Video or game night? But which movies, series or computer games are suitable for the whole family? What does the age rating on the cover actually mean? Age ratings protect against questionable content, but are not age recommendations. This article explains the differences and shows how parents can make good decisions for their children.
In Germany, there is a system for assessing whether media could be problematic or harmful for a young audience: Age rating or age labeling. It is carried out by various institutions:
All of these checks look at whether media content contains violence, sexuality, drug use or discrimination or is particularly frightening. The more such content, the higher the age rating. After the check, the content is given the colorful stickers with the age information on them that are widely known. If a film or game is not approved for a certain age, this means, for example, that it is blocked by youth protection filters or may only be shown on television from a certain time. In cinemas, the age of visitors is checked.
Media content is checked to see whether it could impair the development of children and young people. The aim of age ratings is to protect young adolescents from traumatizing or frightening content. There is no pedagogical assessment behind it: The content is not checked to see whether it is interesting or recommendable for young users!
A recommendation, on the other hand, is nothing more than a ‘good tip’. We get recommendations from friends and neighbors, from the radio – or from educators who check media offerings to see whether they are appealing to children, easy to understand and valuable in terms of content.
As anyone can make a recommendation, it is important to question whether it is well-founded and credible. In the case of private recommendations, it helps to assess the person. In the case of articles or websites, you should know and question the authors. Good sources include:
The age rating protects against questionable content, but it is not a recommendation. Recommendations, on the other hand, can be made by anyone with an interest in media – but the criteria for this are often unclear. A combination of different sources of information is therefore important.
If parents adhere to age ratings, they can avoid frightening or scary content. In addition, recommendations from reputable sources increase the hit rate for a good media offer enormously.
Ideally, parents should also see for themselves: watch the movie beforehand, find out about the game on YouTube or even try it out for yourself. After all, you know your child best and know what they like, what is too much for them or what they are afraid of.
And above all: keep the conversation going! Talk to your child about their media experiences. Listen and show interest in the movies or games they love – but also in the ones they don’t like.
And if you’ve chosen the wrong movie – no problem! There’s always the spontaneous popcorn evening on the sofa.
Digital media enrich our everyday lives in many different ways: Music programs at the breakfast table, navigation apps on the go or chats for organizing leisure activities. (Screen) devices help us to learn, to work and are often fun. No wonder they have become an integral part of our everyday lives, whether at home or in public spaces.
However, with the growing importance of media, the ability to use them responsibly and competently is also becoming increasingly important. Today, media literacy is just as essential as reading, writing or arithmetic in order to be able to navigate the modern world safely and successfully. Anyone who does not know how to use media in a targeted and considered way can quickly run into difficulties. But what exactly does media literacy mean?
Being media literate means more than just being able to operate a device. Although this is part of it, at its core it is about the conscious and responsible use of content. This includes the following aspects:
Those who are media literate know why and how they use media, can recognize negative effects and counteract them, while positive aspects are specifically promoted.
The call for “more media literacy” is often directed at children and young people. This is understandable, as they will shape the world of tomorrow. We may not know this world yet, but it will be heavily influenced by media, especially the internet.
You can imagine the internet as a city: There are playgrounds and nice stores, but also traffic and strangers. Parents don’t just send their young children off on their own, they accompany them, explain the rules and show them what to look out for. This is exactly how it should be on the Internet. Accompany your child as they explore the digital world.
Developing media literacy is a joint task from the very beginning – in the family, at nursery and at school. The younger the child, the more responsibility parents have and the more they act as role models. As they get older, children and young people can and should be allowed to have their own experiences – including with their own devices. Common rules and an open discussion are helpful here.
Media literacy is not a “children’s game”, it is just as important for adults! Parents who want to help their children use media responsibly need to be media literate themselves. Only those who understand digital technologies and platforms can provide guidance and act as role models. You should therefore actively engage with digital topics – through joint projects with your children, exchanges with other parents or further training courses in schools and education centers. Teachers are also called upon to strengthen their own media skills in order to pass on this knowledge. Helpful information can be found, for example, in ARD programs such as “Gemeinsam Medienkompetenz stärken“.
In addition, working people and older people also benefit from better media skills. Professional development and digital work processes often require new skills. For senior citizens, media offer numerous opportunities, such as contact with grandchildren via video chats. If you want to test your own media skills, you can find out with a self-test.
The world of film is exciting and diverse – and children and young people in particular love to immerse themselves in stories and identify with media heroes. However, not every offer that looks tempting is suitable for young viewers. As a parent, it is your job to give your child access to age-appropriate content. But how can you keep track of the jungle of streaming services, TV programs, movies, social media channels and media libraries?
Educational age recommendations and independent movie reviews can help you make informed decisions and select suitable content together with your child. In this article, we present four platforms.
Would your child like to search for exciting movies online themselves? KinderFilmWelt is a free and secure film portal aimed directly at children aged three to 13. Here, young film fans can find child-friendly reviews of current movies, TV broadcasts, streaming offers and DVD/Blu-ray releases. The films are rated by the editorial team and given educational age recommendations. They show the age from which the films are particularly recommendable and easy to understand. Users can rate films themselves with up to five hearts. The site offers a film lexicon that explains terms from the world of film and offers the opportunity to take a look behind the scenes of filmmaking via educational films. KinderFilmWelt is published by the German Children’s and Youth Film Center (KJF), which is funded by the Federal Ministry for Family Affairs. The portal bears the Seitenstark seal of approval for digital children’s media.
More info: https://www.kinderfilmwelt.de/
Do you need help choosing something suitable for your child from the multitude of moving image offerings? FLIMMO is a free and ad-free guide that helps families choose TV shows, streaming content and social media channels. FLIMMO uses a traffic light system to show whether a movie, series or online channel is suitable for children. Age recommendations help with the selection of age-appropriate content. Educational assessments explain what children like about the content, which aspects could be problematic and what parents should pay particular attention to. FLIMMO also offers practical tips on media education in the family, such as recommendations on going to the movies for the first time or tips on switching off. FLIMMO is published by Programmberatung für Eltern e.V.
More information: Parents’ guide article FLIMMO
Would you like to immerse yourself in the world of film and be inspired? filmdienst.de is an online portal for cinema, film culture and film criticism published by the Catholic Film Commission for Germany. It offers comprehensive ratings and reviews, interviews and portraits of filmmakers and news from film culture, such as festival reports. For you as parents, the platform offers educationally recommended children’s and youth films and thematic film recommendations, such as on friendship or school. Educational age recommendations give an indication of when it is worth watching (together). This makes it easier for you to find suitable films for different occasions or your child’s interests.
More info: https://www.filmdienst.de/suche/filme
The German Film and Media Rating Board (FBW) is an independent institution that assesses films according to their quality and awards outstanding works with the ratings “valuable” or “particularly valuable”. The ratings indicate a particular quality in terms of content and artistry. In the “Children’s and youth films” category on the website, parents can find high-quality films on a wide range of exciting topics – even beyond the well-known blockbusters. In the “Short Film Edition”, the FBW publishes recommended short films for children aged 4 and over, including accompanying media education material on DVD. Another offer is the FBW Youth Film Jury, in which children and young people from the age of 10 rate films and publish their recommendations on the Youth Jury website. These reviews give children and parents additional insights into age-appropriate films.
More info: https://www.fbw-filmbewertung.com/kinderfilme
Educational recommendations should not be confused with age ratings in accordance with the German Youth Protection Act. Age ratings such as those issued by the Voluntary Self-Regulation of the Film Industry(FSK) aim to protect children and young people from content that is harmful to their development. They are not a recommendation and cannot say anything about whether your child can handle the content well.
Educational recommendations assess whether a film or series is understandable, appealing and beneficial for a certain age group in terms of content and emotion. Educational assessments show how a medium can support or stimulate children and young people in their development. For example, films and series that address themes such as friendship, courage or cohesion and stand for certain values are recommended.
However, do not rely solely on recommendations, as every child develops differently. Actively accompany your child in their media use right from the start and observe them to understand how they react to certain content.
Just as the Highway Code lays down rules for safe traffic, the Youth Protection Act ensures that children and young people are protected in the media world. Especially in a digitalized society, it is more important than ever to offer young people guidance and protection.
The Youth Protection Act(JuSchG) regulates, among other things, how media must be designed today so that children and young people are not exposed to any dangers when using it. The comprehensively modernized version, which has been in force since May 2021, focuses more strongly on digital services. While previous versions focused primarily on so-called carrier media such as video cassettes and DVDs, CR-ROMs or audio carriers, the updated law also takes into account the challenges of the internet. Media providers must comply with this, otherwise they face penalties. However, this is not so easy because it is a German law and the Internet knows no national borders. However, if the providers of certain services are based in Germany, they must follow these rules. The EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA), which has provided uniform rules for digital service providers across Europe since the beginning of 2024, brings additional pressure.
The Youth Protection Act stipulates the age at which young people may have access to certain media – films, programs and online content. In doing so, it draws on the age ratings of the self-regulatory bodies. Providers are obliged to make default settings that protect children and young people in particular from interaction risks such as bullying, sexualized speech(cybergrooming), hate speech, tracking and cost traps.
Many online services and apps therefore have integrated parental control settings, for example TikTok and Instagram. They carry out precise checks on how old users are or even use video procedures to prove their identity. Nevertheless, it is difficult to implement this rule: It is almost impossible to find out for sure whether the answer is really correct by simply asking the user’s age.
The law also provides for reliable, uniform age ratings for games and films that are used online. In addition, the classification is no longer based solely on content, but also on possible interaction risks such as cybergrooming and cost traps.
Previously, the familiar age ratings of the USK and FSK only applied to games and films that were available on so-called carrier media (such as CD-ROMs or video cassettes). Online providers did not have to provide any age information.
Children and young people should be able to easily seek help and complain if they feel threatened or harassed while using media.
The new Federal Agency for the Protection of Children and Young People in the Media is to ensure that these regulations are actually enforced. Organizations such as the Freiwillige Selbstkontrolle Multimedia-Diensteanbieter e.V. have online complaints offices to which young media users and adults can turn to report illegal content or content harmful to minors.
Since 2024, there have also been new regulations throughout Europe for offers that are particularly aimed at children and young people:
Platforms must explain their terms and conditions (terms and conditions of use) in such a way that young users can also understand them well.
The long, hard-to-read texts that are often carelessly clicked away when registering must therefore be replaced by new, comprehensible texts. This should enable children and young people to really understand what they are getting into when they sign up.
Privacy, security and protection of minors should be improved: Providers of apps or programs should take measures to protect their users as well as possible from dangers such as fraud, bullying or hate speech.
Unfortunately, the exact measures have not yet been defined and there are few exemplary solutions. However, the European Commission can issue guidelines to support providers in implementing the precautionary measures.
On platforms such as Tiktok or Instagram, young users create profiles that also contain private information. According to current regulations, however, children and young people may no longer be shown personalized advertising based on this information.
The platform operators must also conscientiously ask the age of the users for this – because children and young people are even less able to see through the fact that personalized advertising is being targeted at them, which is why they need even greater protection than adults.
The repeated revisions of the Youth Protection Act are important in order to adapt legal regulations to the media reality of children and young people. The law can be an important guide for you as parents and offers protection to a certain extent. At least if the providers comply with the obligations set out in the law. Unfortunately, it cannot be ensured that this is always the case. In addition, a frame does not fit each child individually. That is why you should accompany your child very closely in his or her media use, especially in the younger years. The older your child gets, the more freedom they need. Always stay in touch about his media use. This is the only way you can help if, despite protective measures, it has unpleasant experiences on the net or does not understand something.
The smell of cookies, shopping stress, shining children’s eyes: the holidays are approaching and digital devices and games are on the wish lists of many children and young people. What should parents consider before and after giving a gift? Between the years and during the vacations, there is also time for shared family media experiences. How can this be designed in a safe, age-appropriate and even creative way? In this article, we give you an overview of offers from the Elternguide.online partner network.
The Christmas vacations can be long, especially when the weather outside doesn’t really invite you to play. You probably have devices such as smartphones, tablets, cameras or a laptop lying around at home. How about you and your child simply getting started, taking photos or filming yourselves, trying out new creative apps and actively organizing media time? It’s great fun and your child will also learn something about media skills.
On the website kinder.jff.de there are suggestions for simple media projects that children aged 6 and over can do on their own or from the age of 3 with support from you as parents at home. This is helped by child-friendly video instructions in which the implementation of the media projects is shown step by step. How about a photo memory with Christmas tree decorations or an audio story about Christmas traditions?
For young photo fans between the ages of 8 and 12, the knipsclub offers a safe environment in which they can try out their skills in a closed and pedagogically supervised photo community and exchange photos with each other. On the website you will find creative photo tips, for example on painting with light. A real eye-catcher, especially on New Year’s Eve!
You are probably familiar with challenges from social media, e.g. dance challenges on TikTok. Children and young people love to take on challenges. Challenges don’t necessarily only have to take place on the Internet, you can also play them at home with your family! Why not try out the top photo challenge, the clip challenge or the re-enactment challenge? We have made a few suggestions in our parents’ guide article. You can find more Advent challenges on the website of the JFF project webhelm.de.
Children have many questions and learn early on that their questions will be answered on the Internet. How is Christmas celebrated in other countries? What craft tips and baking recipes are there for Christmas? The children’s search engine fragFINN offers children access to 3,500 verified websites, including around 400 children’s sites. Primary school children can gain their first Internet experience here in a protected surfing room and learn how to use search engines and search results. In the fragFINN Advent calendar, children can open a little door every day, behind which there are links to other children’s sites with a wide range of information and offers suitable for the winter season.
You can find more playful learning pages in this parents’ guide article.
Your child will probably also enjoy watching videos. If you are still looking for suitable films, series or YouTube clips, take a look at FLIMMO and have a look.
In addition to age information and educational recommendations for all formats from TV, streaming, YouTube, TikTok and Instagram, you will find winter movie tips from the Grüffelokind to the Grinch and the Polar Express under the special “Highlights in Advent”. A TV evening together can be a really nice family experience, especially when it’s as cold and dark outside as it is during the winter vacations. In this article, FLIMMO explains what you need to bear in mind when adding media to your wish list.
Parents must decide individually when their child is ready for their first smartphone, depending on their level of development and experience. After all, a smartphone theoretically opens up the whole world of the Internet to your child, with all its opportunities and risks. klicksafe offers extensive information for parents. Use the smartphone readiness checklist to see whether a smartphone is ready for the Christmas tree. Has the decision been positive? Then find out about technical setting options for Android and iOS and watch the instructions in the form of explanatory videos. You can find all information material from klicksafe in this topic special.
Would you like to prepare your child for the first smartphone under the Christmas tree? Child-friendly information on the first smartphone is available in the children’s magazine Genial Digital from the Deutsches Kinderhilfswerk. The fragFINN app gives your child a protected surfing space on their first smartphone and gives them access to quality, positive content.
Are you considering buying a smartwatch as an alternative? Then take a look at this topic from klicksafe. Please note: technical protective measures are no substitute for family discussions and media rules. Stay in contact with your child and accompany them as they take their first steps with a smartwatch or smartphone.
In addition to discussions and media rules, technical youth media protection is an important component of media education. Use the settings for screen time and Digital Wellbeing settings on smartphones to set time limits for the entire device or for different apps and to filter content. The youth protection program JusProg offers a precise filter option for websites and safe default settings for mobile devices and laptops. Google Family Links and YouTube Kids offer in the world of the internet giant Google offer the opportunity to make media experiences safer for your child. Social media apps such as Instagram and TikTok also offer safety features and options for parental guidance. Streaming with the family can be a fun activity during the vacations. Almost all streaming services have certified offers for the protection of minors. Use your own child profiles and the parental control function with the PIN. Many of the youth protection programs have been approved by the expert commission of the Voluntary Self-Regulation of Multimedia Service Providers (FSM). You can find out more about technical solutions for the protection of minors in the media on the FSM website.
Detailed instructions for all devices can be found on the website medien-kindersicher.de.
Which games should I give my child for Christmas? Are games okay for preschoolers? In the family section of the USK website and via the USK brochures, you will find all the information you need on the USK’s age ratings, the additional information and how to deal with the subject of games in the family.
The USK mark indicates the age at which a game does not cause any developmental impairments. The additional information such as “fantasy violence” or “pressure to act” gives parents a good indication of whether a game is suitable for their own child. Educational assessments of games can be found at the NRW games guide. Descriptions of popular games like Fortnite, Minecraft or Roblox are available on Elternguide.online. The USK lexicon explains the most important terms, devices and genres.
Would you like to make your child happy with a game for Christmas? Find out about the distribution channels for games and technical precautionary measures. Various settings for the protection of minors can be made on consoles as well as in game stores and the games themselves. Play together with your child and ask them interesting questions about their favorite games.
The team at Elternguide.online wishes you and your family a wonderful Christmas season and lots of fun using media safely and creatively!
FSK, USK, PEGI, FSF and FSM – these are all abbreviations for institutions for the protection of minors in the media, so-called self-regulatory bodies. Parents come across their logos and age ratings everywhere: in app stores, on streaming services, on DVDs or in TV programs. We explain who or what exactly is behind them.
The Youth Protection Act and the Interstate Treaty on the Protection of Minors in the Media stipulate that media must not endanger the development of children and young people – for example through violence or other critical content. Age limits such as 0, 6, 12, 16 or 18 years help to classify content accordingly.
The audit is carried out by various self-regulatory bodies:
Tip: FSK ratings help to assess whether content is generally approved for young people. They are not a recommendation and do not help you decide whether your child can process the content emotionally. Platforms such as FLIMMO offer additional educational recommendations.
Tip: Platforms such as Spieleratgeber NRW rate apps not only according to age, but also according to their educational value.
Tip: Check age ratings and discuss with your child what content is appropriate.
The age ratings are a measure for the protection of minors. The aim is not to impair the development of children and young people, for example by depicting violence or sexual acts. The age ratings are binding. An 18+ game may not be sold to younger children and films that are rated 12+ may not be seen in cinemas by younger children without an accompanying adult.
Things are a little different within your own four walls: the state does not generally regulate what media content your child is allowed to watch at home. You may make media content accessible to your child that is not approved for their age. However, the duty to educate must not be violated in the process. You need to assess how your child handles certain content and whether he or she can process it. The age ratings provide a good orientation! FSK, USK and FSF ratings provide no information as to whether children already understand the content and whether it is recommended for a certain age from an educational point of view. However, the individual justifications of classified films, series and games can be read on the websites of the self-regulatory bodies. You should also take a look at educational recommendations, such as the NRW games guide and spielbar.de for games and the FLIMMO website for films, series and TV programs.
On the website of the public children’s media service KiKA, children can find lots of videos of their favorite series and films. There are also games, craft ideas and do-it-yourself experiments.
KiKA is the children’s channel of ARD and ZDF. On the website, you can watch documentaries, reports, news, animated and real series, films and shows from the children’s media range or follow the live program.
Online, however, there is more to discover on KiKA than the popular children’s series and formats. Various online games such as picture puzzles, games of skill or adventure and quiz games offer further entertainment. In the do-it-yourself section, children can find coloring pictures, craft ideas, recipes and experiments to get creative and active at home.
The KUMMERKASTEN also offers children the opportunity to find out about topics such as feelings, friendships and family, as well as problems such as cyberbullying or school stress in short videos. The KUMMERKASTEN primarily deals with challenges and problems during puberty and aims to provide support for adolescents.
Children can also contact the KUMMERKASTEN team at Diakonie if they have any problems or concerns: At Ask Sabine! children can find out how this works and can use a link to go directly to the advice page for children and young people of the Diakonisches Werk Berlin-Brandenburg-schlesische Oberlausitz e. V., with which KiKA and KUMMERKASTEN cooperate. Children and young people can get advice here via chat or email. Other offers of help such as the Nummer gegen Kummer, which offers telephone counseling, are also presented.
KiKA offers content for children between the ages of 3 and 13. However, not all content is recommended for the youngest children. Some content, for example the news program logo!, is only recommended from the age of 9. But even if there are suitable age recommendations, the following applies: watch the content together with your child and observe how your child reacts to the content. In a separate section for parents, educators can find information about the content and age recommendations for the respective programs. There you will also find additional material for the programs, such as colouring pictures or craft instructions for children. Also agree on times and duration of media use together. Media rituals in the family or a joint media usage contract can be helpful here.
This article is part of the “Parents’ tips on children’s participation platforms” project, which is part of the “Child-friendly digital services and orientation measures” program of the Federal Agency for Child and Youth Protection in the Media (BzKJ) and realised by JFF – Institute for Media Education in Research and Practice and the German Association for Voluntary Self-Regulation of Digital Media Service Providers (FSM e.V.).
“Mom, can I watch a video?” or “I want to play on the tablet, Dad!” – media is fascinating even for young children and has long been part of their everyday lives. But how much media use is appropriate in the first few years of life? How can parents introduce their children to media in an age-appropriate way and show them how to use it consciously?
Babies and toddlers are primarily concerned with discovering their environment with all their senses. Developmental steps such as eating, walking and speaking are the main focus. Their interest in media such as smartphones or tablets usually only grows through their parents’ example. Children learn by imitation, so it is important that parents are aware of their role as role models. Targeted, active media use, such as looking at a picture book together or a video call with grandparents, can be valuable and should be accompanied.
Simple offers are ideal in the first year of life. Music, radio plays or children’s radio, for example, can have a calming effect and offer a playful introduction to the world of media. Picture books and audio boxes promote understanding and are designed to be age-appropriate. However, rapidly changing images and sounds can overstrain a child’s brain, so it is advisable to be sensitive when dealing with moving images. Children are not able to understand filmed stories until they are about three years old. However, your child may already be watching series on the tablet together with older children. Accompany your child and pay attention to how your child reacts to content and intervene if necessary.
From around the age of three, children begin to understand simple stories better. Many children enjoy content with familiar favorite characters such as Peppa Wutz or Fireman Sam. Child-friendly apps and games that support creativity and initial learning are a good way for children to become active with media themselves. Parents should also be there to answer questions or provide support in case of uncertainty. If you and your child are already familiar with certain content, they can listen to an audio story on their own and watch an episode of their favorite series without you sitting next to them.
Media offer access to exciting stories and exciting worlds that appeal to children’s need for exploration and imagination. They support learning and interaction with others. Especially at kindergarten age, the shared experience provides support and creates topics of conversation with peers.
Children learn by observing and imitating what their caregivers do. Parents are also the most important role models when it comes to media use. What media children come into contact with and how present media are in their everyday lives ultimately depends on their environment and therefore, crucially, on their family. Put the smartphone aside when playing with your child. Enjoy time with your child and take time outs from the screen. Model a conscious and reflective approach to media.
And remember: children also have personal rights. Ask your child, if they are old enough, whether they agree to you sending photos of them via Messenger and, if possible, do not post any photos of children online.
With the Internet ABC children learn to navigate the Internet independently and safely through playful learning modules. Parents and teachers can find lots of tips and support for the media education of primary school children in separate sub-sections.
Internet ABC helps children of primary school age to gradually learn how to use the Internet safely. Here you will find interactive learning modules on topics such as chats, data protection and research, while varied exercises, puzzles and tasks bring complex content closer in a child-friendly and clear way. Animal companions guide children through the four subject areas “Learning School”, “Hobby Leisure”, “Fun Games” and “Join in Have a Say”. A comprehensive lexicon explains online terms such as posting and spam.
Internet ABC enables children to learn the basics of using the Internet safely on their own. The games and puzzles are fun and the website is updated regularly. Children can test their knowledge and obtain a “driver’s license for the Internet” with the so-called surfing certificate. A short online course to understand the technical basics and how to use a PC, notebook and tablet can be found in the Computer ABC.
In the join-in area, children can create pictures, write in the forum, take part in surveys or comment on the joke of the month and exchange ideas with each other. The comments are first checked for insults or private information and only then activated.
The service is also aimed at parents and educational professionals and supports them in teaching media skills on the Internet. In addition to tips and explanations, there is concrete assistance such as the media usage contract.
The Internet ABC provider of the same name is an association whose members include all 14 state media authorities in Germany. Internet-ABC does not use advertising, is free of charge and explains exactly what data is collected from users and what happens to it.
Independent media use is important for children and promotes media literacy.
Services such as Internet ABC enable children to participate in the Internet and help you to teach your child how to use it responsibly.
Such services are therefore a useful addition to their media education at home.
Even if children can navigate independently on sites such as Internet ABC, it is important that you initially discover the Internet together with your children and are there to help with questions and problems.
For example, the website warns against leaving Internet ABC when clicking on links.
Nevertheless, your child may come across unsuitable content on other websites. Therefore, talk to your child and accompany him or her as often as possible when using media. Protection programs such as JusProg, which block age-inappropriate content, are also helpful.
Equally important are common rules and time limits within which your child can navigate the internet alone. You can get tips and help with media education via the Internet ABC website or other offers and stay informed about current phenomena and topics. In addition, the exchange with other parents can be helpful.
This article is part of the “Parents’ tips on children’s participation platforms” project, which is funded under the “Child-friendly digital services and orientation measures” program of the Federal Agency for the Child and Youth Protection in the Media (BzKJ) and realised by JFF – Institute for Media Research and Media Education and the German Association for Voluntary Self-Regulation of Digital Media Service Providers (FSM e.V.).
Whether at the cinema, on DVDs, when streaming series or watching television – children, young people and parents frequently encounter the FSK age rating in their everyday media lives. Find out what’s behind the FSK ratings, how the ratings can help parents choose appropriate movies and protect young people from potentially inappropriate content in this article.
The FSK stands for “Voluntary Self-Regulation of the Film Industry”. It is a German institution that deals with the age rating of film content on all distribution channels such as cinema, DVD/Blu-ray and streaming.
The FSK’s task is to classify and label movies and videos in an age-appropriate manner. In doing so, they examine the entire content and the portrayal of problematic aspects such as violence and sexuality. The labeling with an age rating takes the form of colored symbols such as “from 0” or “from 6”. The symbols can be found, for example, on packaging such as the DVD case or on movie posters.
The FSK ratings are based on the German Youth Protection Act (JuSchG). It contains legal provisions to protect children and young people from inappropriate content. The FSK is not a state institution, but a self-regulatory body of the film industry, which in Germany is supported by various interest groups under the umbrella of the umbrella organization of the film industry. However, state representatives are directly involved in the audits.
The FSK evaluates various media in the film and entertainment industry when a review is requested, in particular
Not all media are rated by the FSK. Computer games are checked by the Entertainment Software Self-Regulation Body (USK), while the Voluntary Self-Regulation Body for Television (FSF e.V.) is (also) responsible for television content and streaming services.
The age restrictions serve to protect minors in Germany and are based on the media competence attributed to different age groups of children and young people. Volunteer examiners from all over Germany work at the FSK. They come from different professional fields, e.g. journalism, media studies, education and justice.
The committee examinations take place at the FSK in Wiesbaden. After viewing the films and videos together, they discuss and vote on the age rating. The basis for the rating is the Youth Protection Act and the principles of the FSK. Consideration is given to plot, dialogue, character portrayal, visuals, specific themes such as violence and sexuality, and music.
Children and young people themselves also carry out ratings with regard to age restrictions. In FSK children’s and youth panels, they take on the role of reviewers and discuss and assess the relevance of films for the protection of minors from the perspective of the target group. These children’s and youth panels are organized by the FSK and the permanent representatives of the highest state youth authorities at the FSK and are funded by the Hessian Ministry for Social Affairs and Integration.
Alternatively, after training, applicants can have their content rated using the FSK classification tool. The final decision on the test result is then made by the state representatives at the FSC. More information on the testing procedures can be found in the FSC’s principles and on the FSC website.
The following indications and problem areas have particular relevance for the respective release:
Since 2023, the FSK has been implementing a new provision in the German Protection of Minors Act and adding additional information to the known age ratings. These so-called “descriptors” are intended to explain the main reasons for the release and thus offer families more guidance when choosing films and series. More information can be found on the FSC website.
The FSK’s age ratings serve to protect minors, ensuring that children and young people are not adversely affected by content that is unsuitable for them. The releases are binding, which means, for example: films from the age of 12 may only be viewed by younger children in the cinema when accompanied by an adult.
The state does not determine what movies children can watch at home. Parents can also make media accessible to their children that are not approved for their age. Under the Parental Guidance (PG) regulation, the Youth Protection Act also allows children from the age of 6 to watch films with an FSK rating from the age of 12 if they are accompanied by a parent or guardian. This rule also applies if children are accompanied by a person with parental responsibility, such as relatives, persons in a special relationship of trust or those with a professional or regular educational mandate. However, the general rule is that they must not neglect their parenting duties:
Artificial intelligence is a thing of the future? Not at all! AI has long been part of our everyday family life. From facial recognition in smartphones and ‘intelligent’ toys in the children’s room to making work easier at school or at work. What does this mean for us parents and how should we deal with it?
AI, or artificial intelligence, is increasingly finding its way into our lives. By this term, we mean computer systems that are trained to behave like intelligent beings. For example, they can solve tasks, answer questions, recognize faces – and they can learn from their own mistakes. And with all this, they no longer seem like technical devices to us as users, but almost like a “real” counterpart. In everyday life, we therefore come into contact with AI tools more often than we think.
Sometimes we use the offers quite consciously – sometimes there is AI in them where we might not have expected it. Because intelligent systems really are already everywhere:
All these applications are now quite sophisticated and are convenient and helpful in many situations. No wonder we are happy to use them in everyday family life.
Nevertheless, it is important that we are aware of what is behind the smart devices and also keep an eye on the stumbling blocks and challenges in their use. These are, for example:
This poses a particular challenge for parents: we use AI tools ourselves in everyday life and want to make our children fit to deal with the latest media offerings – and at the same time protect them from the dangers. First of all, it is important to stay informed and keep in touch. Make use of information services and parents’ evenings, educate yourself and question your own use. Together with your child, think about which AI tools you would like to use in everyday family life, where AI is useful to you and where it should be used with caution. Establish rules together – especially on the subject of data protection – and decide what is used and how.
This also includes setting devices safely and, for example, consciously controlling the data usage of apps. Services such as the website medien-kindersicher.
The younger children are, the less they feel the need to use media. In the first years of life, other things play a more important role: contact with parents, learning to walk and talk, and so on. Your child needs a lot of attention from you in the first months and years. Therefore, you should not be distracted by devices. Agree on rules with your whole family about how to handle media in the presence of your child. Because even at baby age, you have an important role model function. If you don’t want your child to use media a lot already, you should use the smartphone or similar in front of your child little or not at all.
The older your child gets, the more he or she will be exposed to media. It wants to do the same as older siblings, mom or dad. Your child begins to understand what media is and how it works. It is becoming increasingly difficult to keep your child completely away from media. Rules can help shape how young children and preschoolers interact with media.
In order not to overtax your child, you should slowly expand the range of media used. Analog picture books, for example, can gradually be joined by audio stories and music. Short video chats with family members are also possible.
Young children can’t yet judge when it’s too much. If you schedule media use as a fixed activity during the day, such as an episode of Sandman before bedtime, your child will perceive it as a ritual to follow. Avoid using media as a babysitter .
Up to the age of three, very little time should be spent in front of a screen during the day. At this stage, children discover the world best with all their senses – with their hands, eyes, nose and mouth. On-screen content can quickly overwhelm them.
Between the ages of three and five, no more than 30 minutes at a time should be spent in front of the screen. These times are only an orientation. You know your child best and know what they can already do and understand. It is important that you accompany your child in their media use and observe how they deal with what they see and can answer questions. If your child seems very upset afterwards, the usage time should be reduced.
Young children perceive media much more emotionally than adults. Some things they cannot yet process or understand. Therefore, close support from you as parents is important! Technical solutions cannot replace the conversation with you. When selecting content, be sure to check for age ratings and educational assessments, if applicable. Explain to your child why she is not yet allowed to watch certain series that her older sister may already be watching.
It is important to actually follow the rules that have been set. If your child is still young, you should only use media together anyway, and you can be mindful of time. For preschoolers who may already be able to watch a series on their tablet alone, limiting them to one episode helps. An egg timer can also be helpful, since time indications are still very abstract.
Talk to your child about the reasons for fixed screen time so they understand the rules. If children learn to use the media in a sensible and controlled way at a young age, this will also be easier for them later on.
Amelie, now 28, says she learned English from the lyrics of rapper Eminem. Many adults probably feel the same way. Through “television” via streaming platforms, a similar phenomenon has emerged: English or other languages are learned virtually incidentally by watching the series in the original. Does it really work and does it also work for children?
The foundations for language learning are laid in early childhood. If your child hears foreign languages at an early age, it may be easier for him to learn languages later in school. Watching favorite movies or series like Harry Potter for older kids or Peppa Wutz for the younger ones can be a way and combine learning and fun. Most children can already understand whole sentences out of context. Pictures and sounds help. Translating individual words is not necessary. This makes it easier for them to watch movies in other languages. If their favorite show is in English, children often don’t even realize that they’re not listening to their native language. They also like to watch episodes and movies endlessly. Because they already know what is happening, they understand the content better in another language and learn English words along the way.
With most platforms such as Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and YouTube make it possible to watch films and series in the original language – often English. You can usually change the audio language in the bar below the video, where you can also pause the video. The language can be changed before or even during the movie. Often you can additionally display subtitles, e.g. in German or English. This can help teenagers or adults with comprehension if you don’t understand every word spoken. At first glance it may seem more complicated, but the brain quickly gets used to reading along. If the subtitles are also in English, you perceive the “foreign” language with different senses (hearing, seeing), which makes it even more memorable.
Some children find foreign languages easier than others. Once your child has learned some basics at school, watching movies and series in English can help reinforce the new language. It can also be an incentive and motivation especially for young people to increase their own vocabulary in order to watch English movies in the original language even more “relaxed”. For many, it’s even “cooler” to watch the hot series in the original. Of course, your child should only watch series and movies that are appropriate for their age. Info on how to guarantee this can be found at the parent guide here. Watching movies in English should be seen primarily as a tool and (unfortunately) does not replace vocabulary cramming. Also, make sure that your child enjoys it and that it does not turn into a chore that is done unwillingly.
The radio used to be the first choice for listening to favorite shows or radio plays.
Today, it is mobile devices that make a huge selection of podcasts available.
Children are also avid listeners.
Whether exciting and funny stories, child-friendly news or music programs – there is something for every taste.
We give you a few recommendations for podcasts for children.
Podcasts are audio or video files that you can listen to or subscribe to on the Internet and sometimes save so that you can listen to or watch them again and again.
They are usually audio recordings.
New episodes are published regularly.
Most podcasts have an overarching theme such as sport, culture or news.
These are often series that are continued and not complete stories.
For example, there are true crime podcasts in which real criminal cases are retold.
Children love stories. If parents don’t have time to read aloud, audio plays and audio books are a good alternative.
The older children get, the more interesting podcast formats become.
There is a huge range of podcasts online, aimed at different age groups from around the age of 3.
Podcasts are available on various websites and via apps such as music streaming services or podcast portals.
You can find more good podcasts on platforms such as Spotify, Spotify Kids, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music. There you can display podcasts filtered by category.
Pay attention to existing age recommendations when making your selection. To date, there is no mandatory age rating as there is for videos or games. Podcasts can be published by virtually anyone. Please read the descriptions carefully to decide whether the podcast is suitable for your child. Listen to an episode before your child listens in. In principle, you should always listen to the first episodes of a new podcast series together and talk about them afterwards. Ask your child whether it was fun, whether they understood everything or what new things they learned – and, above all, whether they were frightened by anything. Is your child older? We also have Podcast recommendations for young people compiled.
Or try your hand at making your own podcast. This can a great project for the whole family be.
As the world’s largest video portal, YouTube is very popular with children and young people thanks to its variety of formats and topics. They subscribe to their idols‘ channels, participate in the community via likes and comments, post videos themselves and share the latest clips and trends.
YouTube presents challenges such as personalized advertising, content that is not age-appropriate or hate speech. Younger children are not yet able to deal with such hurdles on their own. That is why the provider Google parents with YouTube Kids and Parental Controls to make their child’s use of YouTube safer, depending on their age and stage of development.
YouTube Kids is a special video platform for children. It filters out child-friendly content using a special algorithm and uploads it to the app or website. YouTube Kids is easy to use, but you cannot upload your own videos.
Technical errors can cause unsuitable videos to be uploaded to YouTube Kids . Further information on the service can be found in this parents’ guide article.
YouTube Kids no longer offers older children quite as much content that suits their age and interests. For example, many Let’s Play videos of Minecraft and the like, which are very popular with older primary school children, are filtered out. If you have a child account and a parent account, you can share individual videos with your child and expand the range of content on YouTube Kids according to your child’s interests.
Another option is parental control. With this function, YouTube offers parents the opportunity to set age-appropriate settings for children’s YouTube usage. To do this, parents must link the parent and child accounts, for example via Google Family Link. Select the “YouTube (parental control)” app in the child account settings. In the “Content settings”, you can choose from three setting options, which we explain below.
YouTube offers these additional setting options for every age group:
You can find more tips on how parents can set up YouTube safely on Media Safe for Kids and in the family section of YouTube.
Note: The format YouTube Shorts format shows an endless feed of short video clips and cannot be controlled with settings functions.
Stay informed about the safety settings on YouTube and adjust them again and again in consultation with your child and according to their stage of development.
Important: Attitudes towards technical youth media protection do not replace media education. Your child may still be confronted with content and situations that are too much for them. Remain open and interested and ask which videos and channels your child enjoys and what exactly fascinates them about them. Encourage your child’s media skills. Talk to your child openly and as non-judgementally as possible about topics such as advertising, communication risks or the influence of influencers. This way, your child will feel safe with you as a contact person and can confide in you if they have problems.
