Children and young people are online every day – in class chats, playing games or on social media. They need guidance and support in their everyday lives so that they can navigate safely. Laws such as the General Data Protection Regulation or youth media protection regulations create important framework conditions. However, it is also crucial that children learn to use media safely and consciously. You will find many articles on our website to help you with this.
How much media time makes sense? What rules help in everyday life? And when does it make sense to have your own smartphone?
You can make clear agreements together and gradually give your child more responsibility. Your own behavior is also important here: Children are strongly influenced by how adults use media. Therefore, use media together as much as possible: watch content together, play games together or talk about it.
Personal data is quickly visible online. Many apps automatically collect information, even from children. This makes it all the more important to check the privacy settings together and handle data consciously. In the articles, you will find out which settings are important, where typical risks lie and how you can help your child to protect their data.
Children and young people can be confronted with stressful situations online, such as insults, false information or unwanted contact. The articles show how you can strengthen your child, recognize signals and react correctly in an emergency. Above all, it is important that your child knows that they can turn to you at any time.
Not all online content is suitable for children, especially on video platforms and social networks. Age ratings and technical protection measures can help, but are no substitute for guidance in everyday life. The articles will help you to better assess content and find a suitable approach together with your child.
A large proportion of media use takes place via messengers, social networks and online games. This can quickly lead to misunderstandings, conflicts or unpleasant situations. The articles show how communication works online and how you can help your child to act respectfully and safely.
AI chatbots, personalized content and new platform functions are now part of everyday life for many children and young people. The articles explain how AI works, where the opportunities lie and which risks you should keep an eye on.
This selection is an introduction. You can find many more articles on apps, games, social media and current trends on our website.
A commercial before a video, a bonus for watching an ad in the middle of a game or an interruption while streaming: advertising is part of everyday life for children and young people today. It is omnipresent and often integrated in such a way that it is barely noticeable.
Advertising on the Internet has been around for a long time. What has changed significantly is how it is integrated today. It no longer just appears alongside content, but directly within it. Children encounter advertising on different platforms at the same time, for example when watching videos, in apps, in games or on streaming services. Many services are free or cheaper because they are financed by advertising. Others offer paid, ad-free versions.
Important: This is about advertising that is displayed directly by platforms, apps or games themselves, not about advertising by influencers where people present products.
Videos on the Internet without advertising have become rare. Commercials run before and during videos, often several in a row or without a skip function. On platforms such as YouTube, these ads can appear several times in succession. There are also overlays in the image and references to paid, ad-free subscriptions.
It is often not clear to children where the actual content begins and where advertising ends. Advertising is often designed in a similar way to videos themselves, fast, colorful and entertaining. Many ads are personalized. They are based on what content has been viewed so far or what users are interested in. The basis for this includes cookies and user profiles that evaluate behavior.
Although special rules apply to content aimed at children, advertising is still displayed. Specially adapted content can therefore be useful for younger children.
Streaming services are also increasingly relying on advertising and, in addition to traditional subscriptions without advertising, are increasingly offering cheaper models with commercial breaks. These appear before or during a movie or series and are reminiscent of television. Here too, advertising can be personalized and based on previous usage data.
Advertising is particularly present in games and free apps. Here, it is often directly linked to usage: Anyone who watches an advertising video receives rewards such as coins, additional lives or new functions. This changes perception. Advertising is not only viewed, but actively used to progress in the game.
In addition, banners, pop-ups or notices about purchases appear within the app. These are often directly linked to the course of the game and can lead to quick spending. Children also encounter advertising in the browser, i.e. on websites, for example in the form of banners, pop-ups or videos that start automatically. These can appear while surfing and are not always easy to close or skip.
Ads also regularly appear in feeds and story areas on platforms such as Instagram and TikTok. They often resemble normal posts, but come from accounts that you do not follow. They are often labeled with terms such as “Sponsored”, for example in the feed or between short videos. These notices are easy to miss, especially for children.
In addition, trends, hashtags and challenges are specifically used by companies to generate attention for products.
Children first have to learn to understand and categorize advertising. Digital advertising makes this even more difficult because it is adapted to media in terms of appearance and content, is very short and entertaining and is integrated directly into games, videos or feeds. There is often no clear distinction between content and advertising. Younger children in particular are therefore often unaware of advertising.
Advertising content is constantly present and often not clearly labeled. Content is interrupted or mixed with commercial elements. Reward systems can lead to children making targeted use of advertising without questioning its purpose. At the same time, direct links quickly lead to purchases within apps or games.
Then there is the use of data: many advertisements are based on information collected about the behavior of users. Not all content is age-appropriate, even if there are corresponding guidelines.
Accompany your child, especially during their first steps in digital media. Explain in concrete terms what advertising is, why it is displayed and how it can be recognized. Use examples from your child’s everyday life, for example when playing games or watching videos.
Talk about the fact that many offers have to earn money, either through advertising or subscriptions.
Check settings together and restrict personalized advertising (if possible), deactivate or protect in-app purchases and use age-appropriate profiles or offers. In most services, advertising cannot be switched off completely, often only individual preferences can be adjusted.
Technical measures can provide support, but are no substitute for guidance.
Your child will soon be holding their first smartphone in their hands – and with it many new opportunities, but also challenges. In the virtual parents’ evening, you will receive everyday tips on safe settings, protecting personal data and child-friendly apps. We will provide tips on media education and show you how you can empower your child to deal competently with contact risks, cost traps and the like. Find out how to help your child use digital media responsibly – for safe and positive smartphone use right from the start!
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: 05.05.2026 | Time: 5 to 6 pm
Procedure: (Media educational) input (approx. 30/40 minutes) and subsequent open exchange
Speakers: Sophia Mellitzer (JFF) and Martin Fischer (DKHW)
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.
Registration:
A cute photo of the family party in the WhatsApp status or on platforms such as Instagram is a matter of course for many. For parents, it can be uncomfortable when pictures of their own child are shared without consultation. This is not about forbidding others to do something, but about protecting your own child’s privacy.
Photos of children are personal data. Once shared online, they are almost impossible to control or delete completely. Images can be saved, distributed via screenshots or simply forwarded. You often don’t realize this. The more people can see a photo, for example via status functions or public profiles, the greater the risk of it being passed on. Children’s pictures can be misused or forwarded.
Children have a right to privacy and to have a say in what is shown of them. They also have a right to their own image, which is why photos should not be shared without consent. At the same time, they are often not yet able to assess the consequences. Every time a photo is shared, a digital image of your child is created that they can no longer control themselves. It becomes particularly sensitive when photos are published together with names, place of residence or other personal information. If other children can be seen in the photo, parental consent should also be obtained. Many relatives or acquaintances mean well. They want to share beautiful moments or express their joy. This is precisely why respectful treatment is important.
Many conflicts can be avoided if expectations are clarified at an early stage:
It is important that your attitude is understandable, without accusations.
Some react with surprise or feel criticized. It helps to calmly explain why the topic is important to you:
A change of perspective can help. Would you want such photos of yourself to be seen on the Internet?
Despite agreements, it can happen that photos are shared. It then makes sense to react promptly:
In many cases, the problem can be resolved in a personal conversation.
The older children get, the more important their own opinion is. Ask your child whether they agree with a photo. From primary school age, many children are already able to decide whether a picture of them can be shared. This teaches your child to think about their own privacy and set boundaries.
Also pay attention to your own behavior. Ask your child and other parents before you share photos. This will show you what respectful behavior can look like.
If agreements are repeatedly ignored or conflicts arise, remain calm and clear in your stance. Raise the issue again and look for solutions together. In some cases, it makes sense to bring in outside support to clarify the situation.
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.
In the two game apps The Unstoppables 1 and 2, children accompany a group of friends on a joint mission. They solve tasks, work together and experience how differences become shared strength. It can be particularly exciting for children to control heroes with disabilities themselves – characters that are otherwise rarely the focus of games.
The Unstoppables is about Melissa, Achim, Jan, Mai and the dog Tofu. In both games, Melissa’s companion dog Tofu disappears – and the friends have to find him again together. Each character has their own strengths: Mai is good at jumping, Achim is fast in his wheelchair, Jan is strong and Melissa can reach higher things with her cane. In the second part, Rina is another character with a variety of talents. Only when the players combine their abilities can they overcome obstacles and solve puzzles. Both games are designed as an adventure and point-and-click app and are easy to use.
The game makes the challenges faced by people with disabilities visible. For example, children experience what happens when Achim in his wheelchair hits a gravel path and can’t get any further. The playful solutions to such situations encourage reflection and promote understanding and empathy. Crossing traffic lights, overcoming stairs, deciphering clues – children also learn how cooperation and community work in The Unstoppables. They puzzle together with their group of friends, solve tasks and think about who can best help and how. This is what makes the games exciting: each character can do something different and becomes important at certain points. This can encourage and show children: Diversity doesn’t get in the way here, it contributes to success!
The detective story and puzzles are fun for children and encourage logical and strategic thinking. The comic style, easy controls and exciting atmosphere are well received by children from late primary school age.
Despite many strengths, it is also worth taking a critical look: Some disabilities are strongly linked to special abilities in the game, which can have a simplistic effect. Barriers are also sometimes solved in such a way that individuals have to help rather than making the environment barrier-free. This can be a good opportunity for parents to talk to children about realistic and inclusive solutions in everyday life.
The games were developed by the Swiss Foundation for Children with Cerebral Palsy as part of the “Principle of Diversity” learning program. The aim of the offer is to sensitize children and young people to topics such as being the same, being different, diversity, strengths, weaknesses and barriers in everyday life. The games are explicitly not just for entertainment, but are part of an educational concept that aims to teach inclusion in a child-friendly and playful way.
Both apps require reading skills. Accompany your child for a while when playing, especially at the beginning. Support them with questions about the controls or the story.
Your child can easily lose track of time when solving tricky tasks. Agree clear arrangements together, such as a fixed screen time.
The Unstoppables offers many opportunities for conversations: about disability, about obstacles in everyday life and about what good cooperation can look like. Remain open to your child’s questions. If you don’t know something, you can research it together. This makes the game apps a good conversation starter about inclusion, diversity and consideration.
“A real man doesn’t show any feelings” or “Women only want successful men” – when scrolling through TikTok, YouTube or Instagram, young people come across many ideas about how men or women are supposed to be. Some videos look like harmless dating tips, fitness motivation or lifestyle content. However, they may be based on extreme or oversimplified role models.
A lot of content about relationships, dating or “real masculinity” is circulating on social media. Some creators convey clear rules about how men or women should supposedly be or behave. These are often about success, dominance, attractiveness or traditional roles in relationships. Some of these role models are also used by extremist groups to appeal to young people online.
The term “manosphere” keeps cropping up in this context. This refers to a loose network of online communities that deal with masculinity, relationships and gender roles. The content can be found on platforms such as TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, Reddit or in podcasts.
Many posts initially seem like advice for young men: they should become more self-confident and muscular, earn more money or be more successful in dating. In some communities, however, oversimplified or misogynistic ideas are spread. For example, it is claimed that men are disadvantaged by equality or that they have to be dominant in relationships.
In addition to content like this, there are also trends that show very traditional female roles. In the so-called tradwife trend, influencers present a life as a “traditional wife” who mainly takes care of the household, family and her partner. The videos often appear aesthetic and deliberately staged.
Much of this content is not overtly extremist. Problematic messages about gender roles are often conveyed indirectly or linked to humor, lifestyle or motivation.
Young people deal intensively with questions about identity, relationships and their place in the world. Content about role models can therefore have a major impact.
Some aspects may appeal particularly to young people:
The Tradwife trend can also appeal to young people because it shows a seemingly harmonious life model. Conflicts or inequalities usually remain invisible in such videos. In addition, social platforms often suggest other similar content. This can give the impression that many people think this way.
Some of these videos or posts may contain problematic messages or reinforce extreme role models.
Social network algorithms can also contribute to young people seeing similar content more and more frequently, resulting in a one-sided view of the world.
Young people often come across such content by chance. This makes it all the more important to monitor their media use.
An open conversation about relationships, equality and what young people see on social media can help to critically classify extreme messages.
Events such as wars, natural disasters or political conflicts often dominate news coverage for days on end. Children hear about these topics – through conversations at home, at school or on the internet. However, much of the information is difficult to understand or frightening. How can children be introduced to news in an age-appropriate way?
Children should learn to understand the world. However, many news formats for adults are too complex or show images of violence or disasters that can overwhelm children. What’s more, false reports and highly simplified or distorted representations spread quickly on the internet. Information can be shared via social media or messengers in particular without being classified. It is often difficult for children to recognize whether a message is really true.
Age-appropriate guidance is therefore important. Parents can help to classify what they have seen – and select suitable, safe offers.
When it comes to stressful topics such as war or armed conflicts, children need special support and a good understanding from adults.
There are various news services on the Internet especially for children. They use simple language, clear explanations and do not use particularly distressing images.
Recommended offers:
The children’s search engine fragFINN.de helps to find trustworthy children’s offers on the Internet. The search results are editorially checked and filtered according to age.
Some children prefer listening to the news to watching it. Podcasts can be a good alternative. Especially when images of crises or disasters could be stressful.
Recommended podcasts:
Young people often find information via social networks. News appears there in the feed between entertainment videos, memes or posts by influencers. As a result, it is not always immediately clear whether information comes from a journalistic editorial team or is merely a personal opinion.
Reputable offers therefore try to reach young people directly on the platforms they use anyway.
Examples:
Even child-friendly news can be unsettling. Some children react curiously, others quickly become worried. It is not only the media on offer that is decisive, but also the guidance provided by adults.
News about war, violence and armed conflicts shake us all. What adults often find hard to comprehend is usually even harder for children to understand. Keeping children away from the latest news is almost impossible. This makes it all the more important to accompany children and give them security. We provide suggestions for dealing with stressful news and present media formats suitable for children on this topic.
Children often get more than adults think. It is therefore important to take their questions seriously and respond to their feelings. If children can talk about their worries, it helps them to process the experience better. Comfort your child and show them closeness, for example by giving them a hug – this provides security in difficult moments.
Younger children process things that occupy them in play or by drawing a picture. If your child doesn’t do it on their own, you can encourage them to do it and join in. Expressing yourself in pictures or text can also be a great way for older children and teens. But conversations and concrete information are also important for them. Show your child age-appropriate offerings and alert him or her to possible misinformation. Encourage your child to show you if they are sent scary pictures and videos via social media or Messenger and talk to them about it.
When children hear news about war, it can make them feel insecure. Younger children especially need the reassuring message that they are safe and that adults care about their protection. Explain to your child that the war is far away and that many people and organizations are working to create peace. Show your child that they are not completely helpless, but that there are ways to do something good. Think together about how you can help, for example by organizing a fundraising campaign or taking part in a peace project at school or in the neighbourhood. This will show your child that you don’t just have to be afraid in difficult situations, but that you can contribute something yourself.
Even as an adult, you have the right to be overwhelmed with the situation and the news. You do not have to be able to answer all the questions. Be honest with your child and show your ignorance or feelings in connection with the events in war zones. It is important that you do not avoid the topic.
In our article “News for children and young people” you will find tips on how to deal with news in general and links to age-appropriate offers.
We recommend the following formats for parents and children on the subject of armed conflicts and war:
Even if stressful news is unsettling, you can give your child security and guidance with attention, closeness, open conversations and access to age-appropriate news formats.
Children and adults often use media differently and discover other exciting aspects of it. A joint media project offers the opportunity to share these perspectives and learn from each other. Sometimes children even show their parents how something works. And it becomes clear: media is more than just watching videos or listening to music!
Instead of just consuming media, you can get creative with your family. Smartphones and tablets, which can be found in many households, have a camera, microphone and simple apps that you can use to quickly implement your own projects. By trying them out together, you and your child will learn how the devices work. At the same time, your child will experience how media is created and that this requires ideas, planning and a little patience. Even kindergarten children can create simple animated films or photo stories and discover their own strengths in the process.
With our do-it-yourself media series, we offer you ideas for media projects at home. The aim is to promote creativity and actively experience digital media together – for example with radio plays, explanatory videos, virtual reality or making projects.
The website kinder.jff.de of the JFF – Institute for Media Education offers child-friendly instructions for creative media projects in the family. You can go on a photo safari with your smartphone or tablet, create a QR code rally, develop a children’s cookbook and much more. Short video instructions make it easy to get started straight away and show step by step how you can actively use apps and devices at home with your child aged three and over.
In the TüftelLab you will find practical ideas for getting creative with your child at home – from making, coding and robotics to artificial intelligence (AI), video and animation. For children of primary school age and above, there are projects where you can try out, build and design together step by step. The TüftelLab provides a wide range of materials, instructions and digital learning content to make it easier to get started and awaken a desire to tinker.
The NRW family portal shows what opportunities media offer for the further development of skills. Use the site as a box of ideas to develop small media projects with your child. Choose a topic together and immerse yourself in media production. You can find detailed instructions in the NRW media box: there are self-learning offers and online courses on audio, video and AI.
On Elternguide.online you will find even more ideas on how you can actively use media at home with your child. Take a look – we hope you and your child enjoy trying them out!
Sometimes you open an app and have the feeling that it knows more about you than you do. Algorithmic recommendation systems that sort, weight and prioritize content according to certain criteria are responsible for this. They determine which content is preferentially displayed to users, including children and young people. It is important for parents to understand how these systems work and what effects they can have.
Algorithms decide how content is displayed in the personal feed and also suggest further content in the search area, for example. In social networks, such areas have names such as “For You”, “Feed” or “Discover”. The principle is always the same: content is not displayed randomly, but selected individually. Such recommendation mechanisms are not only found in social networks, but also in streaming services, video portals and online stores. The basis for this is primarily usage data. This includes viewed content, likes, comments, length of stay, search queries, device information and, in some cases, location data.
Algorithms prefer to show content that matches previous interests or triggers particularly strong reactions, for example through surprise or provocation. Platforms want to display relevant content and keep users there for as long as possible. For children, this means that if they like something or stay with it for a long time, they will see more of it. Other topics fade into the background.
Instagram ‘s standard feed has been sorted algorithmically since 2016. A learning system evaluates various factors and decides which posts appear relevant. Among other things, previous interactions, the relationship to other accounts and the type of content are taken into account. Since 2022, users have been able to switch between a chronological view (“Follow me” or “Favorites”) and the standard algorithmic feed via the menu at the top of the app. “Follow me” shows posts from all subscribed accounts in chronological order, “Favorites” only shows selected accounts chronologically. The selection only applies to the current session and must be reactivated if required.
The system is constantly adapting. The more your child – or you yourself – interacts with certain content, the more it shapes the feed. This creates a very personalized stream of messages that often feels right for your child, but can also become one-sided.
Spotify also works with personalized recommendations. Spotify creates a taste profile based on listening behavior. Songs listened to, playlists, repetitions, times of day and duration of use are taken into account. On this basis, individual suggestions such as personalized mixes or weekly recommendations are created.
The system also compares listening habits with those of other users. Your child will be recommended music that matches similar profiles. This can open up new things, but also reinforces existing preferences.
TikTok places particular emphasis on viewing time and interactions. After just a short time, the system recognizes which videos your child watches longer or repeatedly. These signals have more influence than likes or the number of followers.
One effect of this is that content from unknown accounts can also very quickly gain a wide reach. At the same time, the video stream can narrow considerably if a topic is viewed particularly often. Sensitive or problematic content can also appear more frequently.
According to the Digital Services Act (DSA), very large platforms in the EU must explain more transparently how their recommendation systems work and, in some cases, offer non-personalized content display. These options are available, but are often not easy to find.
Your child should know that recommendations are technically controlled and not random. Discussions about algorithms help to better categorize content:
It is often difficult for children – and often for adults too – to understand why an app seems to understand them so well. This makes it all the more important to promote media literacy. This also includes talking about the fascination of social media and how technology draws attention. Trying things out together, such as resetting histories or adjusting settings, can lead to helpful “aha” moments.
Develop your own video game – with just a pen, paper and smartphone? That’s exactly what Draw Your Game Infinite makes possible. The app combines creative drawing with digital fun and teaches children the basics of game design.
With the Draw Your Game Infinite app, users can design their own platform game levels and try out the levels of other users. And this is how it works:
In the free basic version, users can create two levels per day without registering, use the basic design elements and try out and rate numerous platform game levels created by other players. A subscription offers access to a wide range of level creation functions, users can publish the levels they have created online and follow other players.
Children and young people enjoy discovering new things and implementing their own ideas. In Draw Your Game Infinite, they not only play, but also design their own levels and become game developers themselves. What is particularly exciting is that a drawing on paper becomes a real game – giving them an understanding of how games are constructed. Trying things out and failing is also part of the process: If a level doesn’t work as planned, it can easily be adapted. For older children, sharing their own levels in the community can be interesting, as it brings recognition and exchange.
As with many game apps, there are a few things to bear in mind with Draw Your Game Infinite:
The terms of use are available in English and French on the website of the French provider Zero-One. It states that users must be of legal age or require the consent of a parent or guardian to use the app. The provider also points out that some functions require an internet connection and that personal data is processed during registration. Users can contact the provider via a support email address.
Use the app as an opportunity to delve into the world of game development, programming and more with your child. It might even lead to a creative family project of your own!
Anyone who thinks that 360° photography or virtual reality (VR) is only possible with expensive technology is wrong. We will show you how you and your child can have your first VR experiences easily and inexpensively and introduce you to suitable digital platforms and applications.
It doesn’t have to be expensive VR glasses. For many purposes, a smartphone or tablet is enough. Google ‘s applications are particularly practical for trying out for the first time. Is there a place your child has always wanted to travel to? Search for it together on Google Maps, e.g. Niagara Falls. Go to “Photos” and select the “Street View & 360° photos” category. You can now view the location from all sides by swiping your finger to the right and left, up and down on the photo.
To really immerse yourself in virtual worlds, VR goggles would be great. They can be made easily and for little money from a pizza box, for example. These glasses are called a cardboard. And crafting and painting such your very own VR glasses is fun too! You can find out exactly how this works in these instructions from mein-guckkasten. You can also order the optical lenses you need for the VR glasses for a few euros on this page.
The free app Google Cardboard guides you step by step through setting up the VR glasses and shows the first short VR examples that are ideal for trying out. Start the app together with your child, place the smartphone in the goggles you have made and go on a journey of discovery!
Video platforms like YouTube offer a large number of 360° videos. With Cardboard glasses and the YouTube app, you can travel into space with your child or dive with sharks in the Caribbean ocean with just a few clicks. Search for “360 video” or “360-degree video VR glasses”, for example.
Further content such as VR videos and VR games can be found in many apps in the Google Play Store or Apple App Store, for example using search terms such as “Cardboard VR”, “360 VR” or “VR Games”.
There is a lot of content and games for VR goggles – but not all of them are suitable for every age suitable for all ages. For example, you can also find first-person shooter games in the app stores and 360° videos of natural disasters on YouTube. Weigh which apps and games are beneficial, but which may scare your child. If your child is younger or still inexperienced, only use such apps together. This way, you can intervene in good time if necessary.
It takes a moment to get used to looking through the VR glasses, as the brain first has to superimpose the two images that a smartphone displays in VR mode. Sometimes it helps to move the smartphone in the glasses slightly to the left or right so that it fits. Some people also get “seasick” when they put on VR glasses. This is what you should look for in your child. For starters, it is best to choose such content that does not contain movements and fluctuations. For other content, it can help to move along with the image or video.
Precisely because the virtual environment can feel so real with VR glasses, the addictive potential is greater for children than for adults. In general, immersion in virtual worlds with VR glasses is only recommended for children aged 10 and over. Accompany your child’s VR experiences and limit their time. Start with short units and slowly approach the technology together. Start by looking at photos before trying out videos or games.
You don’t have to limit yourself to ready-made VR experiences, you can also create your own content! Delightex Edu, for example, is a learning platform on which children and young people can create virtual 3D and VR worlds – directly in the browser and without any programming knowledge. For example, they can build digital exhibitions, learning spaces or interactive stories. This is a fun way for your child to learn how virtual environments work. Your child can build the virtual worlds visually by placing objects using drag-and-drop and assembling functions using simple building block editors (visual coding). The tool can be used via a browser or as an app (Android, iOS, Microsoft). The basic version is free of charge. Delightex Edu is available in different levels of difficulty and is suitable for children from around 3rd grade. Instructions are provided by TüftelLaB.
Has your child been scrolling through YouTube shorts more often lately? These short videos are often very captivating and can lead to your child staying glued to the screen for longer.
YouTube Shorts is an area within YouTube with very short videos in portrait format. They work in a similar way to TikTok clips or Instagram reels. They include, for example, funny clips and challenges, life hacks and craft ideas, sports and gaming scenes as well as dance and music videos – often created by influencers. The clips are 15 to 60 seconds long and are played automatically one after the other. Which videos are shown is decided by a recommendation algorithm – a system that is based on previous user behavior.
Shorts are particularly appealing to children and teenagers because they:
But be careful: even if your child is not looking for it, surprisingly unsuitable content can appear in between because the selection is automatic.
With a swipe, the next video appears immediately – and your child can easily lose track of time. YouTube has therefore introduced a new function in Parental Controls:
You can find clear step-by-step instructions at medien-kindersicher.de under point 1.5.
By the way: The YouTube Kids app can be an option for younger children. It filters content according to age and encourages less endless scrolling.
Technical time limits and protection settings can help you with media education. They are only helpful if your child understands why these rules apply. Watching too many shorts can disrupt sleep, concentration and other activities such as hobbies or homework. If possible, set the media rules for usage times, times and breaks together, then your child will be more likely to stick to them.
Do you often spend a long time scrolling through short videos on Instagram, TikTok or YouTube? Then it may be that your child finds it harder to understand why you are stricter with them. We adults often spend a lot of time on our smartphones ourselves, e.g. to use messengers, read the news, listen to podcasts and organize our everyday lives. Try to reflect on your own media use and limit it if necessary, e.g. by introducing cell phone-free times or planning screen-free activities together.
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.
It is actually forbidden – and yet it is surprisingly present: there is a drug scene on TikTok, in which some very young users are also active. Similar content can also be found on other social media platforms such as Facebook or in messengers such as WhatsApp and Telegram, but TikTok plays a particularly prominent role. This causes great concern among many parents, as such content can trivialize risks and convey misconceptions about drug use.
Illegal drugs find their way into the public domain via social media platforms such as TikTok. Under certain hashtags, there are videos of users talking about or hinting at their own drug use. These range from cannabis and mushrooms to MDMA, meth and heroin.
The substances are often not shown or named directly. Instead, the videos work with codes, slang terms, emojis or hints such as striking close-ups, over-excited behavior or extreme moods. In this way, the creators try to circumvent rules and still be understood.
Such content is prohibited under the German regulations for the protection of minors in the media as well as under the community rules of the platforms. TikTok prohibits the depiction, advertising, possession and trafficking of drugs. Nevertheless, such videos appear time and again. Some come from children and young people themselves, who receive likes or approving comments.
In recent months, terms such as “Pinktok” or “Pingtok” have also emerged. These terms are used to describe videos in which drug use is trivialized or only hinted at. In some cases, there are references to procurement or sale in the comments. In some cases, young people make further appointments there or then switch to private chats or messengers. In this way, not only are drugs discussed, but access to them can also be facilitated.
The problem with this drug scene, which is often just a click away, is that the videos appear colorful, relaxed and entertaining. Music, insider jokes and the feeling of belonging appeal to young people in particular. Risks, health consequences or addiction hardly play a role.
This can give children and young people the wrong impression. Drug use appears to be harmless recreational fun. Children and young people in particular who are looking for recognition, belonging or orientation or who feel lonely can feel attracted to such content. This is reinforced by recommendation algorithms. Anyone who watches such videos for a longer period of time is often shown similar content again. This can make the topic more and more present.
According to the community guidelines, drug-related content is not permitted – neither consumption, glorification nor sale. TikTok blocks known hashtags, deletes posts or restricts accounts if violations are detected or reported. The provider states that a lot of problematic content is detected automatically.
In practice, however, gaps remain. New terms, codes or trends are not always recognized immediately. Particularly suggestive or ironically staged content is difficult for automatic systems to classify.
In addition, legal requirements have been tightened, for example by adapting the regulations for the protection of minors in Germany. At European level, the Digital Services Act obliges large platforms to analyze risks for children and young people and take countermeasures. These measures improve structures, but do not guarantee complete protection of individual feeds.
A trusting relationship is crucial for both media and drug use. Stay in contact with your child and show an interest in their media use. Ideally, you will notice early on if your child encounters irritating content or has questions.
If your child is younger, technical protection measures can also help, such as TikTok’s accompanied mode or parental control functions on the device. However, technical protection does not replace a conversation, but supports it.
If you have the impression that your child is changing, seems mentally stressed or has already had contact with problematic content, the following steps can help:
A class photo is shared in a chat, a selfie ends up on social media. For many children, this is completely normal. And then suddenly a picture appears that never existed: a naked picture, but it has been technically manipulated. These are known as deep nudes. This can be extremely distressing for those affected. Many parents are unaware of this technology and only realize late on how quickly children can be affected by it.
Deepnudes are artificially generated nude images. They are created from real photos with the help of artificial intelligence. The AI analyzes existing images, digitally removes clothing and adds body parts to create a realistic impression. The image is completely invented.
The term originally comes from a specific program, but now stands for numerous AI-based applications that offer similar functions. Such services are often easily accessible, sometimes free of charge and can be used anonymously. It is particularly problematic that publicly accessible photos from social networks are sufficient for this purpose. Those affected often only find out about it when the image has already been distributed. By then, the damage is often already done.
Many children and young people grow up with AI applications as a matter of course. Filters, image editing and chatbots are part of their everyday lives. Tools for creating deepnudes are therefore sometimes perceived as a technical experiment without realizing the extent of the problem.
There are also developmental factors. Puberty is all about testing boundaries, belonging and making an impression. Some young people want to provoke, others adapt to peer pressure. They often lack an eye for the other side. That behind every picture is a real person with real feelings.
What’s more, deepnudes are not only created and distributed among young people. Third-party adults also use such AI tools to manipulate images of children, young people or adults. This poses an additional risk for those affected, as there is also a power imbalance, anonymity and possible criminal intent.
What begins as a joke or a test of courage can become very stressful for those affected.
Deep nudes are not a harmless trend. They are a form of digital, sexualized violence.
The feeling of powerlessness weighs particularly heavily. Many of those affected don’t know who they can turn to. Or don’t dare to say anything.
In Germany, the situation is clear: creating, possessing or distributing sexualized images of minors is punishable in the vast majority of cases. It does not matter whether the images are real or – as with deepnudes – artificially created. Personal rights, the right to one’s own image and data protection can also be violated, regardless of the age of the person depicted.
The consequences are difficult for children and young people to assess. What happens digitally sometimes feels less serious. This makes it all the more important for adults to provide guidance and clearly state responsibility.
Parents can’t prevent everything. But they can do a lot. Not through control, but through relationships.
Start the conversation early: Talk to your child about image manipulation, AI and deepnudes before anything happens. In an age-appropriate and calm manner. Explain that images can be altered online and why this is problematic.
Promote empathy: A change of perspective helps. Ask your child how they would feel if someone created or shared such a picture of them. This is often where understanding arises.
Take a clear stance: Make it clear that creating or forwarding such images is not fun, but a violation of boundaries. At the same time, children should know that mistakes are not met with anger, but with support.
Assure them of your support: Your child should be sure that they can turn to you at any time. Even if they are ashamed or unsure.
Act in an emergency: If your child is affected, stay calm and take it seriously. Save evidence such as screenshots or chat histories and report it to the police. But be careful with sexualized images of children and young people: It is a criminal offense to possess these. The Internet Complaints Office has summarized information on how to deal with these so-called depictions of abuse online in this PDF. Support is available from advice and reporting centers such as the Sexual Abuse Helpline and the Nummer gegen Kummer.
