Whether cyberbullying, computer game addiction or data protection: If young people have problems and questions about the Internet, they can contact the youth scouts and experts from JUUUPORT turn. The website also provides information, links and online seminars.

Advice from experienced young people at eye level

When young people have problems or questions, they sometimes find it difficult to talk to their parents or other adults, especially about sensitive topics such as cyberbullying or sexting. That’s why JUUUPORT has youth scouts who have experienced something similar and can advise other youth. They have undergone special training on Internet topics and in the areas of psychology and law and can be requested anonymously. If they get stuck, the young people’s concerns are passed on to adult experts who then take care of them.

Various contact and information channels

On JUUUPORT, counseling takes place free of charge, anonymously and in compliance with data protection laws. In addition to the contact form on the website, since May 2020 there is also the possibility to get advice via WhatsApp or Telegram chat. Messenger counseling is available Monday through Friday between 6 and 8 p.m.

The JUUUPORT website also contains a wide range of information on Internet topics. In addition to tips on how to deal with cyberbullying, there is a magazine on various topics such as “Trends on the Net” or “Games”. They also provide a collection of links to other places for youth to go.

Online seminars for schools, youth clubs and associations are also offered by JUUUPORT. Topics here include “Hate on the Net” and “WhatsApp Stress.” Perhaps there is a need for a seminar at your child’s school or you would like to draw attention to the offer with information material.

Why not tell your child about JUUUPORT – maybe there are topics he or she would rather not discuss with you, but rather anonymously with other young people. If your child would like to get involved with JUUUPORT themselves and become a scout, they can sign up for training here.

In the digital world, children and young people are confronted with a variety of challenges. helpando is a trustworthy point of contact that provides support in difficult situations and informs children about their rights. This article introduces the digital help platform for children and young people.

In a nutshell:

• Help platform for everyday problems and violations of children’s rights
• for children and young people between the ages of ten and 18
• Versatile chat system: directly on the website, also e.g. via WhatsApp, SMS, Facebook or Instagram Messenger
• barrier-free, free of charge and confidential

Direct help for children and young people

helpando is a project of the KinderRechteForum (KRF). This non-profit organization has been campaigning for the realization of children’s rights for years. The helpando platform helps children and young people with any problem. The help team also intervenes when children’s rights are violated and informs children and young people about their rights in an understandable, child-friendly and empathetic way.

This uncomplicated help is available directly on the website or via WhatsApp, SMS, Facebook or Instagram Messenger. Phone calls and e-mails are also possible. The consultation is strictly confidential and free of charge.

Children and young people can also publish their case anonymously – and show others that they are not alone with their problem. The platform thus promotes the well-being and rights of children and young people.

A lobby for children and young people

helpando also helps to improve the situation of children and young people in a concrete and local way. Does your town need a new playground? Is there a lack of leisure facilities for young people? The school is still not barrier-free? The help platform can be used to post campaigns and draw attention to petitions. The helpando team provides support and contacts local authorities, for example.

The help platform also provides information about children’s rights and child-friendly events.

On Instagram and TikTok, helpando raises awareness of children’s rights, mental health and issues that children and young people are concerned about.

What can parents do?

Take on a supportive and informed role and respect your child’s trust and autonomy. Help your child to seek support in difficult situations and show them digital help platforms such as helpando or similar services. Assist with making contact or seeking support if required.

Open and regular communication is crucial. Allow your child to express themselves freely and share worries, problems or concerns. This creates trust and makes it possible to react to potential challenges at an early stage.

Be aware that the online world is often a complex environment for children and young people. Respond sensitively and understandingly to your child’s challenges and problems.

Cyberbullying, harassment, extremist content – some app and social network operators can delete images and other content if it is brought to their attention. A crucial step in this direction is reporting online problems. This article introduces hotlines.

Why is reporting important?

Reporting problematic behavior or content enables the responsible institutions and organizations to act quickly and protect your child. By reporting, you can help prevent similar incidents in the future, for example by removing a shocking video. In some cases, problematic online behavior can have criminal consequences. Reporting such incidents can help ensure that perpetrators are held accountable.

What can you report?

Some of the most common types of online problems that should be reported:

• Cyberbullying: Cyberbullying involves repeated harassment, threats, or insults on the Internet. This can occur on social media, via email, text messaging, or other online platforms.
• Harassment: Online harassment can take several forms, including sexual harassment, racist or discriminatory comments, stalking, or unwanted messages.
• Violence in the media: There are age restrictions for depictions of violence in the media, which are regulated by the protection of minors in the media. Films and computer games are given age labels to make it clear that the content depicted is only suitable for children over a certain age.
• Hate speech and extremist content: Content that promotes hate, violence or extremism should be reported to curb the spread of such ideas.
• Sexual violence against minors: If you come across content that contains sexually explicit images or videos of minors, you should report it immediately, as it is a serious crime.
• Identity Theft: If you suspect that your personal information has been stolen or that someone is misusing your identity online, this is a serious issue that should be reported.
• Violations of usage policies: Many online platforms have usage policies that prohibit certain behaviors. Violations of these rules should be reported so that the platforms can take action.
• Radicalization or self-harm: If you see evidence of radicalizing content or content for self-harm or suicide, it is important to report it to potentially save lives.

Hotlines

You can always report a problem directly in the app where it occurs. For example, if it violates the usage policy, threatens security, or harasses. Or when it is urgent and requires immediate action. Reporting in the app enables faster response and action from app administrators. To do this, look for an option like “Report,” “Send feedback,” or “Help” – these are often located in the app’s settings or menu.

In addition, there are official hotlines set up specifically to report problematic online behavior:

Help with stress online: juuuport.de

Young people can report problematic content such as hate speech or extremist comments to the contact point. The website also offers information and advice on communication risks such as cyberbullying and sexual harassment. Young scouts offer online advice via contact form and messenger on stress on the Internet, dealing with beauty images, media addiction and much more.

Pornography, depictions of violence or hate speech: FSM Complaints Office

The FSM is an institution concerned with the protection of children and young people in the media. The FSM’s complaints office enables parents and other users to report problematic content on the Internet. The complaints office examines the reports and can take action to stop the dissemination of problematic content if necessary.

Violations of youth protection regulations: jugendschutz.net

This government agency deals with the protection of minors from harmful media in Germany. Here you can report violations related to content harmful to minors. The website provides clear guidance and advice on how to report problematic content. In addition, jugendschutz.net informs about current developments in the field of youth media protection.

Illegal content: Internet Complaint Center

The Internet Complaint Center is a central point of contact for reporting illegal content on the Internet, especially in connection with child sexual abuse. It works closely with the relevant law enforcement agencies to remove such content and prosecute offenders.

What should parents do?

Familiarize yourself with the various reporting options. Do not hesitate to take advantage of them. Educate your child about potential conflicts online. Encourage it to tell you about problems. Use parental control settings and programs.

Keep an eye on your child’s online activities and stay in the loop so you can respond to problems early.

In addition, if you feel overwhelmed or unsure about how to deal with certain online issues, you can seek counseling services. There are some counseling services for youth and parents. The number against sorrow offers, for example, a youth counseling service and a parents’ hotline for problems such as excessive demands, worries or parenting problems.

Kinder und Jugendliche wenden sich mit ihren Problemen nicht immer an ihre Eltern. Probleme in der Schule, mit Gleichaltrigen oder sich selbst, werden lieber im Freundeskreis besprochen. Sie suchen nach Antworten, Gleichgesinnten im Internet oder behalten es für sich. Doch was ist, wenn die Probleme größer werden und die Betroffenen keinen Ausweg mehr finden? Wenn Sie als Eltern mitbekommen, dass es Ihrem Kind nicht gut geht? Nicht immer ist das Internet ein guter Ratgeber bei Problemen, aber es gibt durchaus sichere und hilfreiche digitale Beratungsangebote für Jugendliche und Eltern.

Was sind digitale Beratungsangebote?

Online-Beratungsangebote bieten Unterstützung bei Problemen und Sorgen wie z. B. Mobbing, Essstörungen oder Depressionen. Einige Angebote richten sich speziell an Kinder und Jugendliche. Betroffene können sich selbstständig Hilfe suchen und sich zu unterschiedlichen Themen anonym und kostenlos über eine Website oder telefonisch beraten lassen. 

Einzelberatung, Gruppenchats und Foren

Viele der Beratungsangebote im Netz bieten neben einer Einzelberatung die Möglichkeit, Probleme in einer Gruppe oder einem Forum zu besprechen. Für eine Einzelfallberatung schreiben Betroffene ihre Probleme direkt an psychologisch ausgebildete Beraterinnen und Berater. In einem solchen Austausch erhalten Jugendliche sofort Hilfe und Unterstützung. Je nach Problem und Bedarf kann dieser Austausch unterschiedlich lang ausfallen. Gruppenangebote finden meist in einem Rhythmus statt, z. B. wöchentlich. Eine regelmäßige Teilnahme ist oft hilfreich, aber nicht zwingend nötig. Manchmal finden sich in solchen Chats auch Gleichgesinnte, die auch außerhalb der Sitzungen füreinander da sind.   Innerhalb von Foren tauschen sich Betroffene mit Peers aus. Peers sind Gleichaltrige. Sie wurden geschult, um im Chat bei Problemen unterstützen zu können. Sie haben zudem immer die Möglichkeit, auf die Hilfe erwachsener Fachkräfte zurückzugreifen. Der Austausch in den Foren wird außerdem moderiert, um Beleidigungen, Trigger oder das Preisgeben von Daten zu vermeiden. 

Gute Beratungsangebote im Internet

Die Beratungs- und Hilfsangebote unterscheiden sich darin, welche Altersgruppe angesprochen wird, welche Themen im Mittelpunkt stehen und auf welchem Weg die Beratung in Anspruch genommen werden kann. Einige Angebote richten sich auch an hilfesuchende Eltern:

• Die Telefonseelsorge berät Kinder, Jugendliche und Erwachseneonline oder per Telefon zu unterschiedlichen Problemen
• Die Nummer gegen Kummer bietet, neben einer Jugendberatung, ein Elterntelefon. Dieses können Eltern bei Problemen wie z. B. Überforderung, Sorgen oder Erziehungsproblemen nutzen. 
• Die ausgebildeten Berater und Beraterinnen der Jugendnotmail sind 365 Tage im Jahr für Jugendliche bis 19 Jahre anonym zu erreichen
• Das Beratungsangebot jugend.bke-beratung unterstützt Jugendliche im Alter von 14 bis 21 Jahre. Auf der Website können sie sich in Einzel- oder Gruppenchats über ihre Probleme und Sorgen austauschen – vom Liebeskummer und Ärger in der Schule bis hin zu größeren Problemen
• Auf jugend.support und juuuport bekommen Kinder und Jugendliche Hilfe bei Problemen im Netz wie z. B. Cybermobbing oder Cybergrooming
• Beratung4kids bietet unter anderem einen eigenen Bereich mit Foren für trans Personen, also solche, die mit ihrer Geschlechtsidentität hadern
• Bei der Youth-Life-Line können sich Jugendliche bis 21 Jahren in akuten Krisen und bei Suizidgefährdung von Gleichaltrigen beraten lassen
• Auf der Website von u25-deutschland gibt es neben Beratungsangebote, eine Infothek zu Themen wie Essstörung, Suizid, Depression
• Das Angebot Kid Kit berät junge Menschen bis 18 Jahre bei Sucht, Gewalt oder psychischen Erkrankungen in der Familie. Nacoa berät alle Altersgruppen
• Bei netz-und-boden.de gibt es Unterstützung für Kinder mit psychisch erkrankten Eltern
• Auf da-sein.de unterstützen Peers Jugendliche, die sich in Trauer befinden oder selbst an einer lebensverkürzenden Krankheit leiden
• Peer-to-Peerberatung gibt es auch bei nethelp4u. Jugendliche beraten Jugendliche unter anderem bei selbstverletzendem Verhalten, Selbstmordgedanken, Drogenproblemen, Depressionen, Essproblemen. Der Hilfsangebot-Finder der Initiative Freunde fürs Leben hilft dabei, das passende Beratungsangebot zu finden. Dabei lässt sich filtern, ob die Beratung telefonisch, online oder vor Ort in Anspruch genommen werden möchte
• Pausentaste ist ein Angebot für Kinder und Jugendliche, die sich um ihre Familien kümmern
• In jeglichen Kristen bietet Krisenchat eine Chatberatung von Profis für alle unter 25 Jahren

Digitale Beratungsangebote haben Grenzen 

Hilfsangebote im Netz können einfach und kostenlos angenommen werden. Sie sind leichter zugänglich für junge Menschen als z. B. Beratungsstellen. Die beratenden Personen sind ausgebildet und die Betroffenen bleiben anonym. Eine Kontaktaufnahme kann ein erster und richtiger Schritt sein. Vor allem bei Problemen in der Schule, zu Hause oder mit sich selbst kann es helfen, sich mit Gleichaltrigen auszutauschen oder den Rat einer objektiven Person zu erhalten. Ein Online-Beratungsangebot ersetzt aber keine Therapie! Bei Suizidgedanken oder psychischen Störungen sollte unbedingt der Rat einer weiteren therapeutischen Fachkraft gesucht werden und sich um eine fortlaufende Therapie bemüht werden. Auch bei rechtlichen oder medizinischen Fragen sollten andere Fachstellen aufgesucht werden.

Was sollten Eltern beachten

Erzählen Sie Ihrem Kind, dass es diese Angebote gibt. Erklären Sie, dass diese im Vergleich zu Gruppen in offenen Foren oder auf Social Media sicherer sind, da geschultes Personal dahintersteht. Vorsicht auch vor sogenannten Psycho-Apps. Diese sind nicht immer hilfreich und können sogar gefährlich werden. Zeigen Sie Ihrem Kind, welche Angebote es bei Problemen und Sorgen bedenkenlos in Anspruch nehmen kann. 

Machen Sie vor allem deutlich, dass es bei Problemen auf Ihre Hilfe zählen kann. Setzen Sie Ihr Kind nicht unter Druck und fragen Sie unvoreingenommen, wenn Sie das Gefühl haben, es hat Probleme. Ein Problem, das Ihnen klein erscheint, kann sich für Ihr Kind wesentlich schlimmer anfühlen. Sie können sich auch selbst oder gemeinsam online beraten lassen.

It’s actually forbidden – and yet surprisingly present: On social media platforms like TikTok and Facebook but also in messengers like WhatsApp and Telegram there is a drug scene in which some very young users are active.

Drug use and social networks – what do you find there anyway?

Illegal drugs are finding their way into the public domain via social media platforms like TikTok. Under corresponding hashtags, the popular short video app features videos of users talking about their own drug use or showing it live. This goes from weed and mushrooms to meth, MDMA or heroin. According to both Germanyouth media protection laws and the platforms’ community rules, such videos are prohibited. Some videos come from children and young people who get encouragement for their behavior via likes and comments.

Social media has not only made the topic of drugs itself more visible. It may also be easier to find the drugs themselves via websites or groups, if contact can be made with dealers there.

Funny and harmless? The videos convey fatally wrong images

The problem with this drug scene, which is just a click away: the colorful images, the fun depicted, the feeling of being in a group of like-minded people, as well as unifying elements like the music initially seem inviting. Often drug use is trivialized in the videos, experiments are praised and supported by other users. This can create a completely false image of drug use as recreational fun among adolescents. Children and young people in particular, who are looking for support and confirmation, can easily be attracted to such content.

It can be problematic that platforms often suggest similar videos to their users again with the help of algorithms. This can make topics that you deal with more and more present.

What do the platforms do?

According to the community guidelines, such videos are of course not permitted – neither consumption and glorification nor the sale of drugs on the platforms. TikTok therefore blocks obvious hashtags or deletes posts and groups if they are noticed or reported. However, not all newly invented hashtags can always be blocked immediately.

What should parents pay attention to?

In terms of both media and drug use, the golden road is a trusting relationship and open communication. Stay in touch with your child and show interest in them and their media use. In the best case, you will notice early on if your child encounters questionable content or has questions or problems. Then you can find a way to deal with it together.

If your child is still very young, you can also control his or her media use technically – for example, with the help of the accompanied mode on TikTok.

If you feel your child is changing, has mental health issues, or may already be in contact with drugs, there are several steps you can take:

• Address your child directly. Ask specific questions and be open with your concerns. Sometimes a frank conversation gets a lot moving.
• Educate your child about algorithms and give them tips on how to handle recommendations from social media apps. Clicking “not interested” helps the TikTok algorithm understand that your child does not want to watch such videos.
• Encourage your child to report such posts so that the appropriate social media platform can delete them.
• Talk to trusted people, such as teachers, school social workers, or social educators.
• In all larger cities, there are contact points such as educational counseling centers, counseling centers for mental health problems or drug counseling centers. A directory for the latter is provided by the Deutsche Hauptstelle für Suchtfragen e. V. Visit them alone or together with your child and seek help!
• Under the nationwide Addiction & Drugs Hotline, experienced professionals offer anonymous, telephone counseling around the clock.
• Give your child access to age-appropriate educational resources like drugcom.com that provide information about the dangers of drugs.