Meta AI is a new digital assistant from Meta, the company behind Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp. Without a separate app, young people can now access artificial intelligence directly via chat or search – for learning, chatting or collecting ideas. The question for parents is: how does it work – and is it safe?
Meta AI has been officially available in Germany since March 2025. A blue circle with a sparkling pattern signals access to AI-supported chats – directly in WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook or Messenger. A separate app is not required. The text-based assistant responds to questions, gives tips and suggests content. Meta AI is also integrated into the search bar on Instagram and Facebook. This can lead to users interacting with the AI unintentionally.
Many young people experience Meta AI as practical support in everyday life. The AI is available exactly where they are anyway – on WhatsApp or Instagram. It provides quick answers to school questions, helps with translations, writes texts or makes suggestions for posts and content. The AI is friendly, approachable and helpful, almost like a conversation partner.
Especially in comparison to more complex AI offerings such as ChatGPT or Perplexity AI – which specify sources or require special user knowledge – Meta AI has a much lower-threshold and more familiar effect because it appears directly in the familiar Allatgs apps. Many young people also try out Meta AI because they talk about it with their friends or share content.
Meta emphasizes that no private messages or data from minors in Europe are used for training. According to Meta, public content is accessed within the framework of applicable data protection laws. In the EU, users must actively object if they do not want their content to be used for AI training. However, data protectionists criticize the fact that there is no active consent.
Parents can best protect and empower their children if they stay in conversation and reflect together on how AI works.
A minimum age of 13 years is required to use Meta AI, or even 16 depending on the app, but there is no automatic age check. Talk to your child about these age limits too
Media are an integral part of children’s everyday lives – whether they are playing, learning or communicating. The KIM Study 2024 by the Media Education Research Association Southwest shows how intensively and diversely children between the ages of 6 and 13 in Germany use media. We summarize the key findings – and provide tips on how parents can support and empower their children in their everyday digital lives.
The older children are, the more often they use the internet – and the more often they have their own devices: 70% of 6 to 13-year-olds use the internet (2022: 62%). Almost all children aged 12 and over are online. Even among 8 and 9-year-olds, the proportion of daily internet use has risen significantly (2022: 23% | 2024: 40%). Overall, 46% of children own a smartphone, and more than half of children aged 10 and over.
Tip: Make sure you use age-appropriate devices, activate safety settings together with your child – and talk about responsible use of the internet.
More than half of children use media such as YouTube, online videos, games or messengers on their own – especially from the 3rd grade onwards. 54% of children who use the internet do so every day (2022: 47%). Among 12- and 13-year-olds, the proportion is as high as 86%.
Tip: Even if children become more confident with technology, it is still important that you accompany them. Pay attention to what your child uses and talk regularly about experiences, questions or problems.
Many children use apps and services that are actually only permitted from the age of 13 or 16, such as WhatsApp (73%), TikTok (42%), Instagram (25%) and Snapchat (21%). These age ratings are often circumvented because the platforms offer hardly any effective age verification. In terms of streaming, Netflix is now the most popular video provider with 21%, ahead of KiKA (14%) and YouTube (11%).
Tip: Check app settings, deactivate location sharing, for example, and talk to your child about risks such as advertising, cyberbullying or in-app purchases.
Many parents see themselves as responsible, but often do without technical protection measures. Two thirds of families do not use filters or safeguards. At the same time, awareness of the importance of media education is growing.
Tip: Safety settings and parental control apps are helpful, but it’s more important to talk to your child. Ask: What does my child see online? Who are they texting with? What keeps them busy?
In addition to this article, we also offer in-depth insights into the media use of younger children with the miniKIM study and the media habits of teenagers with the JIM study.
Further information on the KIM Study 2024: www.mpfs.de/studien/kim-studie/2024
“Look dad, a giant beetle!”, “Mom, can I eat this berry?”, “What bird is singing?”. When it comes to nature and the environment, children make many exciting discoveries. Apps and children’s websites invite you to discover nature and the environment and to explore and identify the animals and plants around us.
Children are curious by nature and want to understand exactly what they are discovering in the world. Whether flowers or butterflies, animal tracks or constellations – with the right apps and online offers, you can learn new things about animals, plants and the environment together with your child. Take advantage of your child’s love of discovery and combine it with outdoor nature experiences. We present four selected apps and two children’s websites.
What’s blooming by the wayside? Take a photo of a flower, stem or leaf on a walk and find out the answer in seconds – the Flora Incognita (Latin for “unknown plant world”) app makes it possible. It is easy to use and turns children into naturalists. Thanks to a special algorithm, the AI-supported app recognizes a variety of flowers, shrubs, trees and grasses and provides information about them. The discoveries can be saved in the app and thus provide science with information on the distribution of plants. Flora Incognita is the product of a research project by the Max Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry in Jena and Ilmenau University of Technology. The app is available free of charge and ad-free for iOS and Android devices. It is labeled by the USK from 0 years(Google Play Store).
More info: https://floraincognita.de/
“Cuckoo, cuckoo, calls from the forest!”. Birds often sit well hidden in bushes or on high trees. We don’t always see them, but can easily hear their chirping and calling. Telling the different bird calls apart is not so easy. The BirdNET app offers assistance. With it, bird calls can be recorded and directly determined. The profiles provide more detailed information on the feathered animals and the records are used for scientific purposes. BirdNET is a research project of Chemnitz University of Technology and the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. The free and ad-free app has a USK age rating from 0 years(Google Play Store) and is available for both iOS and Android.
More info: https://birdnet.cornell.edu/
The iNaturalist app is a social platform that connects nature lovers worldwide in a community. Users can upload and identify photos of all kinds of animals, plants and fungi via a profile. The observations are provided with the location and saved. This allows other users to look up what animals and plants have been spotted in the area and discuss the findings. There are an impressive number of discoveries in the free app. Nevertheless, it is clearly designed and easy to use for older children. iNaturalist is free and available for Android and for iOS. The app is labeled by the USK from 0 years(Google Play Store) and the use is allowed from 13 years according to the terms and conditions.
More info: https://www.inaturalist.org/
Big Dipper, Milky Way, Polaris: that’s how familiar most people are with our night sky. Beyond that, it often already becomes difficult. The Star Walk 2 Plus – Star Map app offers the opportunity to discover the stars and planets around us using the location of the camera function. By clicking on a celestial body, users can learn more about it. Using augmented reality, the app connects individual stars to form beautiful, three-dimensional constellations and accompanies the experience with atmospheric music. In-app purchases provide access to more categories such as satellites and comets. The app is free of charge and advertising in the basic version and available for Android and iOS. It is labeled by the USK from 0 years(Google Play Store).
More info: https://starwalk.space/de
Whether forest or meadow, city or countryside, mountains or water – children encounter nature everywhere. The NAJUversum website invites children aged 6 to 12 to discover the environment in a playful and interactive way. With child-friendly texts, exciting videos, games and hands-on activities, they learn a lot about animals, plants and habitats. Whether they want to find out how to build a squirrel house, how to separate waste correctly or how vegetables can grow without soil – NAJUversum makes them want to learn, do handicrafts and discover. The platform is offered by Naturschutzjugend (NAJU), the children’s and youth organization of NABU (Nature and Biodiversity Conservation Union Germany). It has been recognized by Seitenstark as a high-quality children’s website.
More info: https://www.najuversum.de/
“Why is biodiversity important?” and “What can we look out for in our everyday lives to protect the environment?” The online environmental magazine Ökoleo answers these and other questions. It is aimed at children and young people aged 9 to 14. New articles on various nature and environmental topics are published weekly. Texts and images, videos and audio invite users to discover, participate and get active. Users can test their knowledge of nature in small quizzes. An encyclopaedia and excursion tips for Hesse give children even more ideas for getting active outdoors themselves. Ökoleo is an online magazine of the Hessian Ministry for the Environment, Climate Protection, Agriculture and Consumer Protection and is certified by Seitenstark.
More info: https://www.oekoleo.de/
Dance videos, make-up tips, political opinions – and lots of product recommendations. On TikTok, influencers in particular offer all kinds of entertainment as well as many products. TikTok has now integrated its own store where these products can be purchased directly. This shortens the path to the desired object and entails risks.
Over time, social networks such as TikTok have developed into huge advertising platforms for products. Young people in particular discover things there – whether through influencers, brand profiles or targeted searches. The algorithm shows them products that match their preferences very closely. This creates a high willingness to buy.
In the past, users had to leave TikTok to buy a product externally. Since March 2025, TikTok has now also launched its own store in Germany. It was already active in the USA, the UK, Ireland and Spain.
According to TikTok, users must be at least 18 years old and have entered their bank details in their profile to be able to make a purchase. The entire purchase process runs directly via TikTok – from selection to payment.
The TikTok Shop makes shopping much easier: if a product appears in a video that you find interesting, one click is often all it takes to order it. No changing apps, no searching the internet, no hurdles.
This is particularly appealing to young people who use TikTok for entertainment anyway. The algorithm’s targeted recommendations, based on previous likes and searches, also increase the appeal. The content in the store is also eye-catching, colorful and specially tailored to the trends and interests of young target groups.
Precisely because everything works so quickly and easily, the risk of impulse buying also increases. This can lead to unnecessary spending, dubious purchases (e.g. counterfeit or poor quality products) and the feeling of constantly “missing out” on something.
In addition, children and young people are often unable to assess whether a video contains advertising or not. Many influencers do not label their content sufficiently. Artificial time pressure (“only 2 minutes left”) or scarcity (“almost sold out” or “limited edition”) are also sales strategies that work particularly well with young users.
The return or complaint conditions in the TikTok Shop are also sometimes unclear and difficult to find.
TikTok emphasizes that only users of legal age with registered payment details may use the store. The platform states that it actively takes action against fraudulent providers and obliges influencers to label their advertising. However, there is criticism that these controls are not adequately implemented in practice.
Google search provides a direct summary of the results, a purple circle on WhatsApp invites questions and conversations and the My AI chatbot pushes its way between contacts on Snapchat. AI services and tools no longer have to be accessed via dedicated apps or websites, but are now integrated into search engines, messengers and social networks. This means that these applications are part of our everyday lives without us even having to become active. This can be helpful, but it also has its pitfalls, especially for young users.
AI, or artificial intelligence, refers to programs and systems that imitate the way the human brain absorbs, processes and outputs information. -On the basis of ever more training data, they process tasks that we humans set them. AI applications have long been developed and used in many areas such as medicine and industry. Since the end of 2022, AI applications have been coming more and more directly to us: That’s when the chatbot ChatGPT was made available to the public free of charge. This is generative AI. This is a technology in which computer systems are trained to generate “new” content synthetically, for example text, images, video or audio content. Since then, AI offerings have become widespread and have also become part of the everyday lives of children and young people. They search for information (similar to search engines), have images created, questions answered and have conversations that almost feel like human communication – but are not.
New developments at the beginning of 2025 show how present AI has become:
For children and young people, AI tools often offer practical help in everyday life as well as fun and entertainment:
Kids photos are great! They show without big words how colorful, funny, exciting and chaotic everyday life with children can be. Thanks to smartphones, beautiful moments can be captured easily and quickly and shared with family and friends. In a few seconds, the cute snapshot of your baby with the first porridge on her face is over Instagram and WhatsApp shared.
What parents find cute and share with the world can have quite unpleasant consequences for children (later on). Even if you as a parent like all the photos of your child, put yourself in your child’s shoes! You probably don’t like yourself in every photo either. Froma children’s rights perspective, photos of children on the Internet are questionable, because too often they are posted without their consent. Just like adults, children have a right to privacy (Art. 16, UN Convention on the Rights of the Child) and the right to their own image, and thus the freedom to decide for themselves in principle what and how much they reveal about themselves.
Do not underestimate the fact that information and images are quickly spread online and can be found easily and indefinitely. Although a photo is deleted from a profile, post, story, status or blog, the images can continue to circulate. Others can copy them, take a screenshot, distort them and distribute them further. Images of children can be misused by strangers, everyday photos can be sexualized or unflattering images can increase the risk of cyberbullying. This makes it all more important that you, as adults, deal consciously and considerately with your child’s personal rights on the Internet.
No, it doesn’t have to mean that! Children are part of our society and therefore they should be visible – also in the digital world. The decisive factor is how children are portrayed: In which situations can you see your child in the photo? Can you see the face clearly? Who can see photos when you post them? If you follow a few rules, there’s nothing wrong with sharing a child’s photo while preserving your child’s privacy rights. Not to be forgotten is the child’s right to participation (Art. 12, UN CRC), which is why it is important to involve children in an age-appropriate way and obtain their consent. The German Children’s Fund also provides comprehensive information about children’s photos on the internet. In its unbubble format, ZDF also addressed the topic of children’s photos on social media, with various people presenting their points of view and exchanging arguments for and against. We have summarized specific guidance on publishing children’s photos by age group. In the links below you will find the appropriate text for your child’s age.
The use of cell phones, tablets and the like is a frequent topic of contention in many families. You are probably familiar with the discussions about how long your child is allowed to play or surf. Many parents worry that it’s unhealthy for their child to spend too much time with digital media. But when is too much too much and how do you recognize when an addiction is developing?
In addition to the fun factor, psychological mechanisms are what make media so captivating. Many games and apps have no clear end – children can theoretically play on endlessly. Increasing challenges awaken ambition to reach the next level and make it difficult to switch off.
It is similar with messenger services and social media offerings. We are always available via WhatsApp, Instagram, Snapchat and the like and can communicate with others quickly and easily at any time. Social networks are specially designed to keep us on the platform for a long time by constantly showing us new content as we scroll through the feed. There are also small built-in rewards that make us happy for a moment and encourage us to keep going. For example, if your child posts a picture on Instagram and receives likes and positive comments, this acts as a social reward. It activates the same areas in the brain as eating candy or taking drugs.
When children spend a lot of time with media, the topic of “addiction” quickly comes up as a scenario for parents. However, it is important to take a closer look at what “addiction” actually means – because long periods of use alone do not make an addiction. Intensive use in phases – such as during puberty – is normal. However, if your child’s behavior becomes conspicuous over a longer period of time, it is worth taking a closer look and reacting if necessary.
There are clear criteria for an actual addiction that you can use as a guide:
If you observe such things, you should become aware and seek help.
It is important to know that “media addiction” itself is not a medical term. In the ICD, the International Classification of Diseases, the section on “(Excessive) media use” describes what gaming, chatting and surfing can look like in the case of excessive use. Excessive media use is also recognized and treated as a “behavioral addiction”. According to a study, around 600,000 children were affected by such behavioral addiction in 2023.
However, since media addiction is more than just a lot of screen time, dealing with it must also be more complex. Reducing media time is a good first step, but it is not enough because not only the symptoms, but also the reasons are often diverse and not exclusively related to the media.
The most important thing is therefore to stay in contact with your child. Observe them, take an interest in their everyday life and ask questions – even before there is a problem. Talk about what media your child uses and why. Show an interest in their favorite games or videos, ask which platforms they use and what’s so great about them. Explain to your child how platforms like TikTok work to keep users with them for as long as possible.
Agree fixed media times and rules together – but also look for other factors that can encourage problematic media behavior. Offer to talk to your child if there are conflicts among friends or in the club or if school is stressful and look together for solutions and strategies to make everyday life balanced and varied. Be a role model yourself in your own media use and everyday life.
If you don’t know what to do and your child’s problematic behavior continues, take action. Find out together whether there may be other reasons behind the constant media use and how you can find solutions. Seek outside help. As a first point of contact, you can talk to the liaison teachers at your child’s school or pediatricians. You can also call the Nummer gegen Kummer, contact a digital counseling platform or an addiction counseling center.
Children today grow up with media as a matter of course. This makes it all the more important to protect them from unsuitable content and at the same time support them in using media safely and independently. Legal regulations, technical options and child-friendly offers help with this – as do discussions within the family.
The Basic Law states that the state must protect the personal rights of all people. In the case of children and young people, this includes protecting them from the influence of media that could be bad or dangerous for their development. The precise regulations for the protection of minors in the media are laid down in various laws, primarily in the Youth Protection Act and the Interstate Treaty on the Protection of Minors in the Media. Both stipulate how media offerings must be designed and presented in order to pose as little danger as possible to children and young people.
There is also the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, which sets out internationally what rights children have and what protection they need to grow up well and safely – including in the digital space. Children not only have a right to protection, but also to participation and involvement. They should be involved in decisions that affect them according to their age. This also applies to media use. It is therefore important to develop rules together with children and to take their perspectives seriously.
Ultimately, you as parents decide what is best for your child. When it comes to media use, you decide when your child is allowed to use which devices, which apps and content are permitted and which time limits apply. The legal requirements and age labels provide you with guidance – and help you to make informed decisions.
Age ratings have been around for a long time: movies are rated as of a certain age by default, as are DVDs and streaming content. Personal rights of all people and certain online content must also be labeled – this is required by youth media protection. The age categories range from “approved without age restriction” to “from 6”, “from 12”, “from 16” and “not rated for minors”.
It is important to note that age ratings are not educational recommendations. “Approved for ages 12 and up” does not mean that a game or movie is particularly suitable for all 12-year-olds. It merely means that the content does not impair or endanger the development of this age group.
In the family, age labels can be a good opportunity to talk to your child about content: What does he like about it? What might be unsettling or overwhelming?
Age labels not only serve as a guide, but also as a basis for technical protection functions. As soon as children start using their own devices – such as their first smartphone – it becomes more difficult to keep an eye on all content. Parental control apps or filter programs can help parents to monitor media use.
These programs filter content that is harmful to minors, but do not offer one hundred percent protection. On the one hand, because content on the internet is constantly changing. Secondly, because risks such as contact with strangers or problematic communication between users are more difficult to filter. You should therefore use filters as a supplementary tool, not as the sole solution.
Tip: If you come across content that is harmful to minors or illegal, you can report it to the FSM Complaints Office.
Not only content, but also the design of apps and devices is regulated by law – especially when it comes to data protection. Children, young people and adults must be able to protect their data and decide for themselves what information they wish to disclose.
On smartphones, for example, you can control which data an app is allowed to access. If your child gets their own device, take a close look at the data protection and security settings together and decide together which settings make sense.
Platforms such as TikTok, Instagram and the like must also give their users the opportunity to find out what happens to their data and to make their own decisions. You should also discuss this with your child and adjust the settings together.
In addition to legal and technical protective measures, there is a wide range of helpful offers:
You can use all of these protection options, recommendations and aids to discover the media world together with your child. Talk about your experiences, try things out together and reflect on what works well and what doesn’t.
Your child will gradually learn to navigate the digital world safely – with your support, but also increasingly independently.
With media, children can learn, be creative, relax and have fun. It is important for children of primary school age and above to develop a conscious and increasingly independent approach to media. As parents, you are responsible for ensuring that media consumption does not get out of hand. Common rules for media use in the family are helpful.
Children of primary school age need clear rules. They provide security and help them to use media consciously. Agree these together with your child:
Children accept rules better if they are allowed to help decide. Think together about what makes sense – and what happens if a rule is broken. A media usage agreement can help to record everything. Be careful not to use media bans as leverage.
Adapt the media rules to your child’s stage of development. From adolescence, for example, fixed media times can be gradually abolished. Nevertheless, there should be rules about which media may be used for which purposes, for example with their first smartphone. Accompaniment by parents is still important in adolescence. Talk to your child about his or her media use. Ask how and why it uses what and how it copes with it. Always be available if there are any problems.
Games are particularly fascinating for many children – but they also pose challenges. Establish clear rules forcomputergames together:
Media time rules are often difficult to enforce – technical aids can help. Parental control functions in operating systems, settings in devices, apps and games as well as parental control apps help to comply with time limits and break times and to filter content. However, your child should gradually learn to put the smartphone or tablet aside by itself after the screen time is over. In this way, they practice and internalize a conscious approach to media.
Younger children should only install new apps and computer games together with their parents. As they get older, you can gradually give your child more responsibility and adjust the technical settings to suit their age.
Sooner or later, many parents hear: “Everyone else already has a smartphone/plays a console/may use TikTok!” Don’t let this put you under pressure. Children compare themselves, but every child is different. Explain your decisions to your child and involve them in an age-appropriate way. Your child will be increasingly influenced by friends at school age. It can help to talk to other parents and agree on common ground rules with classmates or friends.
As a parent, you are an important guide for your child. Therefore, be aware of your role model function – also with regard to media use. Certain rules should apply to everyone. For example, you can agree that smartphones have no place at mealtimes or set up smartphone-free family days.
Instead of simply regulating media use, it is worth consciously creating shared media experiences. A weekly movie night with the family or listening to music together at the weekend strengthens family cohesion and at the same time offers opportunities to talk about content, discover media preferences and convey values.
Have you ever seen those beautiful photos where light was used to paint or write? The pictures look spectacular and can even be taken with a smartphone.
Lightpainting translates as painting with light. This involves taking photos in low light conditions or in the dark. Flashlights, LED lights or sparklers serve as light sources. They can be used to draw pictures, symbols or letters in the air and capture them in a photo. In the process, beautiful light paintings are created. Many families have the technology to do their own light painting at home. Because light painting is possible with many smartphones.
Image source: Unsplash/Brunetto Ziosi
Light painting can be a beautiful media project with the whole family. Even small children (from about 3 years) can participate by moving light sources. Older children can learn how light painting works with a smartphone. Everyone can live out their creativity together.
All you need for such a project is a smartphone, a darkened interior (with a little experience it is possible outside) and a few colorful light sources, e.g:
You need a smartphone with a camera app that allows a longer exposure time (long exposure). You can check whether your device can do this in the camera app: Search there for a “Pro mode” or “Manual settings”. If you can set the exposure time (usually labeled “S” or “Shutter Speed”) to around 10 to 30 seconds, your smartphone is suitable. If this is not the case, there are special camera apps to download (e.g. Wow! Stuff Light Painting for Android and iOS).
A night-time activity outdoors during the summer vacations or indoors in winter will delight young and old alike. Keep in mind that it takes a little practice to get great images. With a little patience, you can create small photo projects such as a New Year’s photo with sparklers and the year, a photo of passing cars on the highway or your child as a superhero with a cape or wings. Together with your child, you are sure to come up with many creative motifs!
By the way: If you have a digital camera with a tripod, you can create even better quality light paintings. Check if you can set longer exposure times of about 30 seconds on your camera. On the website of the State Media Authority of North Rhine-Westphalia you will find a picture guide to light painting with the camera, which is also easy for children to understand.
You can also find out more about light painting and photography with children at Kamerakindern and at the Knipsclub photo community. In this KiKA video, a photo artist shows which light sources can be used to create beautiful effects.
Movie or game night! But which movies, series or computer games are suitable for the whole family? What does the age rating on the cover or before playing the digital content actually mean? Age labels are intended to protect children and young people from problematic content, but they 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, for example, or has a lasting frightening effect. The age rating changes depending on how this content is presented. In the case of games, usage risks such as in-game purchases and chat functions are also taken into account in the rating. If a film or game is not approved for a certain age, this means, for example, that it is intercepted by youth protection filters or may only be shown on television from a certain time. The age of visitors is checked in cinemas or at the point of sale. In addition to the age rating, additional information is often published that provides information at a glance about the reasons for an age rating, such as “violence” or “drugs”. On DVDs and Blu-rays, the colored stickers indicate the age rating.
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 people 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:
Every child is different and processes stressful moments differently. It therefore makes sense to combine different sources of information regarding age ratings and recommendations.
If you as a parent adhere to the age ratings, you significantly reduce the risk of your child experiencing lasting impairment. In addition, recommendations from reputable sources improve the selection of good media offerings.
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.
You should also make use of the services offered by the self-regulatory bodies, which publish a wealth of information, explanatory texts and additional information on the labels issued.
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. This way, nothing stands in the way of an entertaining movie or game night with the whole family.
Events such as wars or natural disasters often dominate the news for days on end. Children are aware of these topics – through conversations at home, at school or via the internet. However, much of the information is difficult to understand or frightening. How can children be introduced to news in an age-appropriate way?
Children should learn to understand the world. But many news formats for adults are too complex or frightening. Images of violence or disasters can be overwhelming. In addition, “fake news” and political opinion making make it difficult to distinguish between fact and fiction.
Age-appropriate guidance is important. Parents can help to classify what they have seen – and select suitable, safe offers.
There are numerous news formats on the internet especially for children – with simple language, clear explanations and without shocking images. Some children are even reporters themselves.
Recommended offers:
The children’s search engine fragFINN.de helps to find trustworthy children’s offers. The search results are filtered and age-appropriate.
Podcasts allow children to listen to news at their own pace – without scary images.
Recommended podcasts:
Young people often obtain information via social networks such as YouTube, Instagram or TikTok. However, there is also a lot of misinformation and extreme opinions out there. Reputable services that take young people seriously and communicate on an equal footing are therefore particularly important:
Even child-friendly news can be unsettling. Some children are curious, others are quickly worried. It’s not just the offer that matters, but also the conversation:
Your child plays digital games – on the computer, console or smartphone. But what do you need to bear in mind when choosing games and what helps you find your way around? This virtual parents’ evening is all about games, youth protection, age ratings and what they mean for families. Together with the Entertainment Software Self-Regulation Body (USK), we will explain how age ratings for games work and what parents should pay particular attention to in order to play games safely. You will also receive practical tips on how to make everyday family life with digital games safe.
Take the opportunity to be there live and ask your questions to our experts – we will be on hand to exchange ideas and provide valuable inspiration for everyday family life!
Date: 17.09.2025 | Time: 5 to 6 pm
Speakers: Melanie Endler and Maurice Matthieu (USK)
Moderation: FSM e.V.
Platform: The virtual parents’ evening is realized via the tool “Zoom”.
Privacy Notice: Zoom is a service of Zoom Video Communications Inc. which is based in the USA. We use Zoom via the German operator easymeet24. easymeet24 ‘s server is located in Europe. Furthermore, we have selected the configurations with the highest data and security protection within the Zoom service.
Please also take note of our privacy policy.
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Many children get their own smartphone during their primary school years. With it, they can do different things and have access to the Internet. In addition to many great opportunities, however, it also exposes children to risks. It is particularly important that you talk to your child about possible dangers and make safety settings on the smartphone together.
Without your child realizing it, he or she is leaving data trails by using a messenger and other apps, as well as by surfing the web. Explain to your child the various smartphone functions and how to set them sensibly: WLAN, Bluetooth and location should remain switched off by default and only be activated when absolutely necessary. For example, GPS is necessary if your child is looking for directions to a specific location using a map app. Check the app permissions in the settings together with your child. For example, you can avoid apps accessing the camera without reason or sharing data with other devices and networks. Educate your child about online scams, such as spam emails or phishing. Additional security is provided by virus scanner apps that can protect against unwanted viruses and dangers such as data theft, subscription traps or fake offers.
It is important to use codes and passwords to ensure secure use of the device and apps. Your child’s cell phone should only be used after entering a code (PIN, swipe code, etc.) to prevent strangers from accessing personal data. Set up secure password protection with your child. This also applies to registration with social media services and apps. Secure passwords consist of at least twelve characters and contain special characters and numbers in addition to letters. Depending on the device, your child’s fingerprint can also be used to unlock the device (e.g. Touch ID on iOS). Tips for creating secure passwords are available – e.g. at Handysektor. For younger children, it is recommended that at least one parent also knows the screen lock combination and password.
Security and parental control settings can be made on every smartphone in the settings. Detailed information on this can be found, among other things, in the article on technical youth media protection.
On Android, you can block the installation of apps in the Play Store or set a password for installation or in-app purchases. To do this, activate the parental control settings. You can choose which apps your child can install without a password.
iOS devices offer even more options in their own device settings. Under Screen Time you have the option to set restrictions and assign a separate code for them. You can then, for example, allow or block the use of certain apps and restrict in-app purchases with a password. Movies, music, apps and TV shows with a higher age rating can also be blocked automatically. iOS can automatically filter and hide web content in Safari and apps.
Additional apps are also recommended:
To avoid cost traps, a tariff with a limited data volume can be useful. Make sure you also make certain settings for your child’s privacy and safety on social media apps and use Instagram safely, for example. Here you can specifically regulate the visibility of your child’s profile and the basic contact options. Some platforms offer a safer alternative mode for minors – e.g. the accompanied mode on TikTok.
We also recommend installing the fragFINN app. This children’s search engine offers a protected surfing area with tested websites. This way you can ensure that your child can only access age-appropriate and safe content, both for school research and for leisure activities.
For more information on safe smartphone settings, it’s worth visiting medien-kindersicher.de. Here you will find helpful, technical protection solutions for all your child’s devices, services and apps explained step by step.
Also remember to carry out regular software updates on your child’s smartphone to close security gaps and minimize the risk of viruses, for example
Smartphones come with some features to make chatting, surfing the web and using apps safer for your child. However, these settings on the device or parental control apps are no substitute for parental supervision. Your child should always understand why certain websites or apps should be blocked or why GPS tracking should remain deactivated. Also, always base your control and safety on your child’s age and development. Especially with teens, don’t intrude too much on your child’s privacy. However, always try to stay in conversation with your child and be there as a point of contact for questions or uncertainties.
Does your child watch older siblings or friends use social media every day? Perhaps they are already interested in platforms such as Instagram, TikTok and the like? Social media apps place high demands on the media skills of young users. This is exactly where the new NYZZU app comes in: It has been specially developed for children, young people and families. It aims to offer a protected space that focuses on privacy, safety and responsible media use.
NYZZU is a social network where users can take their first steps in digital networks – age-appropriate and without overwhelming content.
Similar to other well-known platforms, users share photos and videos with their contacts. Liking and commenting on posts is also possible. Unlike other apps, NYZZU does not use algorithms. The posts in the feed appear in chronological order. This allows users to keep track of what their friends are posting and when. Content can be shared with several people in groups. There is no classic chat function.
Security and data protection have top priority at NYZZU: friendships can only be made between people who have saved each other in their address book. This protective mechanism is designed to prevent children from interacting with unwanted contacts. Personal content can be shared “privately” between two people or made visible to mutual friends. All posts can also be deleted at any time. The screenshot function is deactivated to prevent content from spreading beyond the app.
NYZZU takes on many of the functions of traditional social media and yet differs from them. The new app does not focus on the most popular or viral content, but on everyday, personal posts from normal life. A Like on NYZZU can have a greater meaning for children and young people than on other platforms, as it is less about public recognition and more about sharing with friends and family. The absence of algorithms and influencers reduces pressure and the potential for addiction.
Children and young people can use the app as a digital photo album in which they can share their experiences and memories. Adding filters and music to photos and videos makes NYZZU a creative space that is fun for children and young people.
“Respect your friendship” – it is particularly important to the founders of NYZZU to create a safe space in which friends and family members of all ages can stay in contact with each other safely. On its website, NYZZU’s code of conduct clearly opposes bullying, discrimination and abuse. The NYZZU Codex explains potential communication risks and refers to digital counseling services.
NYZZU follows the principle of “Safety by Design”. Safety settings such as follower requests are activated by default. Inappropriate posts can be reported directly via a reporting function. The design of the website, including the terms and conditions, the codex and the privacy policy, are youth-friendly.
Children under the age of 13 require parental consent to use the app. When registering, the parents’ e-mail address must be provided and the registration confirmed via a link. NYZZU is part of the Seitenstark network as a high-quality and child-friendly online service.
If your child will soon be getting their first smartphone, NYZZU could be a suitable app to get them started. Register together with your child and set rules for use together. Make sure that no sensitive or personal data is shared when creating the profile.
Show your child where they can find safety functions such as the reporting function and how they can use them. Also talk to your child about challenges such as communication risks like hate speech. Educate your child about privacy online and make them understand which personal data they should not share.
To ensure that your child can actively use NYZZU, it is advisable to talk about the app with friends, family and other parents. Although other social media apps are also very popular, you can lead by example and try out alternative apps like NYZZU together with your child. And if you like it: invite others to join in!
