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.
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“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.
Whether in books, series, films or audio stories – children learn role models through the media. This is because children identify with characters that they like. Classic images are often conveyed, such as those of strong heroes and beautiful princesses. Children are guided by these role models in order to develop their own personality.
From primary school age at the latest, gender becomes increasingly important for children’s identity. In many children’s films and series, girls and boys are still portrayed differently. Studies such as the MaLisa Progress Study (2021) show: Male characters continue to be more visible than female characters in children’s television. This is particularly clear in the case of animal, fantasy, robot and machine characters – they are still predominantly portrayed as male. At the same time, there are positive developments: The proportion of female characters in German children’s television has increased and stood at 44 percent in 2020. However, when the media tell similar stories over and over again – the brave boy saves everyone, the girl is mainly beautiful or caring – this can restrict children.
Trans and non-binary people have only rarely appeared in children’s films and series to date. For the most part, children’s media continue to tell stories about girls and boys within a binary gender role model. International studies such as the See Jane 2024 study show that LGBTQIA+ characters make up only a very small proportion of popular children’s television, at one to two percent; non-binary characters are almost invisible. Yet diverse characters can help children to understand that there are different ways of living gender, family and identity.
Many media offerings also remain one-sided when it comes to the portrayal of bodies and roles. Female characters are more often shown as young, slim, beautiful or caring. Male characters appear muscular, strong and athletic and more often experience adventures or explain the world. In family stories, women are still more likely to be shown bringing up children and doing housework, while men appear more often in professional or public roles. If children and young people repeatedly see one-sided images of beauty and bodies, this can make them feel insecure – especially if they perceive these images as “normal” and compare themselves to them. Studies show: This can increase dissatisfaction with their own bodies.
Occupations help children to imagine their own future. They are also guided by characters from books, series, films or audio stories. In many stories, however, professions are still stereotypically distributed: Women are more likely to look after children, family or care. Men solve problems, experience adventures or act as experts.
This can give the impression: Some professions are more suited to girls, others to boys. But the world of work today is much more colorful. A mother can be an engineer, doctor or scientist; a father can be an educator, carer or househusband. Such examples are important because career aspirations are often influenced by role models from an early age. In addition, technology and digitalization are constantly giving rise to new professions that have hardly featured in children’s books and series to date. If a boy still wants to be a firefighter or a girl a ballerina, that is of course perfectly fine.
In many picture books, families consist of a woman, a man and one or two children. Fathers often only appear as a secondary character. However, the traditional mother-father-child model, in which the mother looks after the children and the father goes to work, is only one of many family types today. Many children have several caregivers who look after them. These include, for example, the new partners of the (separated) parents. Rainbow families with queer parents are also rarely depicted in children’s media. And where are the adults who are not in a relationship but still like to look after their friends’ or family members’ children?
If you notice any questionable gender portrayals, feel free to address them: Who gets to be strong in the story? Who cares? Who decides? In this way, children learn to question role models.
Children need different role models. A diverse range of media shows them different ways in which people can live, feel and act. Stories that break down typical role models encourage children to accept themselves and to be open, tolerant and respectful towards others. We have put together some media tips for you that show diverse gender roles and different family forms:
Diverse families
I am me: self-image and gender identity
Out of the gender pigeonhole
Strong friendships and diverse role models
You can find more media recommendations in this article and, for example, at Regenbogenfamilien München and PINKSTINKS. If you would like to know more about gender in children’s media, we recommend this brochure for parents on dealing with gender roles.
Whether tidying up, dancing or in the car – music accompanies many families in everyday life. Children often discover music with their whole body: they listen carefully, sing along, move, clap and try out sounds.
Digital offerings can be a great addition: they help you get to know new songs and instruments or get creative yourself. Even if you don’t play an instrument yourself or don’t feel particularly musical: You can still accompany your child in their musical discovery. You don’t have to sing “properly” or play music perfectly. It is enough to enjoy sounds, songs and movement together.
Children’s song videos invite you to sing and dance together and discover new favorite songs. Children’s songs on YouTube are already suitable for younger children. If you want to search for and play songs there, it’s best to use YouTube Kids. There are no advertisements before or during the videos and it is easier to find suitable content for children.
On the channel Children’s Songs with Bobby there are music videos with the llama Bobby. The colorful animated cartoons are particularly appealing to small children. The songs can also be found on the website kinderlieder-mit-bobby.de, where they are sorted into categories such as Christmas songs, music mixes and lullabies.
The channel Kinderlieder zum Mitsingen und Bewegen lives up to its name: Here, families can find a large selection of different playlists full of well-known and new children’s songs where children and adults can sing, dance and join in together.
Classical music can also be discovered in a playful way for children, with digital offers that invite them to listen, try out and join in.
Children can learn a lot about instruments and classical music on the Junge Klassik website. The site has a colorful and playful design. Conducting an orchestra, finding sound pairs, getting to know sounds – even adults are sure to discover something new.
The WDR sound box is a fun way to explore the world of music. The site is designed as a web app and therefore also works well on smartphones. There are rhythm and sound games, concert videos and many other offers. The sound box is particularly suitable for slightly older children who not only want to listen to music, but also understand and try it out.
At first glance, operas seem more like something for adults. With the Opera Maker app children immerse themselves in the world of opera, invent their own stories and set them to music. The accompanying website shows what this can look like.
The children’s website Afrika-Junior provides insights into the musical worlds of different regions of Africa. Children can listen to popular children’s songs, watch video clips and test their knowledge in a quiz on African music.
The very simply designed website Surakinder offers a musical and picture-rich world of experience for children. Behind every field is beautiful music, dancing flowers, fairy tale characters and much more. The offer is also available on YouTube.
At Auditorix, everything revolves around music, listening and DIY. Children can discover music, develop their own ideas and even learn how to build instruments. The music box contains royalty-free music, for example for your own radio play projects.
With digital music tools, children can try out sounds, invent their own rhythms and create their first little songs.
On the interactive Chrome Music Lab website, children can experiment with different rhythms and melodies and create their own little songs. There are 14 music tools available for this purpose. The site is free of charge and can be used without registration.
The GarageBand app is pre-installed on Apple devices free of charge. It offers many virtual instruments with which children can compose their own songs. The microphone can also be used to record your own voice or real instruments.
Creating your own songs from beats and music tracks is possible with the Groovepad app. Short lessons make it easy to get started. The basic version is free, but only offers limited functions. The premium version costs 14.99 euros per month or 47.99 euros per year.
Apps such as Mini Piano Lite or RealDrum: Playing drums make it possible to try out instruments virtually. They don’t replace real instruments, but they do provide an initial playful approach. They can often be used to accompany simple songs or create your own recordings.
Not every child needs a smartphone with internet and apps right away. For younger children, a push-button cell phone can be a good first step: children can make calls and write messages without having to be online all the time. Many families experience this as a relaxed introduction because children learn to take responsibility for their own device, for example charging the battery, being reachable, looking after the device and adhering to rules.
Some families use a shared family device or an older smartphone belonging to the parents as a test phase, which is only used at certain times. Many children are already familiar with digital media via tablets or family devices. Their first smartphone is therefore usually not their first contact with media, but the next step towards greater independence.
You can find out more about how to assess your child’s maturity in our parent check-in “My child is getting their first smartphone – what should I look out for?“.
If you want a smartphone, it doesn’t have to be the latest or most expensive model. A solid, used or refurbished smartphone that is regularly updated is a good place to start. For many children, the smartphone is a status symbol, but parents do not have to fulfill the desire for a specific brand model.
Also helpful are:
A device that uses the same operating system as the parents’ smartphone is often practical. This makes it easier to set up security settings, screen time or family functions together and to help quickly in the event of problems. Some families also agree that older children will contribute to purchases or repairs. This makes many children more aware of how they use the device.
A prepaid card can be useful for the first smartphone. This means there are no additional costs and children learn how to use a fixed amount of credit. However, if the credit is empty, your child may not be able to contact you.
With a contract, there are usually fixed monthly costs, often with a telephony flat rate and a lot of mobile Internet. However, in-app purchases or additional data volume can result in additional costs. Younger children in particular can quickly lose track. Contracts are therefore more suitable for young people with some smartphone experience. Settings such as cost limits, third-party provider blocks or a limited data volume help to avoid unexpected bills.
Not only the device is important, but also the secure setup. Sensible basic settings are, for example:
For the first smartphone, blocked contacts or children’s versions of apps can also be useful. Regular updates keep the smartphone safer.
Technical protection functions support but do not replace supervision. Therefore, keep talking to your child about apps, chats and content. Also talk about what your child can do if something seems strange or unpleasant online. A jointly agreed media usage contract can help to make rules on usage times, mobile-free times and behavior in chats transparent for all family members.
Can’t find an answer to your question? Ask your personal questions about your child’s media use directly and conveniently via Messenger service via WhatsApp or Threema.
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.
Violent videos, inappropriate content or advertising: many parents worry about what their child could come into contact with in digital media. This often results in the desire to keep children away from smartphones, tablets or televisions for as long as possible. However, as digital media is present in many areas of life today, contact with it can hardly be avoided.
Many parents want their children to grow up without digital media for as long as possible. This is often based on the desire for a carefree childhood with lots of exercise, free play and direct contact with other people.
The development of basic skills is particularly important for young children: learning to speak, discovering the world around them, building relationships and gaining their own experiences. Some parents therefore fear that digital media could take up too much space in everyday life too early. Concerns about unsuitable content, advertising or excessive screen time also play a role.
Children experience at an early age that smartphones, tablets and televisions are taken for granted by adults. They see how messages are read, videos are watched and photos are sent. Children also encounter media outside the family with friends, relatives or later at nursery and school. By primary school age at the latest, digital media becomes a part of everyday life for many children. Children are curious and want to understand what is happening on screens. Especially when media is so present in their environment.
When parents try to ban media completely, it is precisely this ban that makes media particularly appealing to children. Furthermore, children only learn how to use media safely if they can gain experience. This is because media literacy does not come automatically, it develops step by step. Children have to learn to understand content, ask questions and categorize experiences. Discussions with parents play an important role in this. This is why many media education concepts do not aim to shield children completely, but to accompany them during their first media experiences.
For younger children in particular, it makes sense to use media together at first. Parents can select suitable content and explain what is happening on the screen. This creates shared media experiences that can be categorized and discussed.
This allows children to learn about media in a protected environment. Questions can be clarified directly and parents can react if children do not understand something or are frightened by content. It is not about trying out as many media offerings as possible. A small amount of age-appropriate content that is of interest to children and that they can understand is often sufficient. At the same time, other activities remain central: play, exercise, creative activities and conversations with family and friends. In addition to videos or games, children can also use media creatively, for example by taking photos or recording short stories.
Today, media is part of everyday life for many families. At the same time, this does not mean that it has to play a major role in family life.
For many families, a simple orientation helps:
In this way, children learn step by step to understand and use digital media responsibly.
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?“.
A smartphone offers many possibilities: chatting, playing games, watching videos. Using it needs to be learned. The decisive factor is not the age of your child, but what they can already do and understand. This checklist will help you to assess this more accurately. Your child does not have to fulfill all the points. The more that apply, the better prepared your child will be. The checklist serves as a guide and does not replace an individual decision.
… has gained initial experience in using a smartphone
… masters basic functions and settings
… has basic knowledge of costs and advertising
… consciously selects apps and content
… consciously handles personal data and privacy
… behaves respectfully online
… recognizes risks and can deal with them
… observes rules
… can assess their own usage behavior
Go through the points together with your child. This will help you recognize what is already working well and where your child still needs support. If many of the points apply, a smartphone of their own can be a sensible next step, with clear rules and support. If many points do not yet apply, your child should continue to practise these skills, for example on your smartphone first.
Even if your child is well prepared, support remains important:
Having your own smartphone is not a one-off step, but a learning process that you shape together.
Children and young people are online every day – in class chats, playing games or on social media. They need guidance and support in their everyday lives so that they can navigate safely. Laws such as the General Data Protection Regulation or youth media protection regulations create important framework conditions. However, it is also crucial that children learn to use media safely and consciously. You will find many articles on our website to help you with this.
How much media time makes sense? What rules help in everyday life? And when does it make sense to have your own smartphone?
You can make clear agreements together and gradually give your child more responsibility. Your own behavior is also important here: Children are strongly influenced by how adults use media. Therefore, use media together as much as possible: watch content together, play games together or talk about it.
Personal data is quickly visible online. Many apps automatically collect information, even from children. This makes it all the more important to check the privacy settings together and handle data consciously. In the articles, you will find out which settings are important, where typical risks lie and how you can help your child to protect their data.
Children and young people can be confronted with stressful situations online, such as insults, false information or unwanted contact. The articles show how you can strengthen your child, recognize signals and react correctly in an emergency. Above all, it is important that your child knows that they can turn to you at any time.
Not all online content is suitable for children, especially on video platforms and social networks. Age ratings and technical protection measures can help, but are no substitute for guidance in everyday life. The articles will help you to better assess content and find a suitable approach together with your child.
A large proportion of media use takes place via messengers, social networks and online games. This can quickly lead to misunderstandings, conflicts or unpleasant situations. The articles show how communication works online and how you can help your child to act respectfully and safely.
AI chatbots, personalized content and new platform functions are now part of everyday life for many children and young people. The articles explain how AI works, where the opportunities lie and which risks you should keep an eye on.
This selection is an introduction. You can find many more articles on apps, games, social media and current trends on our website.
