Just as the Highway Code lays down rules for safe traffic, the Youth Protection Act ensures that children and young people are protected in the media world. Especially in a digitalized society, it is more important than ever to offer young people guidance and protection.
The Youth Protection Act(JuSchG) regulates, among other things, how media must be designed today so that children and young people are not exposed to any dangers when using it. The comprehensively modernized version, which has been in force since May 2021, focuses more strongly on digital services. While previous versions focused primarily on so-called carrier media such as video cassettes and DVDs, CR-ROMs or audio carriers, the updated law also takes into account the challenges of the internet. Media providers must comply with this, otherwise they face penalties. However, this is not so easy because it is a German law and the Internet knows no national borders. However, if the providers of certain services are based in Germany, they must follow these rules. The EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA), which has provided uniform rules for digital service providers across Europe since the beginning of 2024, brings additional pressure.
The Youth Protection Act stipulates the age at which young people may have access to certain media – films, programs and online content. In doing so, it draws on the age ratings of the self-regulatory bodies. Providers are obliged to make default settings that protect children and young people in particular from interaction risks such as bullying, sexualized speech(cybergrooming), hate speech, tracking and cost traps.
Many online services and apps therefore have integrated parental control settings, for example TikTok and Instagram. They carry out precise checks on how old users are or even use video procedures to prove their identity. Nevertheless, it is difficult to implement this rule: It is almost impossible to find out for sure whether the answer is really correct by simply asking the user’s age.
The law also provides for reliable, uniform age ratings for games and films that are used online. In addition, the classification is no longer based solely on content, but also on possible interaction risks such as cybergrooming and cost traps.
Previously, the familiar age ratings of the USK and FSK only applied to games and films that were available on so-called carrier media (such as CD-ROMs or video cassettes). Online providers did not have to provide any age information.
Children and young people should be able to easily seek help and complain if they feel threatened or harassed while using media.
The new Federal Agency for the Protection of Children and Young People in the Media is to ensure that these regulations are actually enforced. Organizations such as the Freiwillige Selbstkontrolle Multimedia-Diensteanbieter e.V. have online complaints offices to which young media users and adults can turn to report illegal content or content harmful to minors.
Since 2024, there have also been new regulations throughout Europe for offers that are particularly aimed at children and young people:
Platforms must explain their terms and conditions (terms and conditions of use) in such a way that young users can also understand them well.
The long, hard-to-read texts that are often carelessly clicked away when registering must therefore be replaced by new, comprehensible texts. This should enable children and young people to really understand what they are getting into when they sign up.
Privacy, security and protection of minors should be improved: Providers of apps or programs should take measures to protect their users as well as possible from dangers such as fraud, bullying or hate speech.
Unfortunately, the exact measures have not yet been defined and there are few exemplary solutions. However, the European Commission can issue guidelines to support providers in implementing the precautionary measures.
On platforms such as Tiktok or Instagram, young users create profiles that also contain private information. According to current regulations, however, children and young people may no longer be shown personalized advertising based on this information.
The platform operators must also conscientiously ask the age of the users for this – because children and young people are even less able to see through the fact that personalized advertising is being targeted at them, which is why they need even greater protection than adults.
The repeated revisions of the Youth Protection Act are important in order to adapt legal regulations to the media reality of children and young people. The law can be an important guide for you as parents and offers protection to a certain extent. At least if the providers comply with the obligations set out in the law. Unfortunately, it cannot be ensured that this is always the case. In addition, a frame does not fit each child individually. That is why you should accompany your child very closely in his or her media use, especially in the younger years. The older your child gets, the more freedom they need. Always stay in touch about his media use. This is the only way you can help if, despite protective measures, it has unpleasant experiences on the net or does not understand something.
The smell of cookies, shopping stress, shining children’s eyes: the holidays are approaching and digital devices and games are on the wish lists of many children and young people. What should parents consider before and after giving a gift? Between the years and during the vacations, there is also time for shared family media experiences. How can this be designed in a safe, age-appropriate and even creative way? In this article, we give you an overview of offers from the Elternguide.online partner network.
The Christmas vacations can be long, especially when the weather outside doesn’t really invite you to play. You probably have devices such as smartphones, tablets, cameras or a laptop lying around at home. How about you and your child simply getting started, taking photos or filming yourselves, trying out new creative apps and actively organizing media time? It’s great fun and your child will also learn something about media skills.
On the website kinder.jff.de there are suggestions for simple media projects that children aged 6 and over can do on their own or from the age of 3 with support from you as parents at home. This is helped by child-friendly video instructions in which the implementation of the media projects is shown step by step. How about a photo memory with Christmas tree decorations or an audio story about Christmas traditions?
For young photo fans between the ages of 8 and 12, the knipsclub offers a safe environment in which they can try out their skills in a closed and pedagogically supervised photo community and exchange photos with each other. On the website you will find creative photo tips, for example on painting with light. A real eye-catcher, especially on New Year’s Eve!
You are probably familiar with challenges from social media, e.g. dance challenges on TikTok. Children and young people love to take on challenges. Challenges don’t necessarily only have to take place on the Internet, you can also play them at home with your family! Why not try out the top photo challenge, the clip challenge or the re-enactment challenge? We have made a few suggestions in our parents’ guide article. You can find more Advent challenges on the website of the JFF project webhelm.de.
Children have many questions and learn early on that their questions will be answered on the Internet. How is Christmas celebrated in other countries? What craft tips and baking recipes are there for Christmas? The children’s search engine fragFINN offers children access to 3,500 verified websites, including around 400 children’s sites. Primary school children can gain their first Internet experience here in a protected surfing room and learn how to use search engines and search results. In the fragFINN Advent calendar, children can open a little door every day, behind which there are links to other children’s sites with a wide range of information and offers suitable for the winter season.
You can find more playful learning pages in this parents’ guide article.
Your child will probably also enjoy watching videos. If you are still looking for suitable films, series or YouTube clips, take a look at FLIMMO and have a look.
In addition to age information and educational recommendations for all formats from TV, streaming, YouTube, TikTok and Instagram, you will find winter movie tips from the Grüffelokind to the Grinch and the Polar Express under the special “Highlights in Advent”. A TV evening together can be a really nice family experience, especially when it’s as cold and dark outside as it is during the winter vacations. In this article, FLIMMO explains what you need to bear in mind when adding media to your wish list.
Parents must decide individually when their child is ready for their first smartphone, depending on their level of development and experience. After all, a smartphone theoretically opens up the whole world of the Internet to your child, with all its opportunities and risks. klicksafe offers extensive information for parents. Use the smartphone readiness checklist to see whether a smartphone is ready for the Christmas tree. Has the decision been positive? Then find out about technical setting options for Android and iOS and watch the instructions in the form of explanatory videos. You can find all information material from klicksafe in this topic special.
Would you like to prepare your child for the first smartphone under the Christmas tree? Child-friendly information on the first smartphone is available in the children’s magazine Genial Digital from the Deutsches Kinderhilfswerk. The fragFINN app gives your child a protected surfing space on their first smartphone and gives them access to quality, positive content.
Are you considering buying a smartwatch as an alternative? Then take a look at this topic from klicksafe. Please note: technical protective measures are no substitute for family discussions and media rules. Stay in contact with your child and accompany them as they take their first steps with a smartwatch or smartphone.
In addition to discussions and media rules, technical youth media protection is an important component of media education. Use the settings for screen time and Digital Wellbeing settings on smartphones to set time limits for the entire device or for different apps and to filter content. The youth protection program JusProg offers a precise filter option for websites and safe default settings for mobile devices and laptops. Google Family Links and YouTube Kids offer in the world of the internet giant Google offer the opportunity to make media experiences safer for your child. Social media apps such as Instagram and TikTok also offer safety features and options for parental guidance. Streaming with the family can be a fun activity during the vacations. Almost all streaming services have certified offers for the protection of minors. Use your own child profiles and the parental control function with the PIN. Many of the youth protection programs have been approved by the expert commission of the Voluntary Self-Regulation of Multimedia Service Providers (FSM). You can find out more about technical solutions for the protection of minors in the media on the FSM website.
Detailed instructions for all devices can be found on the website medien-kindersicher.de.
Which games should I give my child for Christmas? Are games okay for preschoolers? In the family section of the USK website and via the USK brochures, you will find all the information you need on the USK’s age ratings, the additional information and how to deal with the subject of games in the family.
The USK mark indicates the age at which a game does not cause any developmental impairments. The additional information such as “fantasy violence” or “pressure to act” gives parents a good indication of whether a game is suitable for their own child. Educational assessments of games can be found at the NRW games guide. Descriptions of popular games like Fortnite, Minecraft or Roblox are available on Elternguide.online. The USK lexicon explains the most important terms, devices and genres.
Would you like to make your child happy with a game for Christmas? Find out about the distribution channels for games and technical precautionary measures. Various settings for the protection of minors can be made on consoles as well as in game stores and the games themselves. Play together with your child and ask them interesting questions about their favorite games.
The team at Elternguide.online wishes you and your family a wonderful Christmas season and lots of fun using media safely and creatively!
Whether chatbots like My AI or digital assistants like Alexa – Artificial intelligence has long since found its way into everyday family life. This makes people curious and encourages them to try it out for themselves. In this article, we show you a few ways in which children and young people can use AI tools creatively.
AI picture generators allow your child to give free rein to their creativity and create exciting works of art. For example, they can create pictures in the style of different art movements such as Impressionism or Pop Art or be inspired by famous artists. Leonardo.AI offers one way of doing this. The tool is available as an app for Android and iOS or can be used directly in the internet browser. In the free version, 150 tokens (a type of digital currency) are available per day, which can be used to generate at least 10 images. Your child can also upload their own pictures and videos and edit them in the style of famous artists. However, please pay attention to your child’s data protection and privacy. Leonardo AI has a USK rating from the age of 12.
Further information: https://leonardo.ai/
From birthday songs to hip-hop songs – with the Suno tool, your child can generate a variety of songs from instruments and vocals. The program creates songs based on input from instructions (called prompts). For example: “Create a cheerful pop song about 4b’s hiking day in the city forest”. Up to ten songs can be generated every day, with each prompt your child receives two song suggestions. They can listen to these directly and download them if necessary. Your child can either write the lyrics themselves or have them generated automatically by the program. The resulting songs may be used for non-commercial purposes. Free registration is required for use, for example with a Google-account is required. According to the terms and conditions, the tool may be used from the age of 13, the USK age rating with regard to the protection of minors is “from 12 years”. Suno is available as an app for Android and iOS as well as a browser application.
Further information: https://suno.com/
It’s raining outside and all the activities at home seem to have been exhausted? How about a special coloring activity? With ChatGPT you can not only support schoolwork, but also create coloring pages according to your child’s wishes. To do this, your child enters the command for how the picture should look in the chat window and receives a generated picture from the chatbot. ChatGPT has a USK rating from the age of 0 and can be used from the age of 13 with the consent of a parent or guardian. We explain exactly how the tool works and what you should bear in mind in this article: https://www.elternguide.online/chatgpt/
With the low-threshold design program Canva, your child can get creative with a variety of AI tools and editing functions. The program can be used either via the website or via the Canva app for Android and iOS. It’s perfect for creating your own comics or photo stories. Here’s how it works:
Registration is required to work with Canva. According to the terms and conditions, the tool is only permitted for children up to the age of 13 with parental consent, the USK age rating is “0 years and older”. The tool is free of charge, additional content can be unlocked with a paid subscription.
Further information: https://canva.com
If your child wants to use creative AI tools, you as a parent should pay attention to the following points:
FSK, USK, PEGI, FSF and FSM – these are all abbreviations for institutions for the protection of minors in the media, so-called self-regulatory bodies. Parents come across their logos and age ratings everywhere: in app stores, on streaming services, on DVDs or in TV programs. We explain who or what exactly is behind them.
The Youth Protection Act and the Interstate Treaty on the Protection of Minors in the Media stipulate that media must not endanger the development of children and young people – for example through violence or other critical content. Age limits such as 0, 6, 12, 16 or 18 years help to classify content accordingly.
The audit is carried out by various self-regulatory bodies:
Tip: FSK ratings help to assess whether content is generally approved for young people. They are not a recommendation and do not help you decide whether your child can process the content emotionally. Platforms such as FLIMMO offer additional educational recommendations.
Tip: Platforms such as Spieleratgeber NRW rate apps not only according to age, but also according to their educational value.
Tip: Check age ratings and discuss with your child what content is appropriate.
The age ratings are a measure for the protection of minors. The aim is not to impair the development of children and young people, for example by depicting violence or sexual acts. The age ratings are binding. An 18+ game may not be sold to younger children and films that are rated 12+ may not be seen in cinemas by younger children without an accompanying adult.
Things are a little different within your own four walls: the state does not generally regulate what media content your child is allowed to watch at home. You may make media content accessible to your child that is not approved for their age. However, the duty to educate must not be violated in the process. You need to assess how your child handles certain content and whether he or she can process it. The age ratings provide a good orientation! FSK, USK and FSF ratings provide no information as to whether children already understand the content and whether it is recommended for a certain age from an educational point of view. However, the individual justifications of classified films, series and games can be read on the websites of the self-regulatory bodies. You should also take a look at educational recommendations, such as the NRW games guide and spielbar.de for games and the FLIMMO website for films, series and TV programs.
With their child’s first smartphone, parents are often looking for solutions to keep media use safe. Kidgonet is a parental control app that aims to impress with its ease of use and special focus on data protection. We took a closer look at the app.
When children get their first smartphone, parents often have a lot of questions: How much use is sensible? How can we set and monitor usage times together? How can I protect my child and at the same time support them in using their smartphone sensibly? Parental control apps or programs often come into play here. Offers such as Google Family Link, JusProg or Salfeld parental controls promise parents an overview and control over their child’s media usage times. Kidgonet also aims to make it easier for parents and children to start using media independently. The app is available as a subscription – families pay between €29.64 and €39.48 per year, depending on the duration of the contract. Parents can use the app to set and monitor their child’s device usage: Parents themselves register very easily in the Kidgonet parent portal and set how long their child is allowed to use media and set “media breaks”. In the parent portal, they can also see how much time their child has already used. The children have their own app on their smartphone, which uses a traffic light system to display their own time usage. The app can add up screen time from different devices so that the screen time can also be set for several devices.
The special feature: Kidgonet only transmits pure times to parents. It is not possible to see what content the child is using. And the provider itself also promises not to forward or store any data. All of this is intended to protect children’s data and privacy. And by encouraging parents to talk to their children about the content instead of simply deactivating apps.
In order to still offer content protection, Kidgonet claims to have integrated an age-appropriate filter. The criteria used for filtering are not described in detail. For children, on the other hand, the app has an emergency button and a direct link to youth counseling services. The service is suitable for children from primary school age.
As with all technical usage limits, it should always be clear when using Kidgonet that a mere time limit is no substitute for media education. Although the duration of media use can be controlled by the app, the content remains unaffected. Parents should not be lulled into a sense of security and should continue to pay attention to their child’s media use.
Even the integrated filter should not be seen as a substitute for your own caution when dealing with content. No filter is 100 percent safe. The ultimate responsibility for assessing content remains with the children or parents themselves.
It is also important that set times, media breaks etc. are well discussed with the children and, if possible, determined together. If children feel patronized here without being asked, the supposed protection can quickly backfire – for example, if the children find other ways to get media time. Be it with friends or via other devices.
In principle, the restriction of privacy must always be treated sensitively.
Kidgonet sees itself as support in limiting usage times. The app should therefore not be seen as a substitute for media education and communication about content. The creators emphasize in their “Parents’ Guide”: ” Parents’ role model function, shared media use and the involvement of children in decision-making are key elements in creating a healthy digital environment.”
Kidgonet is purely a time limiter – and not an educational aid in terms of content. The app can be used to set and limit media times. Of course, such media times work best if they are discussed together in the family and, if necessary, negotiated by means of a compromise so that the children also agree to their time budget.
It is at least as important to accompany your child in terms of content when using media. Regardless of how long or short your child uses their smartphone or tablet, keep talking about which programs and content they use, what questions or problems they have and how they are doing. This is the only way your child can learn to assess offers, make sensible choices and deal well with difficulties. This media education cannot replace technical limitations.
Regularly adapt the settings and arrangements to the age and needs of your child. As your child becomes more independent, the restrictions should be relaxed.
The preparations for the holidays are drawing ever closer, and smartphones, digital devices and games are on the wish lists of many children and young people. What should parents consider before and after giving a gift? We explain how you can use technical solutions to protect your child from negative online experiences and how you can use parental control programs, apps for child protection or settings options for services and platforms to support their media education.
Between the years and during the vacations, there is also time for shared family media experiences. We have recommendations and tips on how you can organize safe, age-appropriate and even creative media time for children and young people.
Be there live and ask your questions to our experts – we will give answers and be available for exchange! The event will be held in German.
Date: 12.12.2024 | Time: 5 to 6 pm
Speakers: Maria Wiesner (fragFINN), Lidia de Reese and Jo Schuler (FSM)
Platform: The virtual parents’ evening is realized via the tool “Zoom”.
Privacy Notice: Zoom is a service of Zoom Video Communications Inc. which is based in the USA. We use Zoom via the German operator easymeet24. easymeet24 ‘s server is located in Europe. Furthermore, we have selected the configurations with the highest data and security protection within the Zoom service.
Please also take note of our privacy policy.
Registration:
“Mom, can I watch a video?” or “I want to play on the tablet, Dad!” – media is fascinating even for young children and has long been part of their everyday lives. But how much media use is appropriate in the first few years of life? How can parents introduce their children to media in an age-appropriate way and show them how to use it consciously?
Babies and toddlers are primarily concerned with discovering their environment with all their senses. Developmental steps such as eating, walking and speaking are the main focus. Their interest in media such as smartphones or tablets usually only grows through their parents’ example. Children learn by imitation, so it is important that parents are aware of their role as role models. Targeted, active media use, such as looking at a picture book together or a video call with grandparents, can be valuable and should be accompanied.
Simple offers are ideal in the first year of life. Music, radio plays or children’s radio, for example, can have a calming effect and offer a playful introduction to the world of media. Picture books and audio boxes promote understanding and are designed to be age-appropriate. However, rapidly changing images and sounds can overstrain a child’s brain, so it is advisable to be sensitive when dealing with moving images. Children are not able to understand filmed stories until they are about three years old. However, your child may already be watching series on the tablet together with older children. Accompany your child and pay attention to how your child reacts to content and intervene if necessary.
From around the age of three, children begin to understand simple stories better. Many children enjoy content with familiar favorite characters such as Peppa Wutz or Fireman Sam. Child-friendly apps and games that support creativity and initial learning are a good way for children to become active with media themselves. Parents should also be there to answer questions or provide support in case of uncertainty. If you and your child are already familiar with certain content, they can listen to an audio story on their own and watch an episode of their favorite series without you sitting next to them.
Media offer access to exciting stories and exciting worlds that appeal to children’s need for exploration and imagination. They support learning and interaction with others. Especially at kindergarten age, the shared experience provides support and creates topics of conversation with peers.
Children learn by observing and imitating what their caregivers do. Parents are also the most important role models when it comes to media use. What media children come into contact with and how present media are in their everyday lives ultimately depends on their environment and therefore, crucially, on their family. Put the smartphone aside when playing with your child. Enjoy time with your child and take time outs from the screen. Model a conscious and reflective approach to media.
And remember: children also have personal rights. Ask your child, if they are old enough, whether they agree to you sending photos of them via Messenger and, if possible, do not post any photos of children online.
Whether it’s a vacation by the sea, a birthday party with friends or cocoa in the morning – taking selfies and uploading them to Instagram, WhatsApp or Snapchat is a matter of course for many of us. Children and young people also want to share pictures of themselves and their experiences with others – and preferably in the best possible light. In the past, only professionals could edit photos to make a face look “perfect”. Today, this is very easy with apps and their image editing options, such as face filters.
On Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat users can take photos directly in the app and select a filter beforehand. Filters are placed virtually over the photo or video taken. This makes it quick and easy to integrate funny elements such as elf ears, beards or butterflies into the photo or video. In addition to fun filters, so-called gender swap filters and beauty filters are very popular.
Gender swap filters make it possible to convert female into male and male into female. Beauty filters, such as the YouCam Makeup app, change the person’s face and adapt it to certain specifications. Features such as skin texture, hair and eye color or facial features can be changed. AI-supported image generators that reshape people in the style of famous paintings, for example, are also popular.
The choice of filters is unlimited and is constantly growing. Children and young people find it funny and entertaining. They can also use filters to slip into other roles and try their hand. Sometimes filters even provide more anonymity, since the face is not always recognizable.
Beauty filters are used to quickly “prettify” your own face and adapt it to a certain ideal of beauty. Some young people feel more comfortable with filtered selfies than presenting their true selves in public.
With apps like Spark AR Studio, you can design your own filters and use them on Instagram. Young people can thus imitate the filters of their role models. There are even small trends and challenges developing with face filters, such as the Yearbook Challenge with retro filters. Challenges with family and friends like the #funnyfilterchallenge on TikTok are especially fun.
Big eyes, narrow nose, pouty mouth and perfect complexion – face filters can convey a very one-sided image of beauty and gender images. If young people often see such pictures of their idols on social media, this can give the impression that their own bodies are not normal and beautiful and that they must look just as perfect. As a result, they resort to filters that distort their own ego.
As young people’s self-confidence is not yet firmly established, they compare themselves strongly with other people and with widespread ideals of beauty. They may not like pictures of themselves without filters or how they really look. Yet at least some people meet the usual expectations of beauty. Gender-swap filters can convey a false gender image. They are mostly stereotypical and only differentiate between male and female. Some of them are also associated with costs or collect or store personal data.
A counter-movement in social media is called “body positivity” or #nofilter or#nofilterneeded. Images posted under these hashtags aim to show real people without using filters. However, there is no guarantee that the photos are filter-free.
Understand your child’s enthusiasm for Face Filter when it’s all about fun and creativity. Have them show you what filters your child is using. Talk to him about filters that are supposed to make you more beautiful and what is really behind them. Make it clear that filtered images have little to do with reality and encourage them to do without filters from time to time. You can also show your child in the app settings of social media platforms how to “Like” posts on e.g. Instagram can hide. This can reduce the pressure to get as many likes as possible. Browse the web together for photos tagged with the hashtags #nofilter or #facepositivity . Talk about your own self-image and encourage your child to accept themselves and see themselves as beautiful.
They are among the most popular online formats for children and young people: Challenges. In the #FortniteDanceChallenge, for example, people film themselves performing the dances of the characters from the game Fortnite game. Or in the #PutYourFingerDownChallenge , they sing along to excerpts of ten songs and lower a finger for every song they know.
Challenges are available on almost all social media platforms. They are particularly popular with TikTok. Challenges can be fun and get attention for a specific cause. However, it can sometimes be dangerous when younger people in particular try to imitate certain challenges.
This internet phenomenon probably became known through the Ice Bucket Challenge, in which participants poured a bucket of ice water over their heads to raise awareness of ALS. The trend served a charitable purpose. Other challenges also have a positive intention. In the #ChalkYourWalkChallenge, people paint colorful sidewalks to leave a friendly message for others and thus promote a sense of community.
Some challenges are purely for entertainment, such as imitating dances and songs. In the #BoredInTheHouseChallenge, participants film themselves or their pets doing (humorous) activities. The clips are accompanied by the corresponding song. People take on various skill or fitness challenges, record the whole thing on video and then upload it to social networks. The #PlankChallenge is about increasing the number of push-ups you do every day.
Challenges are often provided with specific hashtags. The idea behind this is to post your own interpretation of the challenge and also publish the video under the hashtag. These videos go viral within hours and are shared and imitated by users all over the world. Companies also use hashtags to raise their profile among young people.
Adolescents find it exciting to compete with others and imitate things. This does not have to happen in a video, but can also be in everyday life, at home or at school. They sing together in the schoolyard or try to imitate a dance challenge.
Certain challenges can give young users a strong sense of community and belonging. Through likes and comments, they give each other feedback and make contact with each other. Recognition and thrills are also reasons for young people to take part in challenges.
Challenges are an integral part of many social media communities and are also taken part in by influencers. This encourages their young followers to join in and follow the trend.
Not every challenge is harmless. There are also dangerous and risky challenges. If young people are encouraged to imitate, but are not aware of the danger, this becomes a problem. Some challenges call for tests of courage. Others encourage them to eat things that are not meant to be eaten. Or the aim is to lose weight and be as thin as possible.
Behind some dangerous challenges are so-called hoaxes. These are made up stories that are spread as a challenge. Children and young people are encouraged to engage in risky activities because something bad will supposedly happen otherwise. In the end, the hoax challenges themselves are dangerous. Read more about this in our article on chain letters.
Networking with like-minded people, proving something to themselves or getting attention are reasons why young people get involved in dangerous challenges.
To counteract dangerous challenges, TikTok deletes clips with dangerous content or blocks certain search terms. However, videos are often tagged with modified terms such as challenge instead of challenge or underscores are added to avoid blocking.
Some challenge content is harmful to minors, for example when it involves pain, disgust or horror. Social media providers occasionally delete dangerous content, but that doesn’t stop other risky challenges from trending. On YouTube and TikTok it is forbidden to post such challenges. On TikTok, users receive an immediate warning when supposedly risky challenge videos appear in their feed. There are also educational videos about it.
Keep an open mind about fun, harmless, or even helpful challenges. You may also want to take on such challenges together with the whole family.
Chatting via messenger, playing computer games together or taking part in social media trends – media enable us to be in contact with others.
Children and young people face many challenges when communicating online.
On Elternguide.online, we explain how you and your family can deal safely and competently with communication risks online.
When we write messages via Messenger, we don’t just use letters, we also like to use emojis. However, care should be taken to avoid misunderstandings. Chatting, posting and gaming is fun.
However, being constantly available can overwhelm children and young people, lead to digital stress and the fear of missing out(FOMO).
Be aware of your role model function and, if necessary, make technical adjustments together to regulate media use.
Whether through online gaming, video chats or social media – it’s easy to meet new people on the internet.
Contact with strangers can be risky because we don’t know the person’s intentions and don’t know who is actually communicating with us. Is it really the same age gamer friend? When perpetrators write to children or young people to initiate sexual contact, this is known as cybergrooming.
If supposedly private images such as nude photos are used to blackmail someone, this is called sextortion.
Both are serious risks that you can minimize if you accompany your child online and inform them about the risks in an age-appropriate manner.
You can find out how to protect your child from sexual violence online here.
Sometimes communication with friends and acquaintances can also become problematic. Among young people, there is a risk of cyberbullying, for example, via chat groups. It is helpful if rules are agreed on how to deal with messenger chats. Discuss this with other parents and your child’s teachers.
Talk to your child about how they should deal with insults and nasty comments and make them aware of reporting points.
The internet is not always a friendly place.
Trolls and haters launch attacks under the guise of anonymity and deliberately provoke people in comment columns.
Online hate speech can spoil the fun of posting videos and photos online. Thinking carefully about what you post or share is the first step to a safe browsing experience. Forming their own opinion is one of the developmental tasks of children and young people.
During the orientation phase, they can be susceptible to simple answers and radical positions from extremists. Whether in forums, chats or online games – children and young people can come across extreme opinions and conspiracy myths anywhere online.
Make it clear to your child why they should not trust all content online.
Show your child how they can check information and familiarize them with the various reporting points on the internet.
Many gamers play games together, even if they are sitting in different places.
When gaming, communication takes place via a headset or the chat function within a game.
It is not always clear who is talking to you on the other end.
If possible, players should block other people’s contacts.
Gamers sometimes use harsh language, known as trash talk.
If insults and conflicts escalate, this can lead to hatred among gamers.
Keep in touch with your child about their favorite games and use technical youth media protection solutions. You can find out more about communication risks and how you can deal with them in these articles:
“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.
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.).
Artificial intelligence is a thing of the future? Not at all! AI has long been part of our everyday family life. From facial recognition in smartphones and ‘intelligent’ toys in the children’s room to making work easier at school or at work. What does this mean for us parents and how should we deal with it?
AI, or artificial intelligence, is increasingly finding its way into our lives. By this term, we mean computer systems that are trained to behave like intelligent beings. For example, they can solve tasks, answer questions, recognize faces – and they can learn from their own mistakes. And with all this, they no longer seem like technical devices to us as users, but almost like a “real” counterpart. In everyday life, we therefore come into contact with AI tools more often than we think.
Sometimes we use the offers quite consciously – sometimes there is AI in them where we might not have expected it. Because intelligent systems really are already everywhere:
All these applications are now quite sophisticated and are convenient and helpful in many situations. No wonder we are happy to use them in everyday family life.
Nevertheless, it is important that we are aware of what is behind the smart devices and also keep an eye on the stumbling blocks and challenges in their use. These are, for example:
This poses a particular challenge for parents: we use AI tools ourselves in everyday life and want to make our children fit to deal with the latest media offerings – and at the same time protect them from the dangers. First of all, it is important to stay informed and keep in touch. Make use of information services and parents’ evenings, educate yourself and question your own use. Together with your child, think about which AI tools you would like to use in everyday family life, where AI is useful to you and where it should be used with caution. Establish rules together – especially on the subject of data protection – and decide what is used and how.
This also includes setting devices safely and, for example, consciously controlling the data usage of apps. Services such as the website medien-kindersicher.
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.
You are sitting with your children having dinner together and talking, when suddenly your cell phone rings. How do you behave? Do you let family time get in the way?
Such situations probably exist in every family. Actually, it was agreed that the smartphone has no place during the meal. But if it rings mom’s bell, she may think it’s important and answer it anyway. But the rules should apply to everyone, right?
Be aware that parents and other adults have an important guidance function for children. Children learn from you how the world works and how to behave in certain situations. Your behavior therefore has a major impact on how your child uses media themselves. By setting an example of what a conscious approach to media can look like, you support your child in learning to use the smartphone and other media independently, sensibly and responsibly.
As young people get older, they also orient themselves more and more to their peers in their media use, and your influence as parents diminishes.
Perhaps your family also sometimes gets into arguments about media use, for example, when your child reaches for the smartphone out of boredom. They think it would be better if they read a book or played with friends instead. Just think about what you do yourself in your free time. Do you watch series in the media library or sometimes just play games on your cell phone? It’s not just about what media you use, but how often, in what situations, and what content.
You might consider what that looks like for each family member. How much time does each person spend with media and with other things? Is the ratio is okay for you. Agree with your family on rules about media time and cell phone-free times. For this purpose, you can, for example, jointly create a media usage agreement. Or use an app that lets you keep track of time on your screen. Often there is also the option to track screen time or set up limits in the mobile settings.
It is advisable to consciously incorporate screen-free times and activities into everyday family life in order to be able to process the media content and to allow the body to exercise.
Always keep in touch with each other – even when it comes to media. By taking an interest in your child’s media consumption, you build trust. Then your child will also take you seriously when you express concerns about certain apps or platforms, or come to you when they encounter unpleasant things about their media use. Younger children in particular should not be left alone with media. Talk about what they saw.
Also reflect on your own behavior on social networks and follow the advice you give your child – such as not posting photos without the consent of the people in them.
Everyday life is often stressful and it is sometimes difficult to keep agreements. One is exposed to the pressure to be constantly available. Talk about this with your child as well. Be honest with yourself and show understanding for your child. It can also be helpful to look together at which agreements are going well and which are going less well!
