You can take photos even without a camera! With blue printing—also known as cyanotype—images are created on “magic paper” using light, objects, and water. Leaves, feathers, small objects, or cut-out paper shapes leave behind light-colored forms against a blue background. For children, this is almost a little bit magical—and at the same time, an exciting introduction to the world of analog photography.
Cyanotype is a very old photographic technique. It was already being used in the 19th century to reproduce plants, drawings, or architectural plans. You may be familiar with the term “blueprint”—it comes from this very context. In cyanotype printing, paper or fabric is made light-sensitive using a chemical solution. Where sunlight hits the material, a blue color develops later. Areas covered by objects remain light in color.
There are cyanotype kits available that let you make the “magic paper” yourself. To make the light-sensitive solution, mix two chemicals and apply it with a brush to watercolor paper or fabric in a darkened room. This is exciting for children, but should always be supervised by an adult. The chemicals are not non-toxic and can irritate the skin, eyes, or respiratory tract. Wearing rubber gloves, an apron, and, if necessary, a face mask, your child can take on individual steps under your guidance. Important: Read the package instructions, ventilate the room, and make sure your child doesn’t touch their eyes and washes their hands thoroughly afterward.
Alternatively, pre-treated cyanotype paper is a good option for getting started. You can order it online from art or photography supply stores. That way, the “magic paper” is already prepared, and you can get started right away with your child.
Before you begin, have all the necessary items ready:
With blueprinting, your child can create their own images without a camera at all. In the process, they’ll learn in a playful way that photography always involves working with light and composition. Discuss with your child: Which shapes are interesting? What happens when a subject is transparent? How does the image change with more or less sunlight? How is a 3-D effect created? This way, you’ll naturally engage in conversation through small exploratory questions. Blueprinting is also a great way to talk about media: A picture isn’t just created with a single click. Photography requires a conscious choice of subjects, light, timing, and creativity.
Start with pre-treated cyanotype paper. It’s simple and safer. If your child really enjoys it and is a bit older, you can try a set of chemicals together later on. Set aside enough time for this and turn it into a little family project in the garden, on the balcony, or during your next outing in nature. You can find child-friendly instructions for cyanotype printing at knipsclub.
Does your child spend a lot of time on TikTok? Do they watch one short video after another, and does “just five minutes” quickly turn into half an hour? Your child isn’t alone in this. The social media platform is designed to entertain immediately and keep users engaged for as long as possible.
TikTok offers quick entertainment: the videos are short, colorful, funny, surprising, and often emotionally engaging. The topics are diverse, ranging from dance, comedy, music, animals, gaming, beauty, recipes, and life hacks to glimpses into other people’s daily lives. There’s content to suit almost every interest, and the variety is vast. This can quickly lead to the feeling: “Just one more video!”
Many videos on TikTok feel very relatable. They don’t always look perfectly produced, but rather as if they could have been made by friends or classmates. This makes the content particularly interesting for children and teens. Plus, they can get involved themselves: recreate trends, use sounds, and like and comment on videos. With music, filters, effects, and simple editing tools, it’s easy to create your own clips.
TikTok isn’t just about entertainment—it’s also about a sense of belonging. Many trends, sounds, challenges, and memes are picked up by groups of friends, at sports clubs, or on the school playground. If you use the app and know popular TikTokers, you can join the conversation. Likes, comments, and followers quickly bring recognition. But creating and sharing your own content can also create pressure: Am I funny enough? Do I look good enough? Will my video be well-received?
The “For You” feed—also known as the For You Page—is particularly captivating. There, TikTok uses a recommendation algorithm to continuously suggest new videos that are supposed to match users’ interests. This quickly creates the feeling that “TikTok knows exactly what I like.” At the same time, it becomes harder to stop scrolling because a new video keeps popping up. Furthermore, this can lead to one-sided content—including on problematic or distressing topics.
Keep an open dialogue with your child. Ask them what they like to watch, which trends and influencers they find interesting, and whether there are any videos that make them feel uneasy or annoy them. The important thing is to listen to your child first and not jump to conclusions right away.
Talk to your child about algorithms and filter bubbles, and educate them on relevant topics such as the risks of online communication, advertising, and body image. Make it clear that not everything that appears frequently is automatically good, correct, or important.
Set up TikTok safely together. For example, review privacy settings, comments, messages, content filters, and screen time. Use“Guided Mode.” This allows you to limit daily usage time, set quiet hours, restrict direct messages, and filter certain content. This isn’t a substitute for talking, but it can help curb excessive use despite the app’s appeal. Agree on clear rules together—such as phone-free times during meals, before bedtime, or while doing homework. This will help your child use TikTok mindfully.
You can find more information about TikTok in this article.
Can’t find an answer to your question? Ask your specific questions about your child’s media use directly and conveniently via the Messenger service on WhatsApp or Threema. You can find more information here.
Many teenagers want to explore their sexuality during puberty and find out how they come across to others. Today, this often happens through messaging apps or direct messages on social media. It’s not always easy for parents to understand this topic. We’ll explain what sexting means, what risks are involved, and how you can support your child.
Sexting refers to the voluntary sending or exchanging of erotic or intimate messages, revealing photos, or videos via digital media. Such messages often arise during flirting or within a relationship. Sexting is not a phenomenon that affects only teenagers. In fact, adults use this form of communication much more frequently.
Sexting isn’t necessarily a bad thing. It can be an expression of trust or part of getting to know someone. The key is that everyone involved must be acting of their own free will. No one should be pressured into sending intimate photos or videos. Anyone who sends an intimate image never knows what will happen to it later. It can be shared or published without the consent of the person depicted. This violates their privacy. Legal consequences are also possible. Once an image is in circulation, it usually cannot be completely deleted.
In addition to personal risks, there are also legal restrictions. Children under the age of 14 should not take or send sexualized nude photos of themselves. Such images are legally considered depictions of child sexual abuse and are subject to specific criminal laws. Receiving, possessing, or sharing such images can be a criminal offense for adolescents aged 14 and older and for adults. This means, for example, that a 14-year-old may not receive, save, or forward such images of a 13-year-old. Older adolescents should therefore never request, receive, or forward such images.
Some perpetrators trick victims into sending intimate photos and later use them for blackmail. This practice is called sextortion. They threaten to publish or forward the photos. Even seemingly harmless photos can be manipulated today using artificial intelligence. That’s why it’s worth thinking carefully about which images of yourself you share before sending them.
It is not sexting itself that is the problem, but rather the misuse of the images. If intimate photos are shared or published without consent, the victims are not to blame. This can be very distressing for those affected and can trigger feelings of shame or fear of how others will react.
Talk to your child early on about sexting, boundaries, and the fact that both parties must consent. Explain to your child that no one has the right to demand intimate photos or exert pressure, for example with phrases like: “If you really like me, send me a picture” or “Otherwise I’ll break up with you.” Make it clear to your child that they can end the interaction at any time. Your child can always turn to you, another trusted person, or a counseling center and does not have to deal with such situations alone. Also explain to them that they are in control of their own body. They don’t have to send intimate photos and can say no if they don’t feel comfortable with something.
Also discuss why intimate photos of other people should not be shared. This violates the person’s privacy and can have legal consequences.
If your child is being blackmailed or sexually harassed with the threat of publishing intimate images, stay calm and listen. Do not blame them. Save any text messages containing threats or attempts to exert pressure. However, do not take screenshots or make copies of the intimate images. Especially in the case of sexualized images of minors, saving or copying them can have legal consequences for you. Report the content to the respective platform and file a police report if necessary. Make sure your child understands that the responsibility always lies with the people who abuse trust or distribute the images.
Visit www.safer-sexting.de for more information on the legal situation and support for those affected. JUUUPORT also provides information about sexting and the misuse of intimate images and offers confidential counseling to young people.
Whether it’s fashion, fitness, gaming, education, or lifestyle—children and teens spend a lot of time on social media, where they encounter digital role models. Influencers present content that entertains, inspires, or informs. This overview shows parents what types of influencers there are, what topics they cover, what young people pay particular attention to, and what opportunities and risks this entails.
They know what’s happening on the runways, at fashion labels, and in stores: Fashion influencers showcase the latest trends, offer styling tips, and often combine fashion with beauty, fitness, or lifestyle topics. Many children and teens use these profiles as inspiration for their own style, outfits, and self-expression.
Potentially problematic: unrealistic ideals of beauty and body image, intense pressure to consume, and product advertising.
Fitness influencers share workouts, nutrition tips, and motivation for an active lifestyle. Some consciously tailor their content to their followers’ daily lives and offer suggestions on how to incorporate exercise and healthy eating into their daily routines. They appeal to both athletically ambitious young people and beginners.
Potentially problematic: exaggerated body ideals, unrealistic fitness goals, and advertising for products or dietary supplements.
From savings accounts to crypto custody accounts: finfluencers explain saving, investing, trading and cryptocurrencies. They often combine tips with personal success stories and glamorous lifestyle portrayals. Older young people come across these channels when pocket money, part-time jobs or their first major purchases become relevant.
Potential issues: lack of qualifications, unrealistic profit promises, monetization, possible financial losses.
Politics, science, psychology, or history—knowledge influencers convey complex topics in a clear and accessible way. They explain concepts in an entertaining, approachable manner, often with a touch of humor. Many young people view them not only as a source of information but also as role models who influence their language, ways of reasoning, and academic interests.
Potential issues: limited depth, susceptibility to errors, monetization, oversimplified representations.
Grab the chips and popcorn—Let’s Players play video games and comment on strategies, tips, and stories. The gaming scene is predominantly male, but female and queer Let’s Players are becoming increasingly prominent and serve as role models for children and teens.
Potential issues: addictive potential, excessive screen time, monetization, interaction with strangers.
Whether it’s crafts, baking, or decorating their own rooms—DIY influencers provide step-by-step instructions for creative projects. Children and teens can try out their own skills and recreate these ideas.
Potentially problematic: risk of imitation during hazardous work, product advertising, monetization.
They let their followers take part in what appears to be everyday life: Preparing breakfast, shopping, decorating or doing sports – lifestyle influencers show everyday content and entertainment. Young people look to them as role models and follow their preferences and everyday rituals.
Potential issues: unrealistic expectations about everyday life, pressure to consume, advertising, privacy.
Dancing, comedy, pranks – entertainment influencers offer short, funny content. They are stars at peer group level and provide entertainment, but rarely more in-depth information.
Potentially problematic: content involving violence or pranks, monetization, unmoderated comments.
They campaign for the environment, social justice, tolerance and mental health. Sinnfluencer*innen motivate children and young people to get involved in society.
Potential issues: one-sided portrayals, ideologization, possible advertising or sponsorship.
They film beauty tutorials, showcase products, or offer skincare tips. They often promote their own products as well. This kind of content can be helpful for teens. At the same time, however, it can also reinforce the feeling that they constantly need to change something about their own bodies.
Potentially problematic: unrealistic beauty standards, unhealthy body images, advertising, product placement.
Food influencers share recipes, food trends, and tips related to food. Their content is often creative, entertaining, and relevant to the lives of children and teens. This inspires them to try new things and to see food as part of their lifestyle and a form of self-expression.
Potentially problematic: unhealthy exercise and diet plans, false health claims, unrealistic beauty standards, advertising, and pressure to consume.
Queer influencers are active in all areas mentioned above and offer children and young people insights into different queer realities. They open up new perspectives, can provide encouragement, raise awareness about discrimination, and convey the feeling that young people are not alone in their questions about identity, love, or belonging.
Potential issues: advertising, a lack of context for sensitive topics, and an overly one-sided focus on social media role models.
“Just one more round!”—many parents are familiar with this phrase. Whether it’s Minecraft, Mario Kart, or Fortnite, video games are part of everyday life for many children and teens. For parents, the question often remains: how do they strike the right balance?
There is no set amount of screen time that works for all children. Children develop at different rates. Therefore, the question of what role video games play in your child’s daily life is much more meaningful than the amount of time spent playing them.
Instead of counting minutes, take a look at your child’s daily routine. Is your child doing well in school? Do they have time for friends, physical activity, and other hobbies? Are they getting enough sleep? And are they usually able to stop playing without a big argument? If all of these factors balance out well, video games are usually a perfectly normal part of family life. That said, not every day has to be the same. On a rainy day during vacation, your child will likely play longer than on a school day. So it’s better to look at daily life as a whole rather than at individual exceptions.
Games are usually designed to encourage players to keep playing. New challenges, rewards, or group play sessions make it easy for children to lose track of time. If your child is reluctant to stop, it’s often not due to a lack of discipline, but rather the way the game is structured. Furthermore, some games can’t simply be paused. If your child is playing online with others, they don’t want to let the team down. Agreeing on a plan in advance usually works better than a sudden “That’s it now.” If your child knows beforehand that they’ll stop after this round or this level, it’s often easier for them to stop.
Agreements usually work better when children are allowed to help shape them. Talk about when they can play and which times in your family are intentionally screen-free, such as during meals or before bedtime. As children get older, they can take on more responsibility. Therefore, adjust your agreements regularly. Time limits or break reminders on consoles, tablets, or smartphones can help with this. However, they are no substitute for talking things through together. Video games should have their place alongside school, sleep, exercise, friendships, and family time—not take their place.
Sometimes video games take up too much of a child’s time. You should be on the lookout if your child shows little interest in other activities, repeatedly breaks agreements, or if there are frequent arguments about gaming. Even if sleep, school, or your child’s mood are suffering, it’s worth taking a closer look.
Ask your child to show you their favorite games and tell you what makes them fun and who they play with. Observe any changes over a longer period of time and talk about them together. When you show an interest in your child’s gaming world, it’s often easier to start a conversation—even about difficult situations. There’s no such thing as the “perfect” screen time. The goal is for your child to gradually learn how to use digital media responsibly.
Can’t find an answer to your question? Ask your personal questions about your child’s media use directly and conveniently via Messaging service via WhatsApp or Threema.
Children and teens often encounter queer topics through social media. On TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, Twitch, and other platforms, queer influencers offer glimpses into their lives: they talk about fashion, body image, or politics, and share their travels, daily routines, or everyday situations. In this way, they bring to light the realities of queer life in all its facets. For many young people, this content is part of their everyday media world—sometimes in passing, sometimes in a very meaningful way.
Queer influencers cover a wide variety of topics. They create fitness or beauty content, are politically active, or share stories from their everyday lives. What they have in common is that they identify as part of the LGBTQIA+ community and openly express this. For example, they may be gay, lesbian, bi, trans, non-binary, intersex, or asexual. You can find more information about these terms in the kindersache online glossary.
The extent to which being queer is a central focus in their profiles varies greatly. Some regularly share their personal experiences and discuss topics such as identity, coming out, body image, love, and friendship. In doing so, they also address issues such as discrimination and advocate for greater social and political visibility. For others, their queer identity is more of a natural part of who they are—one that influences their content but doesn’t always take center stage.
Of course, there isn’t just “the” queer influencer on social media. The community is large, and its members are very diverse. Here are five well-known examples:
Milo Pochylski offers a glimpse into life as a drag queen as Aria Addams. On YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, and Twitch, he shares makeup and “get ready” videos, bakes under the “Only Bakes” banner, discusses all kinds of everyday topics, and interviews guests. He has also appeared on the TV show Queen of Drags.
“Your non-binary sibling” is at the very top of the profile: “Your non-binary sibling”: Gialu.mx has been active on social media since 2020, creating content on topics such as transitioning, non-binary identity, and mental health, and has amassed nearly 2 million followers on TikTok and Instagram. Common topics include the journey toward self-identity, body image, and societal prejudices, as well as topics like sports and nutrition.
Traveling, getting married, becoming a mother—it all happens on the profile of Vanessa Borck, aka Nessiontour. At first, she gave her followers a glimpse into her family life with her first wife and their daughter. After their separation, she appeared on a queer dating show and, alongside a professional dancer, on a dance show, sharing her everyday life as a lesbian woman.
When it comes to polyamory, the best-known name in the German-speaking world is Saskia Michalski. With approximately 100,000 followers, Saskia Michalski talks about life in open relationship models, her own journey to a non-binary (gender) identity, tolerance, and the challenges she faces. Saskia Michalski is also active as an author, podcaster, speaker, and counselor.
Since 2017, Tim Kampmann, also known as twenty4tim Across all platforms: He posts on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube, appears on TV shows like “I’m a Celebrity,” and works as a model and singer. On social media, in addition to trends, pranks, and highlights from his life, his boyfriend Edin plays a central role.
Children and adolescents are at a stage in their lives when they are still discovering their identity and their place in the world. They turn to social media, among other places, to seek guidance on all kinds of topics: life paths and career choices, role models, gender identity, and sexual orientation. Influencers offer them a wide range of perspectives. They provide information, foster understanding, and empower young people to have the confidence to forge their own paths. Children and adolescents who identify with the queer community but may not have role models or people they can turn to in their immediate circle, in particular, can feel understood here or connect with like-minded peers.
But even if you aren’t queer yourself, you can broaden your horizons, build understanding and tolerance, and form your own opinions. At the same time, entertainment plays a major role. Queer influencers not only educate but are often creative, funny, stylish, political, playful, or provocative. Young people follow them not necessarily because of a label, but because they find their content engaging.
Whether they identify as queer or not: When children and teens are active on social media and discover influencers, parents can and should guide them through this experience. Show interest, ask questions, and engage with the topics that matter to your child. This way, you’ll stay in the loop, gain insight into their media world, and be able to support them as they grow.
Social media follows its own rules: Many things seem easier, more appealing, or more exciting there than in “real” life. Photos and videos are often heavily edited, and stories are shortened or sensationalized. Furthermore, a lot of content is also aimed at attracting attention or making money. It’s always wise to maintain a certain degree of skepticism online.
So talk to your child about how to make sense of online content: What is personal experience, what is an opinion, and what is advertising? Make it clear that there are also people online whose statements can unsettle, belittle, or harm others. If in doubt, ask questions, take a closer look together, and challenge problematic viewpoints.
Especially when it comes to sensitive topics like gender identity and sexual orientation, every person has their own story. Role models in the media can be important and empowering for children and adolescents. At the same time, they need people in their immediate circle with whom they can talk about their questions, feelings, and experiences—friends, parents, or, for difficult questions, professionals at counseling centers.
They chop and pluck, fry and bake, stir and blend—and always give us a close-up look inside their pots, pans, and cups. For food influencers, it’s all about food and drink.
Where a thick cookbook or baking book used to sit, smartphones and tablets have long since taken over: Instead of flipping through 1,000 pages of recipes, all it takes is a search term and a few clicks, and we’re guided through the cooking process in a friendly and entertaining way. Food influencers invite us into their kitchens on social media and share all kinds of ideas, tips, and suggestions about nutrition. You’ll find traditional cuisine alongside new vegan recipes, exclusive dishes, and budget-friendly options. Nutrition tips for weight loss, building muscle, improving health, boosting energy, or achieving healthier skin are also part of the content. The influencers are as diverse as their diets: from young to older, from trained chefs to experienced home cooks to newcomers. There seems to be the right food profile for everyone here.
Eating isn’t just a necessity—it’s always part of one’s identity, too. Children and teens, who are just discovering their own identities, often find role models and inspiration in food influencers. They may want to try new things or break away from the eating habits they grew up with at home. Some teens are looking for healthy recipes or want to follow a trend. Others want to lose weight or build muscle. Or they’re interested in vegan or sustainable eating. In their videos, food influencers make the topic of nutrition—which can sometimes seem a bit outdated— attractive and easy to understand. They speak the language of their young audience, invite them into their everyday lives, and, in addition to cooking instructions, often offer worldviews and life lessons that their followers are looking for.
For parents, it’s often good news at first when their kids get busy in the kitchen. A healthy breakfast instead of chocolate spread—and on the weekends, the kids whip up a cake. Who would complain about that? But despite all the excitement, the same rule applies to food influencers: Find out who’s on the screen, watch these so-called kitchen experts together, discuss what you see, and maintain a healthy dose of skepticism.
Some food influencers are true professionals —but there are also nutrition and lifestyle tips that call for caution. Some exercise or diet plans go way too far or are unhealthy. Alarm bells should ring especially when nutrition is portrayed as a cure-all. It’s particularly concerning when recipe ideas are linked to seemingly perfect bodies, fitness promises, or extremely slim beauty ideals. Additionally, edited or AI-generated images can reinforce unrealistic expectations of how bodies are supposed to look.
In addition, many food influencers earn a lot of money through advertising —either by selling their own products or by partnering with food manufacturers. It’s often hard for children and teens to tell where an honest recommendation ends and advertising begins. Recent studies show that influencers and social media advertising can significantly influence young people’s online purchasing behavior. Work together to determine whether a product is truly worthwhile, whether it’s labeled as advertising, and whether other independent sources confirm its claims.
Some food influencers also deliberately post particularly gross or absurd recipes to provoke hateful comments. The commotion in the comments generates attention and can thus increase their reach. Keep the conversation going with your child. The best part is when you browse food content together with your child, discuss it, compare different posts—and then try something new in the kitchen together. Ideally, it’s fun! And even if it’s a flop, at least it was funny.
The world of food influencers is vast and overwhelming. If you set out to find good content, you’ll find plenty—but you’ll need to carefully evaluate what actually works and tastes good. Here are a few well-known examples:
“But she’s allowed to do that, too!” Many parents are familiar with this situation: The older child is watching a TV show, playing a new video game, or using social media —and the younger one wants to join in. This isn’t always easy for parents, because they want to protect their child while also taking their frustration seriously.
Older siblings are important role models. Younger children, in particular, often want to do exactly what their older siblings do. However, they are not yet able to fully understand age restrictions or developmental differences. It can quickly seem unfair when an older sibling is allowed to do something that they themselves aren’t yet permitted to do. This feeling is completely normal and not a sign that you, as parents, are doing anything wrong. You take your child’s safety seriously. Children compare themselves to one another and gradually learn that different rules can make sense.
Many children are exposed to inappropriate content not because they seek it out themselves. This often happens on the couch, in the car, or in a waiting room. Older siblings or friends sometimes show them videos that aren’t age-appropriate yet. Even the best parental controls are of little help if children are simply watching or listening along. That’s why it’s important to keep an eye not only on devices but also on typical everyday situations where media is shared.
Rules are more easily accepted when children understand the reasons behind them. Explain in simple terms why certain movies, games, or apps aren’t appropriate for them yet. Phrases like “When your sister was your age, she wasn’t allowed to do that either” or“You’re getting older and will gradually have more freedom”often help more than a simple “No.” Children often understand rules better when it’s clear that they’re appropriate for their age and level of experience. They should be introduced to media, but in a way that they can easily process.
Older siblings can be important allies. They shouldn’t take on the role of a supervisor, but they can learn to be considerate. Talk to them about why certain things aren’t yet appropriate for younger children. Often, simple agreements—such as using headphones or watching certain content only when the younger children aren’t in the room—are enough. However, the responsibility for keeping them safe still lies with the adults.
It’s impossible to prevent this entirely. If it happens, try to stay as calm as possible and ask your child what they saw and how it made them feel. A single incident like this is usually no cause for concern. However, if your child keeps talking about a particular scene, asks a lot of questions, has trouble sleeping, or seems unsettled, further conversations can help them make sense of what they’ve experienced. Above all, it’s important that your child knows they can come to you at any time to talk about anything that’s on their mind.
Can’t find an answer to your question? Ask your personal questions about your child’s media use directly and conveniently via Messaging service via WhatsApp or Threema.
Children and teenagers usually use media to play games or watch various types of content. However, smartphones, tablets, and computers offer many more possibilities. With these devices, young people can tell stories, record music, make animated films, edit photos, or even develop their own games. This helps children discover how photos, videos, and games are created in the first place.
There’s more work behind many media projects than meets the eye. When you get creative yourself, you’ll see how videos are made, how images are edited, and how a game takes shape step by step. A radio play doesn’t just come together on its own, an animated film requires patience, and a game you’ve programmed yourself rarely works right away. Not everything works out immediately. Sometimes it takes several attempts before the result matches your own expectations.
Almost every child takes pictures of their pet, favorite toy, or funny moments with friends at some point. With a few simple ideas, these can turn into little photo projects, collages, or even their own memes. Younger children, in particular, enjoy experimenting with colors, shapes, and effects. Many teenagers create images for their friends or for their social media profiles.
Many children enjoy making their own videos. It doesn’t have to turn into a YouTube channel right away. A stop-motion film with LEGO figures or a short explainer video on a favorite topic can show just how much creativity goes into a video project. With very little effort, the results are often impressive.
Not all children enjoy being in front of the camera. Some prefer to make up stories, voice different characters, or experiment with sounds. You can create radio plays and podcasts using just a smartphone. Everyday sounds suddenly become sound effects, and an idea turns into a story of their own.
Recording your own music used to be a time-consuming process, but today, a tablet or smartphone is usually all you need. Many apps make it easy to record your own music or experiment with sounds and rhythms. Children can record their own songs or create new versions of familiar songs.
Not every media project involves photos or videos. Some children prefer to build robots, come up with their own game ideas, or take their first steps in programming. That’s how they discover what goes into apps, games, and digital technology.
In Minecraft, children spend hours building houses; in Animal Crossing, they design islands; and in Roblox, they create their own game worlds. What adults often see as just a game is frequently a form of creative expression for children. In the process, they create their own worlds that they can share with others.
Ask your child to show you their projects and ask about the ideas behind them. For many children, the process is more important than the final result. They want to bring their own ideas to life and discover what’s possible.
Take a look together at which apps are being used, and talk about what content should be shared—and what’s better kept private. Especially when it comes to photos, videos, or podcasts, children should understand what information might be visible to others.
Many ideas can also be brought to life together. Maybe you’ll create a photo story on vacation, a radio play on a rainy day, or a short animated film over the weekend. Projects like these lead to conversations and wonderful experiences.
Not every project needs to be published. Younger children, in particular, like to experiment. If you plan to share photos, videos, or podcasts online, it’s a good idea to discuss the following together beforehand: What can be made public? What information should remain private? And have the people in the picture given their consent to be published?
Whether it’s clothes, books, skincare, or short videos: kids and teens want to know what’s hot right now. Behind this is often a desire to express themselves and fit in. Most trends spread through social media. But not everything that goes viral there is harmless or happens by chance.
Social media trends are topics, products, or behaviors that suddenly pop up everywhere and are picked up by many people. They usually spread across multiple platforms such as TikTok, Instagram Reels, YouTube Shorts, or Snapchat. Among the trends currently gaining the most traction are book recommendations on BookTok, Get-Ready-With-Me (GRWM) videos, skincare and beauty trends, as well as aesthetic styles like Clean Girl or Coquette. Certain role models and youth cultures are also shared and discussed on social media, such as those surrounding Tradwives, Talahons, or similar online phenomena. In addition, new sounds, memes, dance videos, or viral products regularly gain traction.
It’s not just users who decide which content becomes particularly visible. The platforms themselves also play an important role. Algorithms ensure that popular content is recommended to more and more people. As a result, trends can reach millions of people in a short amount of time. This sometimes creates the impression that “everyone” is participating in a trend. In reality, often only a small fraction of users are actually participating. Many trends also disappear again after just a few days.
Artificial intelligence is also having an increasing influence on pop culture. AI-generated images, filters, and virtual influencers are becoming trends in their own right. It is often difficult for children and teenagers to tell whether content is real or was created using AI.
For many children and teenagers, trends are more than just entertainment. When they’re familiar with the same content as their friends or classmates, they feel like they belong and can join in the conversation. Trends also help them discover their own tastes and figure out what suits them. Many trends encourage people to get creative themselves. Children and teens share their own videos or recommendations and see how others react to them. Added to this is the unique dynamic of social media: new content is constantly appearing, creating the feeling that you can’t afford to miss out on anything. This feeling is also known as FOMO.
Most trends are harmless. Still, parents should be aware of certain risks. Not every trend arises spontaneously. Many companies work specifically with influencers and advertising partners to promote their products. It is often difficult for children and teens to recognize when commercial interests are behind a trend. It becomes problematic when this leads to pressure to consume. Viral products are often portrayed as indispensable. Those who don’t join in may feel left out.
On social media, children and teenagers are constantly exposed to images of seemingly perfect people. Filters, photo editing software, and AI-generated content often make people appear more perfect than they actually are. Constantly comparing themselves to seemingly perfect role models can undermine their self-esteem. Added to this are problematic fitness and diet trends. While some recommendations are shared millions of times, they are based on misinformation or even pose health risks.
Artificial intelligence also poses new risks. Some videos show celebrities or other people who appear to be saying or doing something. In reality, their image or voice has been altered using AI. Such forgeries are known as deepfakes. They can look deceptively real, even though they are not.
Just like with challenges, individual trends can also be dangerous if risky behavior is imitated or boundaries are crossed. That’s why it’s worth taking a closer look before jumping on a trend.
First, try to take your child’s enthusiasm for trends seriously. Most of the time, they’re just trying to fit in and find their place.
Let us explain and demonstrate the latest trends to you. Use these discussions as an opportunity to explore together why certain content becomes so successful.
Talk to them about algorithms, too. Your child should understand that certain content isn’t shown to them by chance. Platforms are designed to keep users on the app for as long as possible.
It’s equally important to take a critical look at AI-generated content. Explain to your child that images, videos, and voices can now be created artificially and don’t always show what actually happened. Encourage your child to verify sources and not to share content without asking first.
Talk to your child about asking questions like these: Who started this trend? Is something being sold here? Does this trend help me, or does it put pressure on me? Would I still do this if no one were watching?
Trends aren’t necessarily always problematic. It often makes sense to weigh the opportunities and risks together. Some trends lead to new books, creative projects, or conversations about topics that interest children and teenagers.
Children and young people encounter many different people, lifestyles and opinions on TikTok, Instagram and the like. Social media can make diversity visible and open up new perspectives. At the same time, there is also discrimination, exclusion and stereotypical images of beauty and roles. Young people can be influenced by biased social media feeds and influencers with a wide reach – often without even realizing it. In this article, we show you what you can look out for and how you can support your child in using social media in a more diverse and conscious way.
Social media offers people the opportunity to become visible and stand up for their causes. So-called “Sinnfluencer*innen” (a portmanteau of “Sinn” and “Influencer*innen”) draw attention online to barriers in everyday life, for example, or campaign against racism, environmental pollution or queer hostility.
At the same time, people who experience discrimination in everyday life are often also affected by insults, exclusion or hatred online. This can go as far as hate speech or cyberbullying. Platforms themselves can also exclude people – sometimes unintentionally. This happens, for example, when services are not barrier-free. For example, read-aloud functions, subtitles or image descriptions are important for people who cannot see well or have difficulty reading.
It can also be problematic if content on topics such as disability, LGBTQIA+ or politics is automatically filtered out by the algorithm. Certain posts are then not visible to some users. In the past, there have been such cases on TikTok, among others; after criticism, they were withdrawn.
We often encounter similar images of genders, families and bodies on social media platforms. In some cases, very common or even extreme role models are conveyed. This is already evident in the choice of topics: Accounts on fashion, beauty, decoration or nutrition are often run by girls and women. On the other hand, topics such as technology, weight training or finance are mainly posted by men. This can influence young people: Anyone who spends a lot of time on social media often encounters stereotypical role models there, according to a study by the MaLisa Foundation. This can influence how young people think about gender roles. Other perspectives and more diverse images can often only be found if you search for them specifically – for example via hashtags such as #bodypositivity.
Influencers in particular can contribute to stereotypical images of beauty and roles. Many successful female influencers appear slim and long-haired. Influencers often present themselves as sporty and muscular. Influencers are important role models for many young people. They are guided by their appearance, poses, facial expressions and gestures. For example, certain selfie poses are typical, such as when the hand appears to be casually resting in the hair.
Young people who follow influencers often compare themselves more with their appearance. In order to match their own images to the posts of their role models, they often use filters and tricks and focus on classic beauty standards such as large breasts for girls and broad shoulders for boys.
Ask your child who they follow on social media and what fascinates them about the content. Find out about current influencers, for example at FLIMMO. Look together for alternatives away from conventional role models. It is important not to devalue your child’s favorite influencers. These idols can be very important to your child. Instead, look at different accounts together and talk about them: Who is shown there? What body images, lifestyles and opinions are shown? There is a lot of content on social media that makes diversity visible. However, you often only find it when you search for it specifically. Examples of Instagram are:
Hashtags such as #inclusion, #diversity, #blackvoicesmatter or #mentalhealth can also help to discover more diverse content. If you and your child follow such accounts, your own feed will also gradually change.
Class chats are conducted via WhatsApp, reels are shared on Instagram and people organize themselves in sports clubs via Facebook groups. Many children and young people use several Meta services every day, often without realizing that they all belong to the same company. It is helpful for parents to understand how these services are connected.
Meta Platforms was originally called Facebook Inc. and was founded in 2004. The company changed its name to Meta in 2021. The company wanted to show that it has long been offering more than just Facebook and is increasingly focusing on virtual worlds and artificial intelligence.
The company includes, among others:
The apps are free to use and are primarily financed by advertising. To do this, Meta collects a lot of information about what content users view, like, comment on or share and how long they are active. Location data, device information and interests are also included.
Meta’s various services are closely interlinked. People who use WhatsApp, Instagram and Facebook at the same time leave behind a lot of information about their own usage behavior. Meta uses this information to create interest profiles for personalized advertising and recommendations.
In addition to social media, Meta is investing heavily in digital and virtual worlds. Users can immerse themselves in digital gaming or leisure worlds via the VR goggles Meta Quest. Meta is also integrating AI functions(Meta AI) directly into WhatsApp, Instagram and Facebook. They can answer questions, formulate texts, generate images or summarize content. Incorrect or misleading answers are also possible.
Meta-services fulfill many needs at the same time. WhatsApp is often the most important communication channel for young people. Class chats, appointments or leisure groups usually take place directly via the messenger. Those who cannot be reached there quickly miss out on important information or feel excluded. Instagram offers entertainment and opportunities for self-expression. Likes, comments and follower numbers give many young people a sense of attention and belonging. A lot of content is automatically suggested. Reels, memes, influencer content and AI chatbots provide a constant supply. As a result, children and young people often spend significantly more time on the apps than planned.
Meta services are designed to hold your attention for as long as possible. Children and young people in particular often find it difficult to switch off as a result. Possible risks include
Younger children in particular often do not yet understand how platforms select content or why certain posts are displayed repeatedly. Advertising or AI-generated content is also often difficult for them to recognize.
Meta refers to various safety and parental control functions within the apps. These include privacy settings, reporting and blocking functions as well as parental controls for individual services such as Instagram. The company also emphasizes that AI functions should be developed responsibly. However, critics continue to criticize the extensive collection of data and the difficult-to-understand privacy settings.
Make connections visible: Explain to your child that WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook and Threads all belong to the same company. Many functions, advertisements and data collections are interlinked.
Set privacy settings together: Regularly go through the privacy settings together. Among other things, check who can see content or send messages, whether the location is visible and which data is used for advertising. Public profiles, groups or AI functions should also be checked regularly.
Talk about algorithms: Children and young people should understand that platforms do not display the most important content, but often what generates attention for a particularly long time. This can be funny, but also provocative or emotionally charged content.
Question advertising and influencers: Discuss together how influencers earn money and why certain products constantly appear. A lot of advertising content appears personal or spontaneous, but is part of targeted marketing strategies.
Critically accompany AI functions: Explain to your child that AI systems are not real friends and are not neutral sources of knowledge. Answers may be incorrect or contain prejudices. Personal information should not be entered in AI chats.
Consciously organize screen time: Endless feeds and push notifications make it difficult to take conscious media breaks. Help your child to plan offline times and reduce notifications.
Remain open to discussion: Prohibitions alone are usually of little help. It is important that your child receives support in the event of unpleasant experiences and can talk openly about problematic content, conflicts or contacts.
They apply make-up, style, train and optimize themselves. They appear in children’s series, pose on TikTok and Instagram, walk down red carpets or present themselves in dating and reality shows – and always seem to look perfect. Media figures, influencers, stars and TV faces show what the “ideal” body is supposed to look like every day. This can put a lot of pressure on children and young people.
Big eyes, silky hair, defined muscles and seemingly flawless proportions: From an early age, children and young people are confronted with body images on screens that have little to do with reality. It starts with children’s television: Disney characters such as Elsa and Tarzan, the fairies from the Winx Club or superheroes such as Spiderman are often extremely slim or very athletic and muscular.
Children usually love such films and series not because of the stereotypes, but because they are exciting, funny, emotional or particularly beautifully staged. They tend to absorb the highly idealized body images in passing. However, these images can still be memorized and influence what children perceive as “normal” or “beautiful”.
For older children and teenagers, formats such as “Germany’s Next Top Model” or dating shows such as “Love Island” show very clearly what is important there: the perfect appearance. Anyone who doesn’t meet the expectations in terms of body, measurements and styling has a harder time. Success on the catwalk or in the search for intimacy and a relationship in such formats often depends on whether one’s own body conforms to the current ideals of beauty. Those who don’t fit in are sometimes publicly devalued or eliminated. This story continues on social media: Beauty, fashion and fitness influencersshow how to groom, apply make-up, dress, train and eat. Some also talk about cosmetic surgery, weight loss injections or other procedures. This often gives the impression that one’s own body is a project that needs to be constantly worked on in order to get as close as possible to a supposed ideal.
Young people often like such formats because they entertain, tell emotional stories and provide insights into topics that are important in their everyday lives: Appearance, recognition, flirting, belonging and self-presentation. They also invite people to join in the conversation – at school, with friends or on social media – and quickly become part of common conversations and trends.
These body images can be very influential, especially for children and young people. Young people look to their media for role models and ideas of how they want to be and what their lives can look like. If they are constantly surrounded by a certain body ideal, they may also develop the desire to look like this. They may even assume that personal worth depends on looking perfect – after all, this is the message that resonates in many TV formats and on social media profiles.
Children and young people are not necessarily able to recognize that body representations in the media are trimmed to perfection – staged representations and lighting, post-processing and effects create an illusion that no longer has anything to do with reality. What’s more, a lot of content on social media is now also altered, enhanced or even completely artificially generated using AI – making it even harder to recognize as edited or fake.
Trying to emulate such an ideal can lead to a lot of frustration and disappointment, to high expenditure on seemingly helpful beauty, training or nutrition products and even to tangible problems such as a disturbed body perception, psychological problems or eating disorders.
The offers are also often very gender-specific – for example, young girls are mainly shown make-up and styling tips, while boys are presented with muscles and strong heroes. In addition to the general pressure, this also reinforces clichéd ideas of gender roles.
Be aware of the body images your child is confronted with through their media use, for example via the parent guide for TV, streaming and social media services FLIMMO. Have your child show you their favorite shows or social media profiles and look together at what is being conveyed and shown. Talk about how media body images are created and why they are often not realistic.
You can also watch videos together that show how “perfect” pictures are created. If your child understands how media works and why the images on the devices are not realistic, this is a first step towards taking the pressure off. Educational resources such as this video from Funk can be helpful. You can find out more about how to deal with beauty ideals online in this article.
Create a counterbalance: use media time together and consciously watch films and series with your child that show diverse body images and don’t just use common stereotypes. You can also discover profiles together on social media that show other perspectives – and show your child that bodies can look very different.
It is very important to be aware of your role as a role model! Healthy eating habits, a friendly approach to your own body and an assessment of your own worth that goes beyond outward appearances are also shaped at home.
If you have the impression that your child is already psychologically burdened by certain body ideals, that their eating behavior is changing or that you are unsure – seek help. Talk to (school) psychologists, pediatricians or contact an anonymous counseling center such as the Nummer gegen Kummer.
Children and young people now use ChatGPT in many everyday situations, for example for homework, creative projects or research. The AI chatbot answers questions in just a few seconds and often acts like a real conversation partner. We explain what the tool is all about and what parents should look out for.
ChatGPT is an AI chatbot that has been trained with large volumes of text. It can understand language and formulate its own answers. Users enter a question or task and usually receive an answer within a few seconds.
The tool can summarize, explain or create new texts. Voice input is also possible. For children, using the tool often feels like talking to a real person, as the answers are formulated very naturally.
Parents can check data protection and security settings together with their child and supervise their use.
Note: As of January 2026, ChatGPT is no longer available via WhatsApp.
ChatGPT is easy to use and usually responds in just a few seconds. It helps with homework, explains difficult topics or provides creative ideas for stories and projects. Voice conversations are also possible. Questions can be asked verbally and answers are given in a natural-sounding voice. This makes it particularly easy for many children to use in everyday life.
OpenAI offers protection and control functions for families. Parents and teenagers can link their accounts and control various settings: quiet times, reduce sensitive content, restrict group chats, deactivate image generation and audio mode, switch off memory (storage function) and limit data usage for training and history. Stricter settings apply to linked accounts of young people. Parents do not see the chats, but can be notified in the event of potential risks.
OpenAI also uses age detection to automatically activate stricter protection functions for minors. These measures reduce risks, but do not offer complete protection.
Try out ChatGPT together: Use the tool together and talk about the answers.
Use the parental controls: activate and check the settings regularly.
Do not rely on technology aloneSupplement protective functions with discussions and support.
Encourage critical thinking: Explain that AI does not provide reliable facts. Ask ChatGPT to name sources and check them together with your child. A comparison with other AI offerings can also be useful.
Pay attention to data protection: Do not enter any personal data such as names, addresses or photos.
Talk about learning with AI: Make it clear that AI can support, but not replace your own performance.
Agree on clear rules: Decide together when and how ChatGPT will be used.
Keep the conversation going: Encourage your child to talk about experiences or problems.
Keep yourself regularly informed: Follow new functions and developments relating to AI offerings.
Mit Freund*innen chatten, auf Social Media aktiv sein, sich kreativ ausdrücken – mit dem Smartphone eröffnet sich für Kinder eine neue Welt. Viele Eltern fragen sich, wann ihr Kind alt genug ist für ein eigenes Smartphone. Eine pauschale Antwort darauf gibt es nicht, denn entscheidend ist vor allem der Entwicklungsstand des Kindes.
Der Wechsel von der Grundschule zu einer weiterführenden Schule ist für viele Eltern ein geeigneter Zeitpunkt, ein Smartphone anzuschaffen. Viele Kinder haben einen längeren Schulweg, den sie häufig allein zurücklegen. Über ein Handy oder Smartphone können sie schnell Kontakt aufnehmen. Die ständige Erreichbarkeit sollte jedoch nicht der Hauptgrund sein. Gerade für ältere Kinder und Jugendliche ist der wichtigste Grund für das eigene Smartphone der Kontakt mit ihren Freund*innen. Sie möchten dazugehören und mitreden können, wenn es um angesagte Apps und Social-Media-Trends geht.
Are you wondering whether your child is ready for their own smartphone? Then you should think about these things:
Ergänzend dazu bietet unsere Checkliste „Wann ist mein Kind reif für ein Smartphone?“ eine ausführlichere Orientierung. Sie geht Schritt für Schritt durch wichtige Kompetenzen.
Gehen Sie die Checkliste allein oder gemeinsam mit Ihrem Kind durch. Je mehr Punkte Sie ankreuzen, desto eher ist Ihr Kind bereit für ein eigenes Smartphone. Sie kennen es jedoch am besten und können seine Medienerfahrung und sein Verantwortungsbewusstsein einschätzen. Für jüngere Kinder eignet sich erstmal ein Handy ohne Internetzugang. Früher oder später wird ein eigenes Smartphone für viele Kinder Teil des Alltags.
Access to the Internet holds a lot of potential for your child, but also risks:
Wie Sie Ihr Kind vor sexueller Gewalt im Internet schützen können, erfahren Sie in dieser Broschüre von klicksafe.
Wählen Sie das erste Smartphone sorgfältig aus und beziehen Sie Kosten, Ausstattungen mit ein. Ein gebrauchtes Handy kann eine gute Wahl sein. Nehmen Sie sich Zeit, das Smartphone in Ruhe einzurichten. Achten Sie auf Altersfreigaben von Apps und aktivieren Sie die Sicherheitseinstellungen am Gerät. Besprechen Sie zusammen, welche Apps Ihr Kind nutzen darf und welche erst einmal nicht. Zu Beginn reicht eventuell ein Prepaid-Vertrag und keine Flatrate. So lernt Ihr Kind, wie viel es das Handy eigentlich benutzt und wie es mit mobilen Daten und WLAN angemessen umgehen kann. Auch Einstellungen im Smartphone können ein Bewusstsein für die Bildschirmzeit schaffen. Weitere Tipps, wie Sie die Handynutzung Ihres Kindes sicherer gestalten können, finden Sie in unserem Beitrag dazu.
Accompany your child as they take their first steps with their smartphone. Always inform your child about possible risks. Even before deciding to get your own smartphone, talk to your child about it. It can also be helpful to consult with other parents. Because most of the time, they face the same questions.
Establish common rules for media use that all family members adhere to. Keep an eye on your child’s usage times and signs of digital stress.
Find out about child-friendly offers and apps, such as the fragFINN app. You can find pedagogical assessments for mobile games at Spieleratgeber NRW.
Versuchen Sie mit gutem Beispiel voranzugehen. Missbrauchen Sie nicht das Vertrauen Ihres Kindes, indem Sie das Handy heimlich kontrollieren – ein offenes Gespräch ist der bessere Weg. Wenn Sie unsicher sind oder ernste Probleme auftreten, wenden Sie sich an pädagogische Fachkräfte oder (Online-)Beratungsstellen.
Child-friendly information can help children get to grips with the topic. The “Genial digital” magazine from the Deutsches Kinderhilfswerk (DKHW) provides children aged 8 to 11 with information about the internet and their first smartphone in a fun way.
Weitere kompakte Hinweise finden Sie im Eltern-Check-In „Mein Kind bekommt sein erstes Smartphone – worauf sollte ich achten?“.
