Develop your own video game – with just a pen, paper and smartphone? That’s exactly what Draw Your Game Infinite makes possible. The app combines creative drawing with digital fun and teaches children the basics of game design.
With the Draw Your Game Infinite app, users can design their own platform game levels and try out the levels of other users. And this is how it works:
In the free basic version, users can create two levels per day without registering, use the basic design elements and try out and rate numerous platform game levels created by other players. A subscription offers access to a wide range of level creation functions, users can publish the levels they have created online and follow other players.
Children and young people enjoy discovering new things and implementing their own ideas. In Draw Your Game Infinite, they not only play, but also design their own levels and become game developers themselves. What is particularly exciting is that a drawing on paper becomes a real game – giving them an understanding of how games are constructed. Trying things out and failing is also part of the process: If a level doesn’t work as planned, it can easily be adapted. For older children, sharing their own levels in the community can be interesting, as it brings recognition and exchange.
As with many game apps, there are a few things to bear in mind with Draw Your Game Infinite:
The terms of use are available in English and French on the website of the French provider Zero-One. It states that users must be of legal age or require the consent of a parent or guardian to use the app. The provider also points out that some functions require an internet connection and that personal data is processed during registration. Users can contact the provider via a support email address.
Use the app as an opportunity to delve into the world of game development, programming and more with your child. It might even lead to a creative family project of your own!
Today, music is listened to almost exclusively digitally – anytime and anywhere via smartphone, tablet, computer or games console. One of the best-known services for this is Spotify. The platform offers access to millions of songs, radio plays, podcasts and now also videos. Spotify’s diverse offering makes it attractive – but also entails risks, especially for children and young people.
Spotify is the world’s largest music streaming service. Around 100 million items of content are currently available – including music, podcasts, audio books and radio plays. Users can create playlists, follow others and share their favorite songs, for example via Spotify codes. Spotify also displays lyrics for many tracks. In addition to audio content, music videos and short video clips are now also available.
In the free version, content can only be listened to with an internet connection, with regular advertisements running in between. The paid premium version allows offline listening without advertising and offers functions such as unlimited skipping of tracks.
Spotify has offered a chat function since August 2025: playlists, songs or podcasts can be shared and commented on directly within the app. To chat, a request must first be confirmed. The messaging function can also be used like a classic messenger.
Music plays a central role for young people: it helps them find their identity, communicate with friends and deal with their feelings. Spotify makes it easy to discover new music at any time, browse through other people’s playlists and listen to content wherever you are. Podcasts are also becoming increasingly popular with young people.
Spotify also works on games consoles such as Playstation or X-Box and via voice assistants such as Alexa Echo and Google Home. This allows young people to listen to music while playing games or play songs by voice command.
Radio plays are particularly interesting for younger children. Many well-known series – from Bibi Blocksberg and Benjamin Blümchen to Die drei ??? – are available on Spotify. The Spotify Kids app can also be used via a paid Premium Family subscription, which offers a more limited and more suitable framework for children.
Spotify works with a highly personalized recommendation algorithm. In the profile button, Spotify creates individual playlists, for example “Your mix of the week”, from the music you have recently listened to and your usage data. This is also linked to the storage of usage behavior.
Spotify contains content that may be unsuitable for children and young people – such as music or audio books with extremist messages and violent content or podcasts that spread fake news and disinformation. Spotify has recently been criticized because an increasing number of AI-generated songs are appearing on the platform. The tracks are suggested via recommendations and can contain sexist or racist statements. Such content is not always easy for children and young people to recognize as problematic.
The new chat function and comments under podcasts give rise to communication risks such as cyberbullying, hate speech and unwanted contact from strangers.
The video content – short clips such as YouTube Shorts – can contribute to more intensive use and cannot be deactivated.
There is also criticism of the fact that Spotify pays out low revenues to artists.
Spotify is based in Sweden and claims to implement measures to protect children and young people. In Premium and Family subscriptions, parental control settings can be activated to hide problematic, “explicit” content. Multiple accounts can also be managed together.
Spotify Kids is a special offer for children that only contains child-friendly audio content and excludes video functions. However, this service can only be used with a paid Family subscription.
Content can be reported via a reporting function for podcasts and playlists and via an online form for individual titles.
Officially, Spotify is only allowed from the age of 18, with parental consent from the age of 16. As parents, you should discuss in detail with your child in advance whether it makes sense to use the offer. The following points are important:
Regular discussions and support remain the most important protection – regardless of technical settings.
In the age of social media, it is easy to gain insights into the lives of famous people – and to feel surprisingly close to them. However, what almost feels like a friendship for fans in front of their (mobile) screens is primarily a job for the creators that earns them money. We need to make children and young people in particular aware of the business model behind this supposed closeness.
For many young people, it sounds dreamy and tempting to get rich with short or longer internet videos. In reality, however, highly successful profiles usually involve a whole team, precise production planning and a sophisticated marketing strategy. This is because the content must be specifically designed and played out in such a way that it generates reach – and ultimately revenue.
Influencers earn their money in various ways:
For children and young people, ‘their’ influencers are often important role models and idols. They enjoy a high level of trust among young people, their content and statements are rarely questioned and their ‘product recommendations‘ are readily accepted.
By using the advertised products, young people feel closer to the lifestyle of the influencers and stars as well as to themselves and can thus express their own identity or affiliation.
Influencer marketing is aimed much more directly and precisely at specific target groups and has a very personal impact, which is why it has long been more important and more successful than traditional TV and radio commercials.
Advertising is not recognizedRecommendations appear personal and honest, but are often paid for. If this is not recognized, trust can be exploited.
Closeness is misunderstood: Virtual interactions – for example via live chats or gifts to influencers – can create the impression of genuine relationships that do not exist in reality. The relationship is “one-sided”, as the fans are usually an anonymous mass for the influencer in question.
Consumer pressure arises: Creators often show a lot of new products and a lifestyle full of “must-haves”. This can distort expectations, affect self-esteem and lead to financial problems.
Stay up to date and talk to your child about their consumer behavior. Influencers play an important role in guiding children and young people. Be understanding and show interest. Ask your child which creators they follow and why. Take a look at their content together and talk about what you have seen.
For many children, what their peers use and do is important. The need to belong is part of their development. Help your child set up a social media account if they want to be on these platforms, and together make sure they have privacy settings and provide truthful age information so that the platforms’ safety precautions can take effect.
Talk about how influencers earn money, how your child recognizes advertising, the strategies behind it and how good purchasing decisions can be made.
To avoid unexpected costs, we have created a checklist for you on how you can limit in-app purchases on your child’s device.
If you would like to find out more about this topic, take a look at our colleagues at klicksafe over. They describe how exactly YouTubers earn money.
Want to quickly watch a children’s series, a movie for the evening or the important soccer match? It’s all on Joyn. Joyn is a streaming platform like
Joyn is the German middle ground between traditional television and major streaming services. The service can be accessed via smartphone, tablet, PC or smart TV, via app or in the browser. Children and young people can find current TV shows, their
Joyn is particularly attractive for children and young people because the basic version is free of charge and can sometimes even be used without logging in. Many freely available live TV contents can be accessed directly in the browser. For additional functions – such as personalized recommendations or saving watchlists – registration with an email address is required.
If parents don’t want to or can’t subscribe to their own streaming service, Joyn is still easily accessible. The platform offers many shows and series that are currently being talked about in the school playground, including Big Brother, The Masked Singer and Germany’s Next Top Model.
Particularly appealing for young fans of the programs: Joyn offers opportunities to actively participate in the app. For example, viewers can vote on who advances to the next round in a show, take part in quiz formats or take part in competitions. This reinforces the feeling of being right in the middle of the action and motivates viewers to tune in regularly.
Anyone using Joyn will initially only be shown content that is approved for under 16s. The account must be verified with an ID number for everything that is approved from 16 or 18. However, this age verification does not offer complete protection. Parents can create a profile and secure it with a parental control PIN so that children can only play content that has been approved for ages 0, 6 or 12.
Important to know: Content that cannot be played remains visible. Preview images, titles or short descriptions can arouse children’s curiosity or draw their attention to topics that are
Joyn emphasizes that the protection of minors is an essential part of the platform and that all legal requirements are complied with. The parental control PIN cannot simply be deactivated and the provider provides detailed instructions on how to set up profiles for children. Age verification is carried out in compliance with data protection regulations and the data is only stored temporarily
Make clear agreements with your child about what can and cannot be watched. If possible, use the offer together – especially with younger children. Actively accompany your child, talk about the content and whether something may cause anxiety or unpleasant feelings. Set up a profile with a parental control PIN if your child is too young to view content from the age of 16 or 18. Make sure that content with a parental rating of 0, 6 and 12 years remains accessible to everyone. Talk to your child regularly about what
Many apps cost nothing at first glance. Only when you take a closer look do you often realize that you have to pay in order to use them properly and have fun. Children and young people in particular can easily fall into cost traps, especially with games apps. We explain what parents should look out for, what risks there are and how in-app purchases can be controlled with a view to protecting and involving children.
Costs can arise not only when downloading an app. Many apps initially appear to be free, but certain functions, levels, virtual items or special benefits can only be unlocked against payment, such as accessories for avatars. Often a virtual currency is also offered, which must first be purchased via credit card, PayPal or prepaid cards in order to progress in the game or unlock extras. If you are not careful, you will only see how expensive the game has really become on your next mobile phone contract or credit card bill.
Providers often advertise a so-called premium version within the free app. This offers additional functions or game content and can be understood as a paid full version. For children, the free app looks like a test – and the inhibition threshold for spending money is low.
Children and young people react sensitively to rewards and progress in games. Apps such as Roblox, Minecraft, Fortnite or Brawl Stars make targeted use of this: With just a few clicks, game characters can be embellished, levels can be unlocked faster or virtual coins can be collected. Virtual currencies seem abstract and are difficult to link to real money, so children often don’t even realize that they are spending real money – on things that have no real equivalent value.
Loot boxes are particularly critical: they contain random rewards that children perceive as small surprise gifts. The random effect can lead to them repeatedly investing money in order to receive the “right” reward. In games such as EA Sports FC (formerly FIFA), children can draw soccer stars in so-called packs; whether a favorite player is included is decided solely by chance. In Brawl Stars, children also open boxes that contain random power-ups or new characters. Such mechanisms are similar to gambling and are particularly problematic and tempting for young players.
There is also social pressure: those who progress faster or fail less often have an advantage in the game and can assert themselves better in front of friends. These psychological mechanisms make in-app purchases particularly appealing.
Parents can do a lot to protect their child from cost traps. It is important that you discuss the topic with your child and make clear agreements. In addition to technical settings, you should sensitize your child to cost traps and gradually give them responsibility in dealing with money in the digital space.
Since 2023, USK age ratings have included additional information on online risks such as in-app purchases, loot boxes and chats. This information can be found on game packaging, in app stores and in the USK title database. This makes it easier for parents to recognize which games are age-appropriate and where particular caution is required.
If your child has already made in-app purchases, you should first check whether refunds are possible in the app store. It is also worth carefully documenting any unclear debits and taking screenshots. It is then advisable to contact the provider directly – especially if subscriptions or purchases were not clearly marked. If the problems persist or occur repeatedly, consumer advice centers offer additional support and legal advice to protect families from further cost traps.
Whether fashion, fitness, gaming, knowledge or lifestyle – children and young people spend a lot of time on social media and meet digital role models there. 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 they present.
They know what’s going on on the catwalks and in the fashion stores: fashion influencers show the latest trends, give styling tips and often combine clothing with beauty, sports or lifestyle topics. Younger viewers in particular use these profiles to get inspiration for their own style, outfits and self-presentation.
Problematic: unrealistic beauty and body ideals, high consumer pressure, advertising for products.
A workout in the morning, followed by the perfect breakfast – fitness influencers live for sport and health and share training plans, nutrition tips and motivation with their followers. They appeal to young people with sporting ambitions as well as beginners.
Problematic: exaggerated body ideals, unrealistic training goals, advertising for products or nutritional 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.
Problematic: lack of qualification, unrealistic promises of profit, monetization, possible financial losses.
Politics, science, psychology or history – knowledge influencers convey complex topics in a clear and understandable way. Examples include Mai Thi Nguyen-Kim, Mirko Drotschmann and Leon Windscheid. They explain content in an entertaining, approachable way and often with a wink. Many young people perceive them not only as a source of information, but also as role models who influence language, ways of reasoning or school interests.
Problematic: limited depth, susceptibility to errors, monetization, simplified representations.
Chips and popcorn out – Let’s Players play video games and comment on strategies, tips and stories. The gaming scene is male-dominated, but female and queer Let’s Players are becoming increasingly important and serve as role models for children and young people.
Problematic: addictive potential, excessive screen time, monetization, interaction with strangers.
Whether crafting, baking or restoring furniture – DIY influencers show step-by-step instructions for creative projects. Children and young people can try out their own skills and copy ideas.
Problematic: risk of imitation for dangerous work, advertising for products, 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.
Problematic: unrealistic everyday expectations, consumer pressure, 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.
Problematic: Violent or joking content, monetization, uncontrolled comments.
They campaign for the environment, social justice, tolerance and mental health. Sinnfluencer*innen motivate children and young people to get involved in society.
Problematic: one-sided representations, ideologization, possible advertising or sponsoring.
Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube: The best-known social networks mostly belong to a few large corporations, often US companies such as Meta, Google or the Chinese company ByteDance. There, algorithms, advertising and data collection determine what we see. But there are alternatives: the Fediverse, an association of decentralized networks that are usually more privacy-friendly, ad-free and sometimes even non-profit.
The term “Fediverse” is an artificial word made up of “federated” (networked) and “universe”. It refers to a network of independent platforms that are nevertheless connected to each other. This is made possible by a common technical standard called ActivityPub.
The Fediverse works a bit like e-mail: There are many providers, but you can still communicate with each other – without any central control. This ensures greater diversity, data protection and digital self-determination. For example: If you have an account with Mastodon (Twitter alternative), you can also interact with users on Pixelfed (Instagram alternative) or PeerTube (YouTube alternative).
Mastodon is the best-known platform in the Fediverse. It is reminiscent of X (formerly Twitter): You write short posts, follow others and comment. Unlike X, however, there is no central company here, but many individual servers, operated by associations, initiatives or private individuals.
There is no advertising, no algorithms and data protection is paramount. It is a little strange to use at first because content is not automatically suggested. You build up your own network step by step.
Pixelfed looks like Instagram – only without advertising, tracking or a company in the background. Post photos, share stories, like profiles: You can do all that here too. Many people use Pixelfed to showcase their travels, creative projects or everyday experiences – privacy-friendly and without the pressure to like.
PeerTube is a decentralized video platform. Users upload their videos to various servers, for example from educational institutions, media projects or activists. Instead of chasing clicks and ads, the focus here is on the content – without any tracking.
Funkwhale is a platform for sharing and streaming music. It is primarily aimed at independent artists, small labels or people who want to distribute podcasts or their own music fairly and collectively. Here, too, there is no advertising and no tracking of users.
Bluesky was originally co-developed by Twitter and also aims to be a decentralized network. However, it is based on its own technical system (AT protocol) and is not directly connected to Mastodon or Pixelfed. Nevertheless, it is considered an exciting alternative – especially for former X users.
Fediverse shows that there is another way. Without personalized advertising, Like pressure or the constant fear of missing out on something. Instead, it offers more self-determination, diversity and data protection.
However, the platforms are often smaller. Some functions such as automatic recommendations or a large reach are missing and many friends are not yet active there. This is not(yet) very attractive for many children and young people. However, it is worth a look, especially for parents, teachers or people interested in media. Fediverse promotes digital maturity – and a more conscious, social interaction online.
If you want to get a taste of it, you can take a look at joinmastodon.org, pixelfed.org or joinpeertube.org, for example. Some German instances such as mastodon.social, chaos.social or pixelfed.de offer a quick introduction and orientation aid.
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.
Erotic media content or even porn is actually not for children and teenagers. But because they are curious and want to test their limits, internet offers for adults, such as OnlyFans, can be exciting from a young age.
Users can view photos and videos from other users on the OnlyFans website. Among them are also erotic and pornographic contents, which, however, are shown only after payment.
Unlike other social media platforms such as Facebook or Instagram, OnlyFans is not financed by advertising. Instead, users pay a monthly subscription fee or a one-off pay-per-view fee for content from individual providers (so-called creators) – this could be videos, photos or music. The idea is that creators respond to the wishes of their fans and also reveal personal things. Sexual content on the site does not violate the terms of use and money can be earned with revealing performances.
From lifestyle and fashion to entertainment – the platform offers content of all kinds. German celebrities have also discovered OnlyFans as a source of income. Stars such as singer Bill Kaulitz, rapper Fler and actress Anne Wünsche offer paid subscriptions on the platform. Stars and influencers advertise their paid OnlyFans content via their YouTube or Instagram channels. For young fans, this can lead to the desire to become active on the platform so that they don’t miss anything.
Although the site can be used officially only from 18 years, registration is possible without age verification. Only those who want to share content themselves must prove that they are of legal age. Children and young people can therefore register on OnlyFans, follow other users and even write private messages. They can only use the paid area if they have access to a credit card.
OnlyFans is for adult entertainment. There is also harmless content there. But the proximity to erotic and pornographic content makes it possible for children and young people to come into contact with content that is unsuitable for them. There are also sites circulating on the Internet that allegedly allow users to access OnlyFans’ paid content without paying or using a credit card.
On platforms such as OnlyFans, digital sex work is often shown as normal or even desirable. This can give children and young people the impression that showing themselves sexy or naked on the internet is not a problem. This can be dangerous: When the inhibition threshold drops, young people often no longer recognize sexual assault as such. Perpetrators can take advantage of this and try to sexually harass minors. In addition, a lot of this content shows a one-sided and stereotypical role model: women are often only supposed to be beautiful and please men – this shapes young people’s thinking.
Talk openly with your child about which social media platforms they are on and what they are doing there. They may come across content that is not yet suitable for their age, such as OnlyFans. Address the dangers and risks and explain factually why such sites are unsuitable.
Talk to your child about topics such as sexuality, self-image on the internet and how to deal with contact from strangers. Encourage your child to get help immediately if they receive unpleasant messages or contact attempts. Question content in the media together: Why is a certain image of women or men shown – and who actually benefits from this?
Older teenagers in particular want to learn about their sexuality and use erotic content from the Internet to do so. This is quite natural, but can also lead to problems. Read more in our article “Help, my child watches porn!“. If your child has already come into contact with erotic or pornographic content on the site, you should also discuss this together. Allow your child to ask questions or tell you if they are overwhelmed.
If you feel that you cannot help your child at home, do not be afraid to seek professional help, for example via digital counseling services. School psychologists can be a point of contact. The helpline Nummer-gegen-Kummer also offers a wide range of advice for children, young people and parents.
Clothing, leisure items, school supplies … shopping is often done online these days. Young people in particular like to use Shein and Temu, for example. The stores entice shoppers with very low prices, high discounts and targeted advertising – especially on social media. But caution is advised.
For a long time, Amazon was the undisputed largest online retailer. However, other platforms have become increasingly present in recent years. They are called Temu, Shein, AliExpress or Wish, are often based in Asian countries and combine extremely low prices with a strikingly aggressive advertising strategy. The two largest and best-known providers are Shein and Temu:
AliExpress and Wish also have similar offers and strategies – with comparable risks.
The platforms work with superlatives: they have extremely large product ranges that are changing rapidly. They offer very low prices and very high discounts – and they advertise louder, more aggressively and more pointedly than all other providers.
Children and young people can hardly avoid the platforms: they are shown personalized ads on social media, but influencers also frequently advertise online marketplaces. In this way, the platforms turn themselves into online trends and become attractive to young shoppers.
The seemingly unbelievable offers come at a price:
If your child shops on these platforms, it is important that you take a close look together beforehand: Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of such platforms. Consider together to what extent and for which products it makes sense to use them. And discuss how you can make the purchase as secure as possible: Many platforms require payment in advance – but the risk can be reduced by making sure you use secure payment methods such as buyer protection (e.g. with PayPal or credit cards). Also take a look at your cell phone settings: Only give the app the most necessary authorizations. For example, shopping providers do not need to know your location and push notifications can be deactivated.
Also question advertising on social media together: What is a genuine recommendation and what is paid advertising (sponsorship)? If your child shows interest in a product, don’t just look at the price, but also compare the quality from other suppliers. This will help you avoid disappointment or duplicate purchases.
Even better: look for sustainable, trustworthy and affordable alternatives to marketplaces together. Second-hand suppliers, for example, often also have a large selection of products at reasonable prices – and with far fewer catches.
Tip: Use this topic to talk to your child about values when shopping: Do clothes always have to be new? What is important to me – price, style, quality, environment? How much do I really need? Such conversations help young people to critically question consumption and make good decisions.
Books and TikTok – how do they go together? Young people show that it can be done. TikTok has long been more than just a platform for dance videos: Many use it to find out about current trends – including popular books. There is also an active book community on YouTube and Instagram that discusses reading.
Reading books seems to be losing importance in the age of social media. But the Booktok trend proves the opposite: digital and analog media are not mutually exclusive!
The term Booktok is made up of “Book” and “TikTok“. Under the hashtag #booktok, users share book tips in creative short videos – far removed from dry literature reviews. The content is entertaining and visually appealing, inspiring young people to read. Genres such as romance, fantasy, crime/thriller, young adult and dark romance are particularly popular.
Dark romance is a particularly popular genre in romance literature. The stories are often intense, dramatic and often deal with dark or taboo subjects. Parents should be vigilant: it is often about power imbalances, toxic dependencies or psychological manipulation in relationships. An open discussion helps young people to critically question problematic depictions.
Publishers and bookshops have also recognized the trend. They often present their own “BookTok” tables with the most popular titles in bookshops. Bestsellers are no longer created solely through classic reviews, but through viral TikTok trends.
In addition to TikTok, there is also the book community “Bookstagram” on Instagram. Here, readers share aesthetic images of their current reads, write reviews and organize reading rounds. Compared to TikTok, books are discussed more intensively here. Real book recommendations and new reading circles are created in the comments.
YouTube also has a fixed point of contact for bookworms with “BookTube”. There are detailed book reviews, reading months and so-called TBR (To Be Read) lists in which users present their planned reading.
Certain apps make reading more exciting – and sometimes even a challenge. They help you to track your own reading behavior and set reading goals. These include
Many of these apps offer the option of writing reviews and networking with others. Before using them, however, you should check the data protection guidelines to see what data is collected and passed on.
Even though social media encourages reading, parents should keep a few things in mind:
Look together with your child to see which books are really exciting. Libraries or digital services such as Onleihe offer many options – without having to buy expensive books.
Whether at the cinema, on DVDs, when streaming series or watching television – children, young people and parents frequently encounter the FSK age rating in their everyday media lives. Find out what’s behind the FSK ratings, how the ratings can help parents choose appropriate movies and protect young people from potentially inappropriate content in this article.
The FSK stands for “Voluntary Self-Regulation of the Film Industry”. It is a German institution that deals with the age rating of film content on all distribution channels such as cinema, DVD/Blu-ray and streaming.
The FSK’s task is to classify and label movies and videos in an age-appropriate manner. In doing so, they examine the entire content and the portrayal of problematic aspects such as violence and sexuality. The labeling with an age rating takes the form of colored symbols such as “from 0” or “from 6”. The symbols can be found, for example, on packaging such as the DVD case or on movie posters.
The FSK ratings are based on the German Youth Protection Act (JuSchG). It contains legal provisions to protect children and young people from inappropriate content. The FSK is not a state institution, but a self-regulatory body of the film industry, which in Germany is supported by various interest groups under the umbrella of the umbrella organization of the film industry. However, state representatives are directly involved in the audits.
The FSK evaluates various media in the film and entertainment industry when a review is requested, in particular
Not all media are rated by the FSK. Computer games are checked by the Entertainment Software Self-Regulation Body (USK), while the Voluntary Self-Regulation Body for Television (FSF e.V.) is (also) responsible for television content and streaming services.
The age restrictions serve to protect minors in Germany and are based on the media competence attributed to different age groups of children and young people. Volunteer examiners from all over Germany work at the FSK. They come from different professional fields, e.g. journalism, media studies, education and justice.
The committee examinations take place at the FSK in Wiesbaden. After viewing the films and videos together, they discuss and vote on the age rating. The basis for the rating is the Youth Protection Act and the principles of the FSK. Consideration is given to plot, dialogue, character portrayal, visuals, specific themes such as violence and sexuality, and music.
Children and young people themselves also carry out ratings with regard to age restrictions. In FSK children’s and youth panels, they take on the role of reviewers and discuss and assess the relevance of films for the protection of minors from the perspective of the target group. These children’s and youth panels are organized by the FSK and the permanent representatives of the highest state youth authorities at the FSK and are funded by the Hessian Ministry for Social Affairs and Integration.
Alternatively, after training, applicants can have their content rated using the FSK classification tool. The final decision on the test result is then made by the state representatives at the FSC. More information on the testing procedures can be found in the FSC’s principles and on the FSC website.
The following indications and problem areas have particular relevance for the respective release:
Since 2023, the FSK has been implementing a new provision in the German Protection of Minors Act and adding additional information to the known age ratings. These so-called “descriptors” are intended to explain the main reasons for the release and thus offer families more guidance when choosing films and series. More information can be found on the FSC website.
The FSK’s age ratings serve to protect minors, ensuring that children and young people are not adversely affected by content that is unsuitable for them. The releases are binding, which means, for example: films from the age of 12 may only be viewed by younger children in the cinema when accompanied by an adult.
The state does not determine what movies children can watch at home. Parents can also make media accessible to their children that are not approved for their age. Under the Parental Guidance (PG) regulation, the Youth Protection Act also allows children from the age of 6 to watch films with an FSK rating from the age of 12 if they are accompanied by a parent or guardian. This rule also applies if children are accompanied by a person with parental responsibility, such as relatives, persons in a special relationship of trust or those with a professional or regular educational mandate. However, the general rule is that they must not neglect their parenting duties:
The social network Instagram continues to be very popular with children and young people, but is repeatedly criticized for not protecting them sufficiently. Instagram is working to improve security on the platform. The latest innovations:
Minors were often unprotected on the platform, received inappropriate advertising, were tempted to use it extensively and could be contacted by strangers without restriction.
The legal situation in Germany has changed with the amendment of the German Youth Protection Act. Providers of social media platforms are now obliged to set up protective measures for minors. For example, there must be default settings so that strangers cannot simply contact minors. In addition, parents must be able to monitor and control their children.
It is now more difficult to circumvent the age limit (use from the age of 13). Any person who Instagram wants to use must necessarily indicate their age, otherwise the account may be blocked. In addition, it is planned that accounts of minors will automatically be “private”. This means that young people decide for themselves who can see their profile. So far, this has been a voluntary option.
Protection from strangers: Minors can only be contacted by people or tagged in posts if they follow them themselves. If a stranger wants to follow minors, he/she will receive a warning. Posts by “suspicious” persons under the public posts of minors are now automatically invisible. It is also easier to delete your own posts, comments and other footprints.
The so-called parental control for Instagram has been in place since June 2022. Accounts of an adult can be linked to accounts of users under the age of 18. Both sides must agree and can end the parental supervision with a click. This makes it possible:
There is also a guide for parents with tips on how to deal with Instagram use, a list of suggestions for a conversation about use and a glossary of important terms.
Instagram has upgraded – but responsible use is still important. There are more tips for you as parents on how to talk to your child about safety, wellbeing and mental health on social media in the family section.
Digital games are a popular pastime among children and young people. People also like to play via the Internet. There are various game sites on the net where children can play, some for free and some for a fee. Beim Spiel allein oder im Team werden verschiedene Fähigkeiten gefördert, aber vor allem sogenannte Multiplayer-Spiele bergen auch Gefahren wie Mobbing.
Many games portals that are particularly popular with children and young people, such as spielaffe.de, are financed by advertising. This is the only way they can offer the games for free. In return, children are confronted with many advertisements and links to external partners. Not every child is able to distinguish advertising from the actual content of the website and may thus unintentionally end up on other pages.
Play monkey is not made specifically for children. Not all games are suitable for every age of child, but still achievable. One problem here is that games that are offered online do not yet have to be provided with an age rating.
Younger children in particular are likely to be overwhelmed by the wide range of products and the many colorful pictures and buttons on spielaffe.de. The chat with other users is only possible after prior registration – but you can also play without registration. The section with information for parents and children on how to use the site safely is hard to find – at the very bottom left.
Even if Spielaffe does not collect data directly, data is collected and passed on via the integrated external pages, such as Facebook. The situation is similar at spielzwerg.de and spielkarussell.de. When registering, parents are not asked whether they agree that their children who are not yet of age can play here.
Many of the games offered on such portals also work with outdated gender stereotypes. There is often a category “girl games”, where you can find games about household or beauty. None of the three websites are displayed directly in a search with the fragFINN child search engine. Websites that are otherwise harmless for children can be found via fragFINN.
Despite all the risks, children and young people like to use these sites – certainly also because of the large selection of games. Try to understand your child’s fascination with these sites and show interest without ignoring the dangers. Help your child recognize advertising and agree on rules for using such sites. Install ad blockers and check out what educators have to offer and what they think. Online services such as the initiative Gutes Aufwachsen mit Medien (Growing up well with media ) or the Seitenstark community offer help here. You can find pedagogically valuable offers via fragFINN, among others.
The streaming portal RTL+ offers the opportunity to watch Mediengruppe RTL shows free of charge for seven days after they air – and some for longer than that. Premium members also have access to specially produced content and other functions. The free content is financed by advertising. Parents have the option to create a profile for their child so they can stream age-appropriate series, movies and shows ad-free.
RTL+ is the video-on-demand service of Mediengruppe RTL. Once an account has been created, the RTL+ Free package can be used to stream certain channels live or watch them seven days later. Premium members also have permanent access to broadcasts and other formats in the archive. Since 2019, the platform has offered films and series produced in-house, the RTL+ Originals. Paid premium membership opens up access to the mobile app, in-house productions and the ability to watch content before it airs on TV. The Premium Duo package additionally offers advertising freedom, parallel streams and some content in original English.
All registered users can create up to three profiles. These can be divided into adult and child profiles. Children only have access to the Family and Kids section via their own profile. This way, you can make sure that your child only has access to age-appropriate content. The formats in the Family and Kids sectionscan also be streamed commercial-free.
The RTL+offering combinesthe TV programming of several channels and thus offers something for younger children and teenagers alike. Among the younger audience, the children’s channels Super RTL and Toggo are particularly popular. In addition to new productions, classics such asJanosch’sDream Hour, Fünf Freunde and Benjamin Blümchen are also broadcast there. Missed programs can be easily re-watched by the children through RTL+. You have also worked with RTL+ Kids their own area, where the formats are sorted into different categories and genres. This makes it easy for children to find their way around and make their own choices.
If you register free of charge with RTL+ , you have the option of creating your own profile for your child, through which he or she can only watch age-appropriate formats. Premium members can also set up a parental control PIN that is valid for all profiles. You can define the age limit from which the PIN is to take effect.
Registered persons without membership cannot create a PIN, but have the option to install the independent and free youth protection program JusProg. You can find out whether programs and films are suitable for your child’s age and how he or she processes the content shown by using the Flimmo program guide.
In addition to the content you watch, keep an eye on how much time your child spends in front of the screen and with media overall. Therefore, arrange fixed times or specific shows that your child is allowed to watch. If you’re not sure how much time is appropriate, you can find more information and suggestions in our post on media time .
