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Introducing: The KiKA children’s media website – videos, games and do-it-yourself ideas

On the website of the public children’s media service KiKA, children can find lots of videos of their favorite series and films. There are also games, craft ideas and do-it-yourself experiments.

In a nutshell:

  • Website of the ARD and ZDF public service children’s media offerings
  • Videos, games and do-it-yourself ideas
  • Age-appropriate content without advertising
  • Find help at KUMMERKASTEN

What is KiKA?

KiKA is the children’s channel of ARD and ZDF. On the website, you can watch documentaries, reports, news, animated and real series, films and shows from the children’s media range or follow the live program.
Online, however, there is more to discover on KiKA than the popular children’s series and formats. Various online games such as picture puzzles, games of skill or adventure and quiz games offer further entertainment. In the do-it-yourself section, children can find coloring pictures, craft ideas, recipes and experiments to get creative and active at home.

The KUMMERKASTEN also offers children the opportunity to find out about topics such as feelings, friendships and family, as well as problems such as cyberbullying or school stress in short videos. The KUMMERKASTEN primarily deals with challenges and problems during puberty and aims to provide support for adolescents.
Children can also contact the KUMMERKASTEN team at Diakonie if they have any problems or concerns: At Ask Sabine! children can find out how this works and can use a link to go directly to the advice page for children and young people of the Diakonisches Werk Berlin-Brandenburg-schlesische Oberlausitz e. V., with which KiKA and KUMMERKASTEN cooperate. Children and young people can get advice here via chat or email. Other offers of help such as the Nummer gegen Kummer, which offers telephone counseling, are also presented.

What should parents pay attention to?

KiKA offers content for children between the ages of 3 and 13. However, not all content is recommended for the youngest children. Some content, for example the news program logo!, is only recommended from the age of 9. But even if there are suitable age recommendations, the following applies: watch the content together with your child and observe how your child reacts to the content. In a separate section for parents, educators can find information about the content and age recommendations for the respective programs. There you will also find additional material for the programs, such as colouring pictures or craft instructions for children. Also agree on times and duration of media use together. Media rituals in the family or a joint media usage contract can be helpful here.

This article is part of the “Parents’ tips on children’s participation platforms” project, which is part of the “Child-friendly digital services and orientation measures” program of the Federal Agency for Child and Youth Protection in the Media (BzKJ) and realised by JFF – Institute for Media Education in Research and Practice and the German Association for Voluntary Self-Regulation of Digital Media Service Providers (FSM e.V.).

Introducing: Religionen-entdecken.de – Answers to questions from the world of religions

Children can find answers to many questions from the world of religions at religionen-entdecken.de. They can ask questions themselves, watch films, browse the encyclopedia and find exciting books and excursion tips.

In a nutshell:

  • Website for children aged 8 to 13
  • Information about world religions prepared for children
  • Children’s questions are answered expertly

What is Religionen-entdecken.de?

Religionen-entdecken.de is a website for children where they can learn a lot about different religions, their practices and rituals.

The robot Auxie accompanies children through the program. There is a lot to learn about the following religions: Alevism, Bahai, Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Jesus, Judaism and Sikhism. They can also browse for information and terms in the lexicon. Above all, however, they can also become active themselves: Children can take part in surveys, add places to the world map of religions and ask their own questions about the religions as well as search for answers in the questions that have already been answered. The questions are answered in a knowledgeable and child-friendly way. Games and quizzes also provide fun, and there are also various films to discover. In addition to tips for excursions and books, the Tips section contains lots of ideas for do-it-yourself activities such as recipes from the various religions.

The site aims to encourage people to engage with the various religions, learn more about them and thus reduce prejudices with regard to the unknown and promote respectful interaction with one another.

Religionen-entdecken.de is a service of the Gemeinschaftswerk der Evangelischen Publizistik (GEP). The project works closely with the House of World Religions. They state that the texts are created in collaboration with experts from the respective religion

What should parents pay attention to?

The offer is aimed at children aged 8 to 13. Nevertheless, it is always advisable to first look at children’s offers together with the children and to accompany their use. Talk to your child about their experiences and be open to their questions.

This article is part of the “Parents’ tips on children’s participation platforms” project, which is part of the “Child-friendly digital services and orientation measures” program of the Federal Agency for Child and Youth Protection in the Media (BzKJ) and realised by JFF – Institute for Media Education in Research and Practice and the German Association for Voluntary Self-Regulation of Digital Media Service Providers (FSM e.V.).

Introducing: AUDIYOUkids – Stories to listen to and join in

Solve audio puzzles, set a story to music yourself or put together a radio play – it’s all possible on AUDIYOUkids! Children will find lots of stories to listen to and join in with, e.g. an audio walk or a karaoke game. Parents will find instructions and tips to make sure everything goes well.

In a nutshell:

  • Radio plays to join in
  • Instructions and exercises for producing your own radio plays
  • Free and ad-free use

What is AUDIYOUkids?

AUDIYOUkids invites children into a world of sounds and listening. The website is divided into four different areas. On the “audio walk”, children can choose between different worlds such as “Coast” or “Haunted castle” and discover the places with their ears. They choose the route themselves with the help of sounds, can follow it with puzzle cards to print out and see whether they have discovered all the sounds.
With “Cartoons”, children can help a magician perform magic. The result can be saved and downloaded with microphone access. With the help of parents, even kindergarten children can try their hand here.
In the “Karaoke” section, children can take part in the production of a radio play and play a role. This also requires a computer with a microphone, otherwise the text passages can only be spoken but not recorded. The results can also be downloaded at the end.
AUDIYOUkids states on its website that the data is strictly protected in terms of data protection and will not be made accessible to others. Registration is not necessary.

The “Cartoon” and “Karaoke” sections are also suitable for younger primary school children with supervision, while the “Your audio projects” section is more complex but all the more creative. Here, children will find a child-friendly introduction to producing their own radio plays. In addition to a computer and microphone, a program for editing audio tracks is a technical requirement. The website recommends the free Audacity program to set up a small, functioning recording studio on your own computer. There is an introduction to radio play production and the Audacity program, and further playful exercises prepare children for producing their own radio play. The materials are recommended on the website for children from 4th grade upwards. Some of the radio plays are only suitable for children from Year 5 upwards. To create your own audio projects, you do not need Internet access after downloading the desired materials.

What should parents pay attention to?

AUDIYOUkids offers children the opportunity to immerse themselves in the world of audio drama and become creative in the process. When creating their own audio projects, primary school children in particular need support at first, such as setting up the Audacity program and understanding its functions. Therefore, accompany younger children in particular when using the website. Creating your own small audio projects can also be a great way to get creative together with your child. If sounds and music are needed for your own radio play, you can browse AUDIYOU with your child for noises and sounds.

When producing your own audio projects, it’s easy to forget the time, so make sure you have a screen-free balance and exercise.

This article is part of the “Parents’ tips on children’s participation platforms” project, which is part of the “Child-friendly digital services and orientation measures” program of the Federal Agency for Child and Youth Protection in the Media (BzKJ) and realised by JFF – Institute for Media Education in Research and Practice and the German Association for Voluntary Self-Regulation of Digital Media Service Providers (FSM e.V.).

Face filters – from funny bunny ears to distorted self-perception

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.

What are 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.

What fascinates children and young people about it?

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.

What are the risks?

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.

What can you do as a parent?

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.

Introducing: HanisauLand – Politics for children, simply explained

On the HanisauLand.de internet portal, children between the ages of 8 and 14 are introduced to the world of politics in an age-appropriate and playful way. They can share and discuss their opinions in a moderated participation area.

In a nutshell:

  • Internet portal for children aged 8 to 14 years of the Federal Agency for Civic Education
  • Complex content from politics and society presented in an age-appropriate way
  • Games and comics that provide a playful introduction to the world of politics
  • Children can share and discuss their opinions in a moderated area

What is HanisauLand?

There is a lot for children to discover in HanisauLand and they also learn about democracy through play: In the comic series, rabbits, hippos and sows build a democracy together – HanisauLand. There are lots of games and quizzes as well as book and movie tips for children to browse through. In the “Calendar” section, important political and historical events are presented alongside famous personalities. In the “Special” section, topics from politics, history, togetherness and religions are taken up and presented in a vivid way.

Children can also participate in many areas and help shape HanisauLand: In the lexicon, not only are political terms explained for children, but children can also submit unknown terms and questions. In the “Your opinion” section, children can discuss children’s rights topics such as “cell phone ban in schools” or “voting rights for young people”. They receive background information and are then invited to contribute their opinions and discuss them together. They can also contact the editorial team with their concerns and questions under “Post”.

No e-mail address is required to participate, a fantasy name is sufficient. All contributions will be checked by the editorial team before publication, personal data or insults and abuse will be deleted.
HanisauLand is a great way for children to learn more about living together in a democracy and about rules on the Internet. Even the legal notice and privacy policy are formulated in a special version for children.

What should parents pay attention to?

The editors of HanisauLand create and check all content for children aged 8 to 14. If links from the website lead to other pages, children are made aware of this and must confirm once again that they wish to leave the website. Nevertheless, it is important, especially with younger children, that you accompany your child, particularly when using the site for the first time. Make sure that your child can only access age-appropriate content. Setting options on the device or in apps also help here. Also make sure that the agreed media usage times with your child are adhered to and stay in contact with your child.

This article is part of the “Parents’ tips on children’s participation platforms” project, which is part of the “Child-friendly digital services and orientation measures” program of the Federal Agency for Child and Youth Protection in the Media (BzKJ) and realised by JFF – Institute for Media Education in Research and Practice and the German Association for Voluntary Self-Regulation of Digital Media Service Providers (FSM e.V.).

The Internet Phenomenon Challenges: From Entertaining and for a Good Cause to Reckless and Dangerous

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.

What is behind the Internet phenomenon Challenge?

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.

What attracts young people to challenges

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.

When challenges become dangerous

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.

Tips for dealing with challenges

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.

The most important tips at a glance:

  • If your child enjoys watching such videos on the web, have them show you and tell you what excites them about them.
  • Make it clear that some challenges are not suitable for imitation and that much of the content is staged. Explain to your child why some challenges are dangerous (e.g. injuries, but also psychological damage).
  • Talk about types of challenges, e.g. eating unknown things, risky sporting stunts or experiments with fire. Talk openly with your child about the specific challenges they already know about. However, do not mention any other dangerous challenges so as not to draw their attention to them.
  • Be careful when warning other parents about challenges. Do not spread them further. Alarmist warnings can cause fear instead of helping. Report challenges that are harmful to minors and help to curb such content.

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.

Popular game apps: Brawl Stars

Time to BRAWL! Cool characters, exciting matches, jewels and trophies – that’s the colorful game world of Brawl Stars. We present the popular mobile app.

In a nutshell:

  • Free real-time multiplayer strategy game for mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets
  • available for iOS and Android
  • includes in-app purchases
  • Age rating: released from 12 years(USK), recommended from approx. 12 years(Spieleratgeber NRW)

What is Brawl Stars?

Brawl Stars is a mobile battle arena game for mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets, developed by Finnish game provider Supercell. It is based on the “free-to-play” model and is basically free of charge. In the game, you fight either alone or in teams of two or three against friends or other players. A round of the game lasts only a few minutes.

The players control characters, so-called “Brawlers”. Each Brawler has their own abilities and play styles. The aim is to defeat opponents and other teams, collect gems or complete certain tasks. Over the course of the game, new Brawlers can be unlocked, their skills improved and their appearance customized with skins and accessories. These extras can be purchased with the in-game coins earned or obtained through rewards. Real money can be used to buy in-game coins and thus achieve faster progress in the game. The colorful and vibrant graphics and simple controls make the game accessible and entertaining for players of all ages. Brawl Stars also features regular updates, events and an active community that keeps the game fresh and engaging.

What fascinates children and young people about it?

Free game apps are interesting for many children and young people as they promise free fun. Playing together as a team and competing against other players is particularly exciting and fun. The rounds are entertaining and you can progress quickly. The look of the game is also impressive: Everything in the game is colorfully designed in cartoon graphics and the brawlers look funny. Winning a round earns you rewards. The game features loot boxes (surprise boxes) with a star symbol – also known as “Starrdrops”. Whoever opens the Starrdrops receives random rewards such as new skins, sprays, accessories, coins, jewels or new brawlers. The surprise effect and the prospect of stronger characters can quickly motivate children and young people to keep playing to get more Starrdrops and become more and more “powerful” for duels.

What is problematic about the offer?

The short game rounds and regular rewards make the game attractive and tempt you to keep playing. Brawl Stars is played in teams. Players can create and join clubs.

Your child may come into contact with strangers who, in the worst case, are not who they say they are. Following random game rounds, your child can receive friend requests from players. There is a risk of cyberbullying and cybergrooming here.

For the chance to get rare brawlers or new coins, your child may be tempted to spend real money on in-game items and loot boxes. These purchases make it possible to equip their favorite Brawler with better abilities. There is also the option to purchase so-called “Brawl Passes”, which offer significantly more rewards and faster game progress. The game provider earns a lot of money with such mechanisms.

What does the provider think?

There is a guide for parents on the official website of the provider Supercell. Among other things, it refers to existing in-app purchases in the game and explains how parents can manage and, if necessary, disable them. Supercell states that it does not pass on personal data to third parties for commercial purposes or in any other way. The provider has created a “blacklist” for safe chatting. This allows certain terms to be quickly and automatically removed from chats. Chat messages can be muted and are then no longer displayed.

What should parents pay attention to?

The best way to start is to discover the game together. Play together with your child to understand your child’s enthusiasm for the game.

  • Inform your child about in-app purchases and discuss whether your child is allowed to make them and, if so, how much.
  • As the game often tempts you to play a round on the side, agree on rules: How long can you play per day or per week?
  • Make settings together on the mobile device to restrict in-app purchases or set a daily screen time limit
  • If you are unsure whether your child’s play behavior exceeds normal limits, you can find out more here
  • Use the settings options in the game, for example to exclude contact with strangers via the chat function. Make your child aware not to disclose any personal data such as name, place of residence, etc.
  • Keep in touch with your child about the game and encourage them to contact you if they have any questions or problems.

Be wary of third-party vendors offering Brawl Stars enhancements such as free jewels. Here, personal information and/or money are often demanded without delivering the promised product.

Introducing: Frieden-fragen.de – War and peace explained in a child-friendly way

On the children’s portal Frieden-fragen.de, questions about war, conflict, violence and peace are explained in a child-friendly way. Children can find age-appropriate information and individual answers to their questions. This enables a sensitive approach to difficult topics.

In a nutshell:

  • Information service for children between the ages of 10 and 14
  • Age-appropriate information, videos, pictures and stories about war, peace, conflict and violence
  • Children’s questions on the topic are answered individually

What is Frieden-fragen.de?

War and peace, conflict and violence – these are topics that even younger children are concerned with. They often have many questions that are not so easy to answer. At Frieden-fragen.de, children’s questions are answered individually. The answers are sent to the children by e-mail (if specified) or published on the website. Answers to many questions asked by children can also be found on the website.

The Berghof Foundation / Friedenspädagogik Tübingen project also tackles difficult questions. Frieden-fragen.de describes its approach as being “based on the fundamental values of peace, justice and non-violence and the state of the art. Differences and controversies in politics and society are named and made visible.” The aim is to make connections recognizable and to provide children with knowledge about the background and coexistence of people and states.

In addition to the question portal and factual information, children will find various areas to browse through. There are stories from children and adults from all over the world to discover as well as pictures and videos to watch. The characters Sakina, Cody and Frieda accompany children through the site. Many difficult terms are explained in a child-friendly way in the lexicon.

The website also offers various hands-on activities for children. There are suggestions on how children can make their own contribution to peaceful coexistence, e.g. they can use the peace machine peace messages for classmates.
Teachers can find further background information and teaching materials in the adult section.

What should parents pay attention to?

The service provides information on wars in a sensitive and age-appropriate way. Nevertheless, topics relating to war and conflict can overwhelm, frighten or unsettle children. Many children have heard about current wars on social media, on television, in class or in the playground. Some are affected by the topic themselves, e.g. through relatives or their own experience of flight. Take your child’s concerns about these issues seriously and help them to find answers to their questions. You know your child best and can assess which media content they can cope with. It is best to take a look at the Frieden-fragen.de website together. Then you will immediately notice how your child reacts to the content and can support your child accordingly. Read more about war in the media or news for children and young people here.

Dieser Artikel ist Teil des Projekts „Eltern-Inspos zu Kinder-Partizipationsplattformen“, das im Rahmen des Förderprogramms „Kindgerechte digitale Angebote und Maßnahmen zur Orientierung“ der Bundeszentrale für Kinder- und Jugendmedienschutz (BzKJ) gefördert und in Zusammenarbeit von JFF – Institut für Medienpädagogik in Forschung und Praxis und der Freiwilligen Selbstkontrolle Multimedia-Diensteanbieter (FSM e.V.) umgesetzt wird.

Communication risks on the net

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.

Challenges of digital communication

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.

Contact by strangers

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.

Communication with friends

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.

Hate and extremism

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.

Gaming communication

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:

BeReal – Your friends for real

“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.

In brief

  • Free social media photo app for Android and iOS
  • Age rating: from 13 years (according to terms and conditions; children between 13 and 15 years require parental consent), USK from 12 years
  • Requires registration with name, date of birth and phone number
  • Problematic: advertising, collection of personal data, unencrypted data transmission, access to address book

How does BeReal work?

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.

What excites young people about the app?

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.

What can be problematic about BeReal?

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.

What does the provider say

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.

What should parents pay attention to?

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.

Introducing: kindersache – the participatory website for children

The children’s website kindersache.de is a participatory website for children between the ages of 8 and 13.
It provides lots of information, especially about children’s rights, but also offers opportunities for children to become active on the Internet themselves.

In a nutshell:

  • Information and participation offer for children between 8 and 13 years of age
  • numerous reviewed and moderated videos especially for children
  • Safe first experience for children in dealing with social networks
  • Possibility of exchange with other children

What is a child’s business?

Here children can find age-appropriate information and interactive offers, e.g. they can

  • find out about interesting topics and exchange ideas with others,
  • read the latest news in a child-friendly format,
  • get tips on safe surfing,
  • by writing their own article or comment,
  • inform themselves about their rights,
  • find creative ideas for crafting or experimenting.

The topic of children’s rights is given a lot of space on kindersache.de: It describes in a child-friendly way what children’s rights actually are and what they are. Various game ideas and puzzles on the site provide fun.
In the theme area Genial Digital there are interactive digital learning modules that provide information about the Internet and the first smartphone in a fun way.
In the JUKI animation studio on kindersache.de, there is not only a multitude of videos to discover.
In the animated film study, children can easily create their own animated films, receive tips for their own film production and learn what they need to bear in mind.
In the section Join in section, children can become active themselves: They can write an article or a story, make and upload their own videos or tell a joke.
To do this, they have to register at kindersache.de.
All content on kindersache.de is selected and checked by the editorial team.
Sharing with others is also safe, as comments and contributions are checked before publication.
In this way, children learn about the opportunities for participation on the Internet in a protected space kindersache.de is an Internet service for children from the Deutsches Kinderhilfswerk.
As the website is specially designed for children, it places great emphasis on security and data protection.
Personal data is only collected to the extent necessary and is not passed on to third parties.
The platform is also free of advertising.

What should parents pay attention to?

As with all services used by children up to the age of 12, you should find out more about kindersache.de and explore the site together with your child. It is important for your child to share their experiences with you. Talking about the content on kindersache.de, such as joining in, promotes your child’s autonomy and knowledge. This article is part of the project “Parents’ tips on children’s participation platforms”, which is part of the funding program “Child-friendly digital offerings and orientation measures” of the Federal Center for Child and Youth Media Protection (BzKJ) and in cooperation with JFF – Institute for Media Education in Research and Practice and the Voluntary Self-Regulation of Multimedia Service Providers (FSM e.V.) is being implemented.

Introducing: Internet ABC – Playing, learning and communicating for children

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.

In a nutshell:

  • Information and learning platform for topics related to the Internet
  • for children from 5 to 12 years
  • Extra area to have your say and join in
  • free of charge and free of advertising

What is the Internet ABC?

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.

What should parents pay attention to?

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.).

Addicted to social media?

For hours Tiktok-videos, constantly posting something on Instagram or only post via Snapchat connecting with friends – do you sometimes get the impression that your child’s life takes place almost exclusively on social media?

Perhaps the question arises as to whether this is still “normal” use and at what point your child is already addicted. In this article, we take a closer look.

Young people and social media – can they be separated?

Young people have a close relationship with their smartphone. They use it for research, for schoolwork, but above all, of course, for communication. They use their smartphones to keep in touch with family and friends, stay up-to-date and position themselves in their peer group. To a large extent, this happens via social media. This is where they can show and present themselves, respond to each other and find like-minded people.

But despite all the fascination, social media also has its drawbacks. The successes that young people experience there in the form of likes and comments activate the reward system. The platforms’ psychological tricks capture our attention and are designed to make us spend more and more time online. In short, social media makes it extremely difficult for us to put our cell phones down. Young people in particular therefore often spend a lot of time on social media. So much so that parents are worried that it could be an addiction.

Much, more, too much – when does addiction begin?

“2.6 percent of children and young people between the ages of 12 and 17 in Germany” meet the criteria for addictive behavior in their use of social media, according to the latest figures. This was published by health insurance provider DAK on its website in summer 2024. The risk of depression has also increased and is associated with an addiction to social media. But what does this mean?

It is important to note that social media addiction is not yet a registered disease or disorder. We can therefore only observe behavior that is similar to other addictions such as computer game addiction. And as always, this behavior is more complex than it seems at first glance. It’s not just about how much time children and young people spend on social media, but how they feel about it. An addiction in the classic sense is only present when people show several criteria of addictive behavior over a long period of time. These criteria can be, for example

  • Very strong desire for social media
  • Use of social media to counteract negative sentiment
  • Loss of control
  • Withdrawal symptoms
  • Inability to break the habit of social media
  • Withdrawal from social life

In most cases, addictions do not arise solely because an addictive substance such as social media is present. Rather, they are linked to other causes, such as problems in the family, socially difficult situations, personal setbacks or psychological problems.

What can parents do (beforehand)?

Anyone who notices addictive behavior in their child over a period of months and is becoming increasingly distressed should seek help urgently. For you as parents, however, the worries often start much earlier – and it also makes sense to take preventative action on this topic at an early stage:

  • Stay in close contact with your child right from the start. Talk to your child about their issues and concerns – whether they are media-related or not – before they develop into real problems.
  • Be attentive, observe your child’s behavior and respond to their concerns with understanding and interest – this will increase the likelihood of open and honest conversations.
  • Show interest and understanding that social media is important for your child – and also express your concerns openly and objectively.
  • Establish common media rules for the whole family and set limits on media use.

Seek help if you are very worried about your child’s behavior. Contact your pediatrician’s or family doctor’s office, school social work, counseling centers such as the Nummer gegen Kummer or addiction counseling centers.

Virtual parents’ evening on 12.12.2024 from 5 to 6 pm

Media gifts and experiences around Christmas: Safe guidance with (technical) youth media protection and media education (held in German)

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.

Information and registration

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:

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    Introducing: Klexikon – the Wikipedia for children

    Klexikon is an online encyclopedia as a comprehensive and understandable Wikipedia for children. Here you will find over 3,400 articles on a wide range of topics for school and leisure.

    In a nutshell:

    • Free online encyclopedia for children aged between 5 and 15
    • Knowledge articles that interest children
    • MiniKlexikon in easy language

    What is Klexikon?

    Klexikon describes itself as the Wikipedia for children. From A-Z, children can find knowledge articles on a wide range of topics. The articles are written in a child-friendly way so that children can find understandable answers to their questions.
    At Klexikon.de, children can search for terms directly in the search field. They can also browse through 12 knowledge areas – from “People we know” and “Body and health” to “Sport and fun” or “Politics and society” – to find topics in the various areas. If you want to be surprised, you can click on the “Random article” tab and be shown a random text from the more than 3,400 articles.
    The Klexikon is a project of the Zentrale für Unterrichtsmedien im Internet e.V. (ZUM.de). The articles are written by volunteer authors. The Klexikon also offers writing workshops for school classes together with the German Museum of Technology and Wikimedia. Here, children get to know the service and, with the help of adults, can also create articles themselves and thus actively help shape the Klexikon . In the miniKlexikon contains articles in particularly simple language.

    What fascinates children about it?

    Whether for school or in their free time, children have lots of questions and want to find out about a wide range of topics. Like us adults, they are increasingly turning to the Internet for information on topics that interest them. Children also like to access information on the Internet when researching for school. Child-friendly services help them to find answers to their questions.

    What should parents pay attention to?

    The following also applies to websites for children: Take into account your child’s level of development and accompany your child when using the Internet. Take a look at the website together first, especially with younger children, and discuss what your child has read in the articles. Who knows – maybe they will learn something new too! You can also search for answers with your child on the Internet and compare information that you find on different pages about a question. This way, your child can learn what to look out for when searching for information online and how to classify it.

    This article is part of the “Parents’ tips on children’s participation platforms” project, which is part of the “Child-friendly digital services and orientation measures” funding program of the Federal Center for Child and Youth Media Protection (BzKJ) and in cooperation with JFF – Institute for Media Education in Research and Practice and the Voluntary Self-Regulation of Multimedia Service Providers (FSM e.V.) is being implemented.

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