreuzen, desto eher ist Ihr Kind bereit für ein eigenes Smartphone. Sie kennen es jedoch am besten und können seine Medienerfahrung und sein Verantwortungsbewusstsein einschätzen. Für jüngere Kinder eignet sich erstmal ein Handy ohne Internetzugang. Früher oder später wird ein eigenes Smartphone für viele Kinder Teil des Alltags.
Access to the Internet holds a lot of potential for your child, but also risks:
Wie Sie Ihr Kind vor sexueller Gewalt im Internet schützen können, erfahren Sie in dieser Broschüre von klicksafe.
Wählen Sie das erste Smartphone sorgfältig aus und beziehen Sie Kosten, Ausstattungen mit ein. Ein gebrauchtes Handy kann eine gute Wahl sein. Nehmen Sie sich Zeit, das Smartphone in Ruhe einzurichten. Achten Sie auf Altersfreigaben von Apps und aktivieren Sie die Sicherheitseinstellungen am Gerät. Besprechen Sie zusammen, welche Apps Ihr Kind nutzen darf und welche erst einmal nicht. Zu Beginn reicht eventuell ein Prepaid-Vertrag und keine Flatrate. So lernt Ihr Kind, wie viel es das Handy eigentlich benutzt und wie es mit mobilen Daten und WLAN angemessen umgehen kann. Auch Einstellungen im Smartphone können ein Bewusstsein für die Bildschirmzeit schaffen. Weitere Tipps, wie Sie die Handynutzung Ihres Kindes sicherer gestalten können, finden Sie in unserem Beitrag dazu.
Accompany your child as they take their first steps with their smartphone. Always inform your child about possible risks. Even before deciding to get your own smartphone, talk to your child about it. It can also be helpful to consult with other parents. Because most of the time, they face the same questions.
Establish common rules for media use that all family members adhere to. Keep an eye on your child’s usage times and signs of digital stress.
Find out about child-friendly offers and apps, such as the fragFINN app. You can find pedagogical assessments for mobile games at Spieleratgeber NRW.
Versuchen Sie mit gutem Beispiel voranzugehen. Missbrauchen Sie nicht das Vertrauen Ihres Kindes, indem Sie das Handy heimlich kontrollieren – ein offenes Gespräch ist der bessere Weg. Wenn Sie unsicher sind oder ernste Probleme auftreten, wenden Sie sich an pädagogische Fachkräfte oder (Online-)Beratungsstellen.
Child-friendly information can help children get to grips with the topic. The “Genial digital” magazine from the Deutsches Kinderhilfswerk (DKHW) provides children aged 8 to 11 with information about the internet and their first smartphone in a fun way.
Weitere kompakte Hinweise finden Sie im Eltern-Check-In „Mein Kind bekommt sein erstes Smartphone – worauf sollte ich achten?“.
A smartphone offers many possibilities: chatting, playing games, watching videos. Using it needs to be learned. The decisive factor is not the age of your child, but what they can already do and understand. This checklist will help you to assess this more accurately. Your child does not have to fulfill all the points. The more that apply, the better prepared your child will be. The checklist serves as a guide and does not replace an individual decision.
… has gained initial experience in using a smartphone
… masters basic functions and settings
… has basic knowledge of costs and advertising
… consciously selects apps and content
… consciously handles personal data and privacy
… behaves respectfully online
… recognizes risks and can deal with them
… observes rules
… can assess their own usage behavior
Go through the points together with your child. This will help you recognize what is already working well and where your child still needs support. If many of the points apply, a smartphone of their own can be a sensible next step, with clear rules and support. If many points do not yet apply, your child should continue to practise these skills, for example on your smartphone first.
Even if your child is well prepared, support remains important:
Having your own smartphone is not a one-off step, but a learning process that you shape together.
The social media platform Instagram is very popular with children and young people. This raises the question of how young users can be well supported and protected on the social network. Instagram therefore offers various settings for young people to enable greater safety. We present the most important functions.
On social networks such as Instagram, young people can come across inappropriate content such as erotic images, dangerous challenges, disinformation, extremist content or advertising. Dealing with issues such as cyberbullying, problematic contacts or the unwanted dissemination of their own data and posts can be challenging. Because young people are often still learning how to deal with such risks, they need special protection. This is why platforms have been legally obliged to provide protective measures for minors as well as guidance and settings options for parents since the amendment of the Youth Protection Act.
For young people aged 13 to 17, a teen account is created by default when they register with Instagram. Such an account is characterized by the following points, among others:
About the parental supervision parents can link their children’s accounts with their own and monitor and restrict their use, e.g. set time limits or make security settings. Parents are informed about their children’s activities here – for example, how long they have been active on the network, what contacts have taken place or whether content has been reported or blocked. If you do not use parental control, If young people between the ages of 13 and 15 use Instagram without parental control, the strictest security settings automatically apply to their teen account. Young people aged 16 and over can relax the security settings of their teen account themselves without parental supervision.
The settings in the teen accounts relate exclusively to how the account itself is set up on the platform. In addition, there are general security measures that you should implement together with your child:
You can find a step-by-step guide to parental controls on Instagram at medien-kindersicher.de. Instagram offers a guide for parents with conversation starters and a glossary of important terms.
Safety settings, teen account and parental supervision create an important basis for more protection on Instagram. The following points are also important to help your child use Instagram safely:
Instagram offers families support with safe use. However, it remains crucial that you talk to your child regularly about safety, well-being and potential risks on social media and that you are available to answer questions and problems. This will help your child develop confidence and skills in dealing with media.
Instagram remains one of the most popular social media platforms, especially among young people. The app makes it possible to share photos and videos, create stories and interact with friends and influencers.
Instagram, or Insta for short, is one of the largest social networks alongside Facebook and TikTok. It offers users the opportunity to create their own profile and connect with each other.
Images and videos can be shared via the profile. Users can either publish content as permanent posts or post it as a story or live video. Stories and live streams disappear after 24 hours, but can be saved as a highlight. The photos and videos of subscribed channels and people are displayed in the feed.
Users can find a wide variety of content on Insta: Postings from stars, brands and challenges through to personal profiles of friends. They can respond with likes and comments, save content and chat with each other via direct messages (“DMs”). Profiles and posts can contain links that lead to other websites.
Users can create and edit their own posts with filters, emojis and fonts directly in the app. Content is sorted by topic using hashtags. Reels (short TikTok-style videos) can be accessed via the video icon.
At the end of 2023, Meta also launched the Threads social media app in Germany. This is linked to Instagram.
Since around 2025, Instagram has increasingly relied on AI services, offering image editing, for example, but also text creation for posts and hashtags via AI. Connecting with each other is also becoming even more possible via “friends tabs” and location functions.
Young people up to the age of 18 automatically have so-called teen accounts with additional protective functions such as restricted contact options and stricter content filters. The accounts are set to private by default and have an integrated time limit – after 60 minutes of use, young people are asked to exit the app. From the age of 16, young people can relax the restrictions themselves. The “Parental control” function allows parents to monitor and restrict their child’s use. Activation must be approved by the parent and the young person.
Data protection: Instagram should be treated with caution when it comes to data protection for several reasons.
Costs: Instagram is basically free of charge. However, many profiles advertise products that can be purchased with just a few clicks. Ads with corresponding links also frequently appear in the feeds and are difficult to distinguish from real content. Creators and influencers can also offer exclusive content that can be accessed via a paid subscription. Meta has also been offering a subscription model for Facebook and Instagram since 2024: For at least €5.99 per month, the provider promises not to show any personalized advertising. Of course, general advertising is still available – and Meta also continues to collect data.
Inappropriate content: Certain content can be problematic for young people, such as erotic images, dangerous challenges, disinformation or advertising. Influencer business models play a special role here, which young people do not always recognize. Content created using artificial intelligence in particular can contain very problematic content and is difficult for young people to distinguish from real content. This applies to deepnudes or deepfakes, for example, but also to political campaigns.
Communication risks: Functions such as chats and comments harbor communication risks such as being contacted by strangers, hate speech or cyberbullying.
Artificial intelligence: AI is also becoming an increasingly important topic in social networks. It plays a role in several areas:
Despite the official minimum age of 13, there is no effective age check. There are extensive usage and settings options for minors and their parents. You can read a short version of the terms of use at Handysektor and download a flyer with the most important safety information about Instagram for young people from klicksafe.
Parents can link their account with that of their child in the parental control. All setting options can be found on the medien-kindersicher.de website. You can find out how Instagram wants to make the app safer for young people directly on the Instagram website.
Consider together with your child at what age and according to what rules they are allowed to use Instagram. Check the app settings together so that your child can use Instagram as safely as possible. Not all photos must or may be shared with everyone or only with friends. In addition to your own boundaries, it is also important that your child knows and respects the copyrights and personal rights of others.
Talk to your child about communication risks. Show your child how they can block or report other users and explain to them when these functions are useful – for example, if someone insults your child in the comments. Your child should not accept requests from strangers and should use their own data, such as their location , sparingly.
Educate your child about risks such as harmful content, hate speech, disinformation and political opinion making. Also talk about critical behavior of influencers and stay in conversation with your child about one-sided role models and clichés. Stay interested and regularly ask who your child follows on Instagram and who follows them. It is important that your child knows that they can always talk to you if they have an unpleasant experience on the platform.
Children and young people are online every day – in class chats, playing games or on social media. They need guidance and support in their everyday lives so that they can navigate safely. Laws such as the General Data Protection Regulation or youth media protection regulations create important framework conditions. However, it is also crucial that children learn to use media safely and consciously. You will find many articles on our website to help you with this.
How much media time makes sense? What rules help in everyday life? And when does it make sense to have your own smartphone?
You can make clear agreements together and gradually give your child more responsibility. Your own behavior is also important here: Children are strongly influenced by how adults use media. Therefore, use media together as much as possible: watch content together, play games together or talk about it.
Personal data is quickly visible online. Many apps automatically collect information, even from children. This makes it all the more important to check the privacy settings together and handle data consciously. In the articles, you will find out which settings are important, where typical risks lie and how you can help your child to protect their data.
Children and young people can be confronted with stressful situations online, such as insults, false information or unwanted contact. The articles show how you can strengthen your child, recognize signals and react correctly in an emergency. Above all, it is important that your child knows that they can turn to you at any time.
Not all online content is suitable for children, especially on video platforms and social networks. Age ratings and technical protection measures can help, but are no substitute for guidance in everyday life. The articles will help you to better assess content and find a suitable approach together with your child.
A large proportion of media use takes place via messengers, social networks and online games. This can quickly lead to misunderstandings, conflicts or unpleasant situations. The articles show how communication works online and how you can help your child to act respectfully and safely.
AI chatbots, personalized content and new platform functions are now part of everyday life for many children and young people. The articles explain how AI works, where the opportunities lie and which risks you should keep an eye on.
This selection is an introduction. You can find many more articles on apps, games, social media and current trends on our website.
You may be familiar with this situation: your child has been playing Minecraft with friends and is suddenly talking about it all the time or asking for the game for their birthday. At the same time, you’re wondering whether it’s too early at the age of 6. This uncertainty is understandable. For many children, Minecraft is their first introduction to the world of digital games – but for parents, many questions arise at first.
Minecraft has a USK age rating from 6 years and is recommended by the NRW Game Guide from 6 years. It is a creative game in which children can build, try things out and implement their own ideas. It’s a great way for children to get to grips with digital worlds in a playful way. At the age of 6, it can be a good fit – the decisive factor here is your child’s individual level of development.
Minecraft has various spin-offs. These are games that are based on the Minecraft world but have a different gameplay. While the classic Minecraft as a sandbox game in a free game world is also suitable for children, Minecraft Dungeons (USK 12) and Minecraft Legends (USK 12) are aimed at teenagers with more action and strategy.
Minecraft itself offers various game modes with different focuses. One example: in survival mode, monsters appear in the dark to attack players and conquer their buildings. This can be exciting, but can also be scary for younger children. The creative mode is therefore recommended for beginners. There are unlimited building materials available and the focus is entirely on designing your own game world.
Appropriate technical protection settings are important for a safe gaming experience. Use the Minecraft settings options and adapt the game to your child’s needs and abilities. Depending on the mode, choose a difficulty level that your child can cope with and where no monsters appear in the game world. You can also activate parental controls via Microsoft Family. Functions such as in-game purchases and chats can be deactivated. You can find step-by-step instructions for Minecraft parental controls on the website medien-kindersicher.de.
Minecraft is available for mobile devices, PC and console. Some children get on well with a controller, others find it easier with a tablet. Think about which version is best for your child.
If you want to get to know Minecraft first, you don’t have to buy it straight away. Try the game out together with friends, talk to other parents or ask your local library about testing and borrowing options. A Let’s Play can also give you a first impression of how Minecraft works and what fascinates children about it.
Minecraft has many functions, settings and menus that younger children do not immediately understand. Accompany your child as they take their first steps and enjoy the fun together. This will allow you to observe how your child copes with the game and where you can provide support. Agree clear rules for gaming together and set fixed play times. This will give your child guidance and help them to use media consciously. You can find more tips on the topic of games in the family in our overview article.
Can’t find an answer to your question? Ask your personal questions about your child’s media use directly and conveniently using the messenger service via WhatsApp or Threema. You can find more information here.
A commercial before a video, a bonus for watching an ad in the middle of a game or an interruption while streaming: advertising is part of everyday life for children and young people today. It is omnipresent and often integrated in such a way that it is barely noticeable.
Advertising on the Internet has been around for a long time. What has changed significantly is how it is integrated today. It no longer just appears alongside content, but directly within it. Children encounter advertising on different platforms at the same time, for example when watching videos, in apps, in games or on streaming services. Many services are free or cheaper because they are financed by advertising. Others offer paid, ad-free versions.
Important: This is about advertising that is displayed directly by platforms, apps or games themselves, not about advertising by influencers where people present products.
Videos on the Internet without advertising have become rare. Commercials run before and during videos, often several in a row or without a skip function. On platforms such as YouTube, these ads can appear several times in succession. There are also overlays in the image and references to paid, ad-free subscriptions.
It is often not clear to children where the actual content begins and where advertising ends. Advertising is often designed in a similar way to videos themselves, fast, colorful and entertaining. Many ads are personalized. They are based on what content has been viewed so far or what users are interested in. The basis for this includes cookies and user profiles that evaluate behavior.
Although special rules apply to content aimed at children, advertising is still displayed. Specially adapted content can therefore be useful for younger children.
Streaming services are also increasingly relying on advertising and, in addition to traditional subscriptions without advertising, are increasingly offering cheaper models with commercial breaks. These appear before or during a movie or series and are reminiscent of television. Here too, advertising can be personalized and based on previous usage data.
Advertising is particularly present in games and free apps. Here, it is often directly linked to usage: Anyone who watches an advertising video receives rewards such as coins, additional lives or new functions. This changes perception. Advertising is not only viewed, but actively used to progress in the game.
In addition, banners, pop-ups or notices about purchases appear within the app. These are often directly linked to the course of the game and can lead to quick spending. Children also encounter advertising in the browser, i.e. on websites, for example in the form of banners, pop-ups or videos that start automatically. These can appear while surfing and are not always easy to close or skip.
Ads also regularly appear in feeds and story areas on platforms such as Instagram and TikTok. They often resemble normal posts, but come from accounts that you do not follow. They are often labeled with terms such as “Sponsored”, for example in the feed or between short videos. These notices are easy to miss, especially for children.
In addition, trends, hashtags and challenges are specifically used by companies to generate attention for products.
Children first have to learn to understand and categorize advertising. Digital advertising makes this even more difficult because it is adapted to media in terms of appearance and content, is very short and entertaining and is integrated directly into games, videos or feeds. There is often no clear distinction between content and advertising. Younger children in particular are therefore often unaware of advertising.
Advertising content is constantly present and often not clearly labeled. Content is interrupted or mixed with commercial elements. Reward systems can lead to children making targeted use of advertising without questioning its purpose. At the same time, direct links quickly lead to purchases within apps or games.
Then there is the use of data: many advertisements are based on information collected about the behavior of users. Not all content is age-appropriate, even if there are corresponding guidelines.
Accompany your child, especially during their first steps in digital media. Explain in concrete terms what advertising is, why it is displayed and how it can be recognized. Use examples from your child’s everyday life, for example when playing games or watching videos.
Talk about the fact that many offers have to earn money, either through advertising or subscriptions.
Check settings together and restrict personalized advertising (if possible), deactivate or protect in-app purchases and use age-appropriate profiles or offers. In most services, advertising cannot be switched off completely, often only individual preferences can be adjusted.
Technical measures can provide support, but are no substitute for guidance.
The colorful game app Toca Boca World is particularly popular with many younger children. They can design their own characters and use them to invent exciting and creative stories in Toca Boca World. The app invites them to decorate houses according to their own ideas, eat cake in the café, work in the hospital or post office and much more. There are no limits to the imagination.
Toca Boca World is all about creativity and free play. Imaginative locations such as cities, villages and beaches invite you to explore and play. There are no levels or time limits that have to be met.
After downloading the app, players can move freely in the world and design it according to their own ideas. They choose characters that they can customize according to their appearance and characteristics. They furnish and decorate houses and rooms according to their taste. Day or night, sun or rain, what music comes on the radio – everything can be customized.
Players can complete tasks at some locations, but there are usually no fixed instructions. Additional avatars, locations, activities and pets can be added via in-app purchases. A video recording function makes it possible to play out your own stories with the characters and record them using images and sound.
Children really enjoy creating their own worlds and inventing creative stories. It is particularly exciting for them to design the play figures entirely according to their own ideas. Not only can they choose from different hair and skin colors, they can also create characters in wheelchairs, with glasses or prostheses.
The different game environments and the opportunity to slip into different roles motivate children to keep playing and experience new adventures. There is almost no text in the colorful worlds, which makes the game playable even for children without reading skills.
The privacy policy of the Toca Boca app states that no third-party advertising is included. The app is free to download, but offers in-app purchases. Children can use these to unlock new characters, stations or gifts if a payment option is stored on the device.
The app stores user data such as gaming behavior and device information and evaluates it for marketing purposes. Third-party services are also used, for example Google. Parents’ data is collected when they make a purchase in the Toca Boca store, activate notifications or subscribe to the newsletter. Data deletion can be requested by sending an email to privacy@tocaboca.com.
The video recording function allows children to record images and sound of the game and save them on the device. If access to the microphone is permitted, the app will also use it. Access can be denied again in the app permissions of the end device.
Toca Boca is a Swedish game developer and is therefore bound by EU data protection laws. The provider advertises that children are involved in the development of the app. The app does not contain any content that is unsuitable for children. The game developers are thus responding to the demands of various children’s rights organizations to take children and their rights into account when developing products for children.
Toca Boca claims to want to live up to the PRIVO seal. This seal is awarded by an independent organization that is committed to protecting children’s data online. On the Toca Boca website, the provider provides a privacy policy for children in understandable language.
When using the Toca Boca World app, it makes sense to clarify a few rules and settings in order to make the game safe and meaningful for your child:
Accompanying the first steps of use: The app is particularly aimed at younger children. Accompany your child during the first steps of use. This will help you familiarize yourself with the functions and observe how your child reacts to the game app.
Set media rules and play times: Create rules for digital games together and include the use of the app in the family’s media rules. The app has no time limits and can be played indefinitely. Decide together how much time your child is allowed to spend with the app.
Deactivate functions in the settings: Functions such as the store and video recording can be deactivated in the app settings. This requires the entry of an (adult) date of birth.
Deactivate in-app purchases: Discuss the in-app purchases function with your child in advance. You can deactivate the function or make sure that no payment details are entered in order to avoid accidental purchases.
