Having their own tablet can be exciting for children: playing games, reading books, getting creative or using educational apps. However, many parents ask themselves: when is it worth giving them their own device – and when is the family tablet enough?
A shared tablet makes sense in the early years. Your child can try out content while you accompany, explain and restrict what they see and do. One family device is often enough to gain initial experience with apps, videos or games and to reflect on media use together.
It makes sense for your child to have their own tablet if they want to use media independently on a regular basis, pursue their own interests or use learning apps that require personal accounts. For children from around 6 to 7 years of age, having their own device can be useful if you clearly regulate and supervise their use.
The decisive factor is not the age, but the maturity of your child: Can they follow the rules? Do they know how to surf the net safely? Can they
A tablet for children should be robust, intuitive to use and not too expensive. Simple devices with a sturdy casing and a child-friendly interface are good entry-level options. Check whether educational apps, audio books or creative tools are useful and whether in-app purchases and advertising can be deactivated.
Whether it’s a family or personal device: define usage times, content and rules together. Parental controls, family accounts and parental control apps help to control media use. Reflect together:
Having your own tablet can promote digital independence if you accompany them: Explain functions, try out educational apps together and talk critically about advertising, algorithms and content. In this way, your child learns to use media consciously and reflectively.
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.
The first Esports World Cup (EWC) took place in 2024. The event was watched by over 500 million viewers. Divided into 22 tournaments, the prize money totaled USD 60 million (= approx. €51.46 million). The games played included
The E in e-sport stands for “electronic”. The term therefore means something like “electronic sport”. The game is played on the computer or on a game console, either alone or in teams against each other. Players receive important league points or move up a rank. Real-time strategy games and first-person shooters are the most popular due to their complexity and entertainment value. This is because e-sports tournaments are played in front of a live audience – similar to a soccer match in a stadium. However, compared to traditional sports such as soccer or tennis, e-sports do not involve a great deal of physical exertion. It is primarily mental and motor skills that are trained and developed. These include, for example, tactics, fast reaction times, stamina and forward thinking. Organizational talent and social skills are also in demand: training times have to be arranged, agreements made within the team and often the athletes have to make their own financial arrangements.
Long before e-sports became an issue in Germany, e-athletes were already being celebrated like pop stars in Asia. In some countries, e-sports is even classified as a sport in its own right. E-sports will also be considered a non-profit sport in Germany from 01.01.2026. This brings financial and legal benefits and security for the sport and gamers. For example, clubs will be supported by public funding, e-sports will receive broader social recognition and become more competitive. Children and young people benefit from the recognition of e-sports as a non-profit activity in that they experience participation and community through broader, more accessible and more sustainable offers in the club. As e-sports mainly take place online, barriers such as location dependency or lack of accessibility can be overcome more easily. This makes it possible to play in a team with gamers from other countries or to play in an inclusive group.
The new amendment to the law now officially defines e-sports as a term. As with other sports, it emphasizes the importance of tactical, motor and strategic skills. If you are active as an e-athlete and play well, you can even make a lucrative business out of it. The dream of many e-athletes is to become better and better and more famous so that one day they can earn a living from it and turn their hobby into a career. There are also clubs where players can sign contracts.
If your child is an e-sports player or would like to become one, find out about the USK age ratings for the respective games. They provide information on whether the game is safe from the point of view of the protection of minors, i.e. whether it does not contain any harmful content for the respective age. E-sports can quickly tempt you to play for a very long time and spend money on equipment. You should therefore define clear rules together with your child, such as playing times and duration, and also make framework conditions, such as financial ones, clear. Also find out who your child communicates with about the game – they are usually the same friends your child spends time with. Also observe your child’s gaming behavior so that you can react if other activities such as spending time with friends outside of gaming or school are neglected. Have a conversation with your child and talk about why they would like to become an e-athlete. Show interest, let them show you their favorite games and why not try them out for yourself! This way you can experience for yourself why your child enjoys the game so much as a competition. And perhaps you and your child will soon be playing together.
It can happen that children or young people come across content online that depicts violence. When scrolling through social media, on video platforms or when such videos are shared in group chats in Messenger. This may involve fights, abuse, accidents or drastic images from war zones. Such content can frighten and disturb children or young people. It also violates the right to one’s own image of the person concerned and may even be punishable by law.
Under no circumstances should such content be redistributed. This prevents even more people from seeing the content. If the content is illegal, publishing and redistributing it can even have criminal consequences.
We can also encourage young people to do even more by not ignoring such content, but actively reporting it. Look together to see where the report function can be found on the platforms used, such as Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok or YouTube. According to the terms of use, violent and cruel content is not permitted and should be deleted. Messages or people can also be reported on WhatsApp.
The online advice platform for young people Juuuport even offers a separate reporting option for young people, e.g. for violent videos, extremism or hate speech. The internet complaints offices FSM, eco and jugendschutz.net then take care of these complaints.
Violence also plays a role in fictional media content, such as films, series or games. Content that is easy for older children, teenagers and adults to process can frighten young children. This is why there are age restrictions for depictions of violence in the media, which are regulated by the protection of minors in the media. The age labels of films or computer games show you as parents from what age the content shown is suitable.
However, children and young people can also come across real depictions of violence online. An experience report from Juuuport clearly shows how differently young people deal with violent videos online and can make it easier for you to start the conversation.
Talk to your child about possible negative experiences online. Show them the reporting and blocking functions on the relevant platforms and discuss how algorithms select content. Also explain how to ‘maintain’ or reset this content to keep your child’s online experience safer and healthier. Talk about what it means when photos or videos have a ‘sensitive content warning’ and what your child should do if this happens. Also find out about the legal regulations for the protection of minors in the media and about technical protection options via apps and settings for your child on devices or in individual services.
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.
Roblox is a very popular game among children and young people. Here you can create virtual worlds in Lego style, a mixture of game world and social network. At the beginning of 2025, Roblox received the new age rating of 16+ – we take a look at what this means for young people and you as parents.
Roblox combines gaming, social media and creative design on one platform. For example, chat functions are also included, players can develop their own games and even earn money with them. In January 2025, the Entertainment Software Self-Regulation Body (USK) raised the age rating for Roblox from 12 to 16. The reasons for the increase are violent content, increased purchase incentives and a range of offers for different age groups. The USK also points out online risks, e.g. chats and in-game purchases with random content, so-called loot boxes. With these gambling-like mechanisms, it is particularly difficult for younger people to keep track of their spending. If accounts are not adequately secured, children and young people can come into contact with problematic behavior such as cybergrooming or cyberbullying.
In addition, the security measures intended to protect younger players are not sufficient: there are no age labels in accordance with German youth protection standards and children’s accounts are not secure enough. The new age rating “from 16 years” should also provide parents with better guidance.
What does this mean for you and other families? First of all, if your child (under the age of 16) already has a Roblox account, you are not obliged to delete the account due to the age rating upgrade. However, the reasons for raising the age rating clearly show that the platform harbors risks for children that need to be taken seriously. Based on this, you as parents must ultimately decide whether the platform is still suitable for your child.
You don’t want to ban use completely? Make sure you check the account restrictions together and adjust them if necessary. In any case, create a parent account and link it to your child’s account. Talk to your child about the age upgrade and why the approval has been adjusted. Think about how future use can be made safer – for example, only when accompanied by you or older siblings.
If you decide that your child should delete an existing Roblox account, talk about it together and explain your reasons. Show understanding for the fact that this decision may make your child sad or angry. Think together about what alternative, age-appropriate games your child might enjoy. You can find recommendations, for example, at the NRW games guide.
If you are already using a parental control program, depending on the age setting, games with a 16+ rating may be automatically blocked. You can read more about games here.
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.
“I’ll stop right now – really!” Do you know this phrase from your child? Then they must be a big fan of games. Whether on a smartphone, tablet, PC or console, digital games are a popular leisure activity for many children and young people. They enjoy using and developing their gaming skills. At the same time, gaming at home can also lead to conflicts, for example when it comes to the choice of games or media time. We have summarized the most important recommendations for a good approach to games in the family for you.
Immerse yourself in game worlds, simply switch off, learn something new or compete with others – what fascinates your child about gaming? Let your child show you how a game works and what they experience in it. You won’t always be able to share their fascination. Nevertheless, take your child’s enthusiasm seriously. Watch your child play and ask about it. This allows you to recognize whether they can distinguish between reality and fiction, whether they understand the content presented and what challenges they are confronted with. Play together sometimes too!
Not every game that your child knows from friends or that is advertised by streamers is suitable for them. Aspects such as content risks, online interactions and incentives to buy pose particular challenges when it comes to gaming. Therefore, pay attention to the USK age ratings and only allow your child access to games that are appropriate for their age. . Make security settings on devices, in accounts and in the games themselves. An overview of the youth protection settings of various platforms can be found in the NRW player guide and the information service medien-kindersicher.de.
Age labels are not educational recommendations: Therefore, always check suitability based on both the release and your child’s individual stage of development. Educational age recommendations help you to select suitable content. In this article, we present suitable online platforms for educational game ratings. Test out the games and form an opinion on which games are age-appropriate and suitable for your child. If siblings of different ages play together, base your choice on the younger child.
Set media rules together that all family members adhere to. Decide together with your child when they are allowed to play games or agree how much time your child can spend playing games each week. The duration of the game should be based on your assessment and your experience with your child. What doesn’t work at all in gambling is to stop at a certain point. It is better if you agree to stop at the end of a level. All rules should be easy for your child to understand. Keep talking about the media rules and adapt them to your child’s stage of development. Does your child sometimes play games with friends? Then talk to the other parents and come to an agreement about which games can be played there and for how long. You can find more information and tips on game rules on the USK website.
Online games are fun, promote team spirit and communication. However, games and platforms such as Steam, Twitch or Discord also harbor risks such as insults, disinformation and ideological influence. Talk to your child about respectful communication, how to use gaming language and how to check information critically. Explain to your child what data they should protect, how they should deal with strangers and what risks they may encounter online – such as cybergrooming. Encourage them to block annoying accounts and use moderated chats where possible. Use parental control and privacy settings to limit communication to known contacts if necessary. Have regular conversations and pay attention to USK notices such as “contact risks” or “increased communication risks”. Be there for your child as a contact person so that they can get in touch with you at any time if they are unsure.
Don’t forbid your child to play because he or she has messed up, and don’t use play as a reward. Because that only gives it a higher status. Keep an eye on your child’s screen time and intervene if it gets too much. Every child needs times when they can move around and experience things independently of the screen. Support your child in pursuing leisure activities such as sports or music, meeting friends offline and doing things with you and the family.
Does this sound familiar to you? You’ve done a lot of reading, had lengthy discussions, installed elaborate parental control programs on your children’s devices – only to find that YouTube is still on all night long. This is because the tricks for circumventing FamilyLink and the like sometimes spread faster than head lice in the school playground and online. And leave us parents rather perplexed.
FamilyLink or Apple parental controls, JusProg or Kidgonet – when children start to use media independently, parents often worry a lot about usage times and safety. The solution is often technical restrictions such as parental control apps that set time limits or filter content. However, after a while it often turns out that although the apps and settings allow you as parents to sleep peacefully, they are hardly an obstacle for your child to surf as they please. They reinstall apps or open a browser that cannot be recognized, click on links and detours to YouTube or simply change the time or time zone on the device. Some children even install VPN services, use camouflage apps or create guest accounts on their devices to hide themselves from the unpopular parental control settings.
This raises many questions for parents. How good are child protection programs really? How can rules be enforced? And above all: how can children be well protected when using media if the apps can be bypassed?
For children, bypassing the parental control settings is of course a challenge and almost a sport. Anyone who has been annoyed a few times that screen time has ended at the worst possible moment may be looking for ideas to trick them. And children and young people are quick to find them. The internet, especially YouTube, is full of ideas and instructions on how to circumvent and trick the limits, locks and settings.
Many of these “detours” can be prevented by you as parents by making the settings of the parental control programs more rigorous or by allowing less creative freedom on the child’s device. For example, you can assign admin rights so that your child cannot download or install anything without your consent. You can assign parental PINs to many devices and accounts so that only you can change the settings. There are now also tested and very secure parental control settings for games consoles, which you can use to set the usage rights and times so that there is little scope for ‘detours’. For example, the USK has tested the parental control programs for the Xbox and Switch and found them to be suitable and safe.
Not only games, apps and devices can be secured, you can also set up your router to be childproof – and much more. You can find step-by-step instructions at medien-kindersicher.de.
But of course, youth protection should not be a race for technical possibilities. It is better to take a two-pronged approach to media education. Youth media protection solutions are still a useful tool for protecting children from difficult or dangerous content. However, families should never rely solely on technical filters. And not just because no filter can guarantee one hundred percent protection. Children grow into media worlds and they not only need to be protected from excessive demands at a young age, but above all they need to learn how to use them well and competently.
It is therefore much more important to accompany children in their media use than to install restrictions:
If your child uses media in a reflective, competent manner and with trustworthy parents at their side, the question of whether app restrictions need to be circumvented secretly may even be a thing of the past. You can find more tips for everyday family life with parental control apps in this article.
Many parents ask themselves this question at the beginning of the vacation weeks. The answer is not so easy to give. There is no one-size-fits-all answer. Appropriate screen time depends on your child’s age, stage of development and needs – so it’s an individual decision. Talking to other parents can help, but no two children and families are the same and media rules can vary accordingly.
Set rules for screen and media time depending on what media your child uses and how well they can handle it.
Shared media use and conversations about the experiences will help you to assess this well. The form of use should also play a role: So how does your child spend their time? Are they finding out about a topic that is currently of particular interest to them? Are they playing games, watching series or endlessly scrolling through social media feeds? Are they alone?
Media offer us the opportunity to inform ourselves, to be inspired, to interact with others, to distract ourselves from our hectic everyday lives – but they can also stress us out or even burden us. Especially during the vacations, it can be good to take a break from the often packed and tightly structured daily routine of school, sports clubs or music lessons. Using media can help your child relax and stay in touch with friends. However, a balance is important, such as playing indoors and outdoors, sports, arts and crafts or spending time with friends and family.
Media rules are more likely to be accepted if they are made together with your child. Talk together about what media and content your child uses, when, how and why. Also think about your own media use, as parents act as role models. Establish common media rules for the whole family. Deviations during the vacations or at weekends are okay! Rules must fit your child’s development and needs as well as your everyday family life so that they can be adhered to.
You can find out more about media rules and screen time in these Elternguide.online articles and videos:
https://www.elternguide.online/regeln-fuer-die-mediennutzung-in-der-familie/
https://www.elternguide.online/medienregeln-fuer-schulkinder/
https://www.elternguide.online/der-staendige-streit-um-medienzeiten-ab-wann-ist-es-zu-viel/
https://www.elternguide.online/wann-ist-viel-zu-viel-zwischen-sucht-und-extremer-mediennutzung/
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.
Chatting via Messenger, playing 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 paedophile criminals 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.
Sometimes communication with friends and acquaintances can also become problematic. Among young people, there is a risk of cyberbullying, for example, via chat groups. Sexting, the sending of revealing messages and images, can be problematic in relationships. 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 being careful with their own data, such as nude images. Explain to them how they should deal with insults and nasty comments and make them aware of reporting points.
AI applications have long since arrived in the everyday lives of children and young people and automatically accompany them when they use search engines, messengers and social media. They chat with chatbots such as MyAI on Snapchat, enter into intimate relationships with AI contacts or use programs such as ChatGPT or MetaAI to collect ideas or find solutions. In doing so, they encounter challenges such as misinformation, problematic content and data misuse as well as the difficulty of distinguishing between human and machine communication. Talk to your child about the opportunities and risks of AI tools and make safety settings in the apps together. Promote your child’s critical thinking and encourage them to question answers from chatbots, check information and understand AI as a tool – not as a substitute for their own services or real friendships.
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 on social media, in forums, chats or in online games – children and young people can come across extreme opinions and conspiracy myths everywhere 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 learn even more about communication risks and how to deal with them in these posts:
Many apps cost nothing at first glance. Only when you take a closer look do you often realize that you have to pay in order to use them properly and have fun. Children and young people in particular can easily fall into cost traps, especially with games apps. We explain what parents should look out for, what risks there are and how in-app purchases can be controlled with a view to protecting and involving children.
Costs can arise not only when downloading an app. Many apps initially appear to be free, but certain functions, levels, virtual items or special benefits can only be unlocked against payment, such as accessories for avatars. Often a virtual currency is also offered, which must first be purchased via credit card, PayPal or prepaid cards in order to progress in the game or unlock extras. If you are not careful, you will only see how expensive the game has really become on your next mobile phone contract or credit card bill.
Providers often advertise a so-called premium version within the free app. This offers additional functions or game content and can be understood as a paid full version. For children, the free app looks like a test – and the inhibition threshold for spending money is low.
Children and young people react sensitively to rewards and progress in games. Apps such as Roblox, Minecraft, Fortnite or Brawl Stars make targeted use of this: With just a few clicks, game characters can be embellished, levels can be unlocked faster or virtual coins can be collected. Virtual currencies seem abstract and are difficult to link to real money, so children often don’t even realize that they are spending real money – on things that have no real equivalent value.
Loot boxes are particularly critical: they contain random rewards that children perceive as small surprise gifts. The random effect can lead to them repeatedly investing money in order to receive the “right” reward. In games such as EA Sports FC (formerly FIFA), children can draw soccer stars in so-called packs; whether a favorite player is included is decided solely by chance. In Brawl Stars, children also open boxes that contain random power-ups or new characters. Such mechanisms are similar to gambling and are particularly problematic and tempting for young players.
There is also social pressure: those who progress faster or fail less often have an advantage in the game and can assert themselves better in front of friends. These psychological mechanisms make in-app purchases particularly appealing.
Parents can do a lot to protect their child from cost traps. It is important that you discuss the topic with your child and make clear agreements. In addition to technical settings, you should sensitize your child to cost traps and gradually give them responsibility in dealing with money in the digital space.
Since 2023, USK age ratings have included additional information on online risks such as in-app purchases, loot boxes and chats. This information can be found on game packaging, in app stores and in the USK title database. This makes it easier for parents to recognize which games are age-appropriate and where particular caution is required.
If your child has already made in-app purchases, you should first check whether refunds are possible in the app store. It is also worth carefully documenting any unclear debits and taking screenshots. It is then advisable to contact the provider directly – especially if subscriptions or purchases were not clearly marked. If the problems persist or occur repeatedly, consumer advice centers offer additional support and legal advice to protect families from further cost traps.
When entering the world of media, parents ask themselves many questions: “Do the little ones even need it? At such an early age? And should children be encouraged to consume media now?” Because the world doesn’t stand still and children can’t escape digitalization in their everyday lives, guidance is important right from the start. Parents should support children responsibly and sensitively in their first experiences with media.
This parents’ evening aims to provide practical advice and easy-to-implement tips. Educational media recommendations will be presented – from child-friendly apps to age-appropriate, fun and learning-promoting offers such as radio plays, games or videos – to ideas and instructions on how children can design and produce media themselves.
We would like to support you in taking a well-informed and relaxed look at the media world: quite critical and at the same time self-determined and capable of taking action.
Take the opportunity to be there live and ask your questions to our experts – we will be on hand to exchange ideas and provide valuable inspiration for everyday family life!
Date: 13.11.2025 | Time: 5 to 6 pm
Procedure: (Media educational) input (approx. 30/40 minutes) and subsequent open exchange
Speakers: Sophia Mellitzer and Frank Findeiß (JFF)
Moderation: FSM e.V.
Platform: The virtual parents’ evening is realized via the “Zoom” tool.
Privacy Notice: Zoom is a service of Zoom Video Communications Inc. which is based in the USA. We use Zoom via the German operator WTG. The WTG server is located in Europe. Furthermore, within the Zoom service we have chosen the configurations with the highest data and security protection.
Please also take note of our privacy policy.
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Who is allowed to do what with media and for how long? These issues come up in every family sooner or later and not infrequently cause stress and arguments. Rules on media use can help create a structure and avoid conflicts. These can be discussed by parents and children together and recorded in a contract. The online tool for a media usage contract presented here — an offer by klicksafe and the Internet-ABC — is suitable for this purpose.
The tool guides you step by step to the finished paper. You can choose from two age groups (6-12 years and 12+) and choose a title design, a mascot and a background. All the rules you select are automatically inserted like building blocks, so it’s easy to keep track of them all. Each module can be edited individually. Of course, you can also insert your own rules. At the end save the document, then it can be completed at another time. You can also create multiple contracts for different children.
Use the building blocks as a suggestion to start a conversation in your family about media use. Some possible rules you may not have thought about, others are already self-evident. Set priorities, because the tool offers very many ideas that do not all have to be implemented. There are several types of rules:
A contract is nothing more than written down rules that have been agreed upon. The advantage is that you can always look at it and remember it.
A special feature is that rules can also be set for parents. For example, parents can commit to not using the cell phone even at dinner, or to using adult media content only when children are not present. Because rules are easier for children to understand if everyone has to follow them and you set a good example.
Every year in August, Cologne transforms into the Mecca of the computer and video game world for four days: Gamescom. This globally important trade fair attracts numerous visitors, including many children and young people with a passion for gaming.
Gamescom is Europe’s largest trade fair for interactive entertainment and one of the most important in the world. Thousands of games enthusiasts from all over the world meet here. The focus is on computer and video games, their developers and the gaming community. New games are presented on the large exhibition grounds, gameplay scenes are presented on live stages, there are lectures and shows, game corners, workshops and interviews with game developers. At some events, visitors can not only watch, but also play themselves.
gamescom 2025 will take place in Cologne from August 20 to 24, 2025.
Visiting Gamescom is a special experience for adolescents in different age groups. Everything revolves around gaming. You can discover lots of things and try out new games – if you want to queue up in the long lines.
For children aged 4 and over, there is a “retro & family” area where everything is tailored to the needs of this age group. This area combines nostalgic play culture with the latest technologies and offers a stage program as well as many hands-on activities such as play stations. In the “Junior Club”, families can take advantage of childcare for children aged 4 to 12.
A key reason why young people are keen to attend Gamescom is the opportunity to see their favorite YouTubers and Let’s Players live. These stars of the scene are often on site and offer their fans exclusive meet-and-greets. Anyone wishing to visit the “Signing Area” this year must book a free time slot in advance.
Walking around Gamescom without adult supervision is the epitome of independence for many children. As a general rule, children under the age of 3 are not admitted to the fair. If your child is between 4 and 11 years old, they must be accompanied by an adult at all times. In fact, you should think carefully about whether your child can already handle the many stimuli at such an event.
Parents with children under the age of 12 should make sure that their children are only allowed to play games that are appropriate for their age. Gamescom is theoretically allowed to present games for all ages, but in practice careful selection and attention is paid here. Upon admission, each visitor will receive an age band with different colors upon presentation of a photo ID, analogous to the USK age ratings (12, 16 or 18 years). The USK checks every publicly presented game and all trailers at Gamescom so that everything is clearly marked with the corresponding age limits. For games with a USK 16 or 18 rating, stand staff must ensure that they are not actually visible or accessible to children – e.g. by providing privacy screens or separate rooms. Youth protection is a top priority here, as the Entertainment Software Self-Regulation Body (USK) is the official youth protection partner of Gamescom: at the entrance and at numerous stands within the event, every visitor will receive an age band with different colors, analogous to the USK age ratings (12, 16 or 18 years), upon presentation of a photo ID. The USK has checked every game publicly presented at Gamescom and every visible trailer so that everything is clearly marked with the appropriate age rating. In the case of games and trailers with a USK 16 or 18, stand personnel must ensure that these are not actually visible or accessible to children – e.g. by means of privacy screens or separate rooms.
If your child is over 11 years old and independent enough to discover Gamescom on their own, you should still arrange a meeting point and time in each hall where the family can make a brief appointment. Gamescom is very crowded, so it’s easy to feel lost. Also make sure that your child’s smartphone has enough battery or give them a piece of paper with your name and phone number on it. This is also recommended if, after careful consideration, you decide to allow your child (who is 12 years or older) to visit Gamescom with friends without adult supervision. Also, arrange a set time and place to pick up your child. Also, keep in mind that food and beverage prices at trade shows are often relatively high.
The range of digital games on offer is now huge. Whether via smartphone, tablet, PC or console – as a parent, it’s easy to lose track of the wealth of adventure and action games, educational and strategy games, simulations and role-playing games. For many children and young people, the fascination with games not only means fun in their everyday lives, but can also have other positive side effects such as creativity. As is usually the case with media use, the same applies here: The extent and selection of games are crucial for responsible use: age labels provide initial guidance.
Germany has the most binding legal regulations for the testing and sale of digital games in the world. The protection of minors plays a major role here. As with most entertainment products, parents should also make sure that the product is safe for their child’s age. This is exactly what the Entertainment Software Self-Regulation Body, USK for short, checks and assigns age ratings.
These provide information on whether, from the point of view of the protection of minors, the game does not contain any developmentally harmful content or unsecured risks due to online functions for the respective age. The following age ratings are available:
Additional information is provided alongside the USK age rating. These provide information about the reasons that led to the age rating (such as “violence”, “pressure to act” or “incriminating themes”). And they indicate which possible aspects of use you should pay attention to (such as “in-game purchases” or chats”). Here, the individual notes are explained in more detail.
The age ratings can be found on all game packaging and on many popular gaming platforms. The USK age ratings for online games, which are awarded as part of the international IARC (International Age Rating Coalition) system, also meet the high German youth standards. They are available in all connected systems. These include the Google Play Store, Nintendo eShop, Microsoft Store for Windows and Xbox, PlayStation Store, Epic Games Store, Fortnite, Meta Quest Store, Pico Store and Amazon Luna.
Since 2021, there has been a labeling requirement for very large online gaming platforms. Not all platforms have signed up to the international IARC age classification system. They use their own labeling systems and therefore sometimes display different age labels.
In the European trading area, there are also PEGI (Pan European Games Information) age ratings on game packaging with the age levels 3, 7, 12, 16 and 18. The age recommendation is the result of a common European approach to the protection of minors. For distribution in Germany, however, the USK age ratings are legally binding.
In addition to the age labels, which are based on a youth protection test, there are also a number of educational age recommendations. These provide parents with information on whether games are suitable for a certain age, i.e. whether they are manageable and understandable. Comprehensive educational assessments can be found, for example, on the website of Spieleratgeber NRW.
When choosing digital games, you should first know what your child likes to play. Find out about the game in question and refer to the age rating and additional information. The USK has compiled a lexicon with the most common terms from the games sector. Observe your child as he or she interacts with the content. Every child is different and develops differently. Knowing about the possible challenges in play makes it easier for you to actively support your child in digital play and take appropriate protective measures. Sometimes it makes sense to see whether other options are more suitable. In any case, stay in contact with your child and set fair rules together. Just see if other offers are more suitable.
Whether on the way to school or online: Parents want their children to be safe. Parental control apps promise support in everyday digital life. They offer functions such as location monitoring, content filters and time limits. But how helpful are these digital tools really? And where is the line between protection and control?
Parental control apps are installed on the parent’s and child’s smartphone or tablet. Depending on the provider, they offer different functions:
Tip: Look out for privacy-friendly, ad-free apps – and avoid tools that access the camera, microphone or personal content without the child’s knowledge.
Data protectionMany apps transmit location data, messages or photos unencrypted to foreign servers – often without the child’s consent.
Intrusion into the privacyChildren – the older they get – have a right to privacy. Too much control can jeopardize the relationship of trust and affect self-esteem.
Normalization of surveillance: If children learn at an early age that they are being watched, this can affect their self-perception and autonomy.
Fake security: Technical control can be deceptive: If the device is off or the child has no connection, the app won’t work either. Trust, conversations and agreements are often more reliable.
Beware of in-depth monitoring: Some commercial apps offer far-reaching access options – for example to call lists, text messages, photos, social media activities or even the microphone. These functions are highly questionable under data protection law – and are only permitted if the child actively agrees. Such far-reaching intrusions into privacy can even be legally problematic.
Parents have a duty to protect their children (Section 1626 BGB). However, as children get older, their right to privacy and informational self-determination also grows. Excessive or secret surveillance can jeopardize trust – and may even be unlawful.
There is also a risk that sensitive data such as location or images will be stored and processed on foreign servers – often without transparency or effective protection.
Parental control apps can support – but not replace – what really counts: Relationship, trust and media literacy.
Tips for everyday family life:
Tip: Practical step-by-step instructions at medien-kindersicher.de.
The Entertainment Software Self-Regulation Body (USK) is the voluntary self-regulation body of the games industry. It is responsible for age rating reviews of digital games in Germany.
The USK is recognized as the responsible self-regulatory body under both the German Federal Youth Protection Act and the Interstate Treaty on the Protection of Minors in the Media of the Federal States. In the area of the German Youth Protection Act, state representatives issue the statutory age ratings at the end of a USK procedure on the recommendation of independent youth protection experts. The USK also assigns age ratings for online games and apps.
The USK also supports companies from the games industry in complying with and further developing the protection of minors – for example through technical protection measures. It is also committed to media education, for example with offers such as elternguide.online and other information formats.
The games submitted for USK review are played through in their entirety by trained volunteer reviewers and then presented to an independent review panel. The review panel consists of four youth protection experts and one permanent representative of the supreme state youth authorities (OLJB). The youth protection experts come from academia, media education, church institutions and youth facilities, and have experience in working with media and with children and young people. After extensive discussion, the youth protection experts recommend an age rating. The OLJB Permanent Representative may adopt or appeal this age release. Subsequently, the USK receives the test result and communicates it to the applicants. If they also do not appeal, triggering a new review, the game will receive the legal age rating by the OLJB’s Permanent Representation to the USK.
In the online sector, the USK assigns age ratings within the framework of the international system IARC (International Age Rating Coalition). This is an association of the various organizations responsible for age rating worldwide, such as ESRB (Entertainment Software Rating Board) in the USA, Mexico and Canada, PEGI (Pan European Game Information) in Europe, ClassInd (Classificação Indicativa) in Brazil, GRAC (Game Rating and Administration Committee) in South Korea, DGSC (Digital Games Self-regulation Committee) in Taiwan, ACB (Australian Classification Board) in Australia and the USK in Germany.
At IARC, the providers of online games and apps go through a detailed questionnaire on content relevant to the protection of minors. An age rating is then issued from the respective entries according to the specifications and criteria of the respective national self-regulation (for Germany, the USK). Regular random quality checks ensure that these age labels are reliable and correct. In all distribution platforms connected to this system, age ratings from the USK are thus available. The connected systems include the Google Playstore, the Nintendo eShop, the Xbox Store, the Sony PlayStation Store and Fortnite.
There are set criteria for the age rating of digital games. These guiding criteria support the review bodies in assessing the risk of games that are not age-appropriate for children and young people and help in the decision-making process. They are adopted and adapted by the USK Advisory Board, which is made up of various social groups. The Advisory Board is made up of representatives from churches and religious communities, media education, the Federal Ministry for Youth, the youth ministries of the federal states, the Federal Centre for Child and Youth Media Protection (BzKJ), youth organizations and the computer games industry, as well as representatives of USK members and youth protection experts.
The focus of the review is the presumption of impact, i.e. the assumption that certain content could impair or even endanger the development of children and young people. These include criteria such as the atmosphere in the game, violence or pressure to act. Since 2023, so-called “usage risks”, for example functions such as chats, in-game purchases or location sharing, have also been taken into account in the review under youth protection law and can have an influence on the age rating. More information about the USK’s guiding criteria can be found on the USK’s website.
The age ratings awarded are USK 0 (released without age restriction), USK 6, USK 12, USK 16 and USK 18 (no youth rating).
Since January 2023, the USK age rating labels have included additional information on the reasons for the age rating and the online functions available in the game. This allows parents to see at a glance which reasons have led to the label (e.g. “comic violence” or “pressure to act”) and which risks should be kept in mind when using media (e.g. “chats”, “in-game purchases” or “location sharing”). The notices can be found on the back of the game packaging, on the corresponding online platforms and in the USK title database.
In Germany, the Basic Law (Article 6) allows parents to decide for themselves what media content they make available to their child. However, parents should only give or allow their children to play digital games that are safe for the child’s age. The USK age ratings are a helpful guide. If parents also want to know whether a game is educationally suitable, they can find relevant information on many recommendation pages. An educational assessment on digital games is provided, for example, by the NRW Game Guide, which is funded by the state of North Rhine-Westphalia.
