Toned bodies on YouTube fitness channels, flawless beauty influencers on Instagram or perfectly staged selfies in WhatsApp chats– social media conveys a certain image of beauty that is often far removed from reality. Such ideals can put enormous pressure on children and young people and have a negative impact on their self-esteem. How can parents help their children develop a healthy approach to beauty images online?
Pale skin in the Middle Ages, curvy bodies in the Baroque era, short hair in the 1920s, thin models in the 1990s – what is considered beautiful is subject to constant change and varies according to time and culture. Throughout history, women in particular have been strongly valued by their appearance. Today’s ideal of beauty is strongly influenced by gender stereotypes and social media trends.
“Do I look beautiful?”. With the onset of puberty at the latest, children and adolescents are increasingly concerned with their appearance and identity. This time is often characterized by uncertainty and comparisons. Young people also look to the media for guidance. They keep a close eye on how people present themselves online. Influencers become important role models that they want to emulate. Many social media stars present themselves as particularly approachable on their profiles and encourage contact with their target group. The strong relationship with their idols can be an orientation aid in the development of their own body and beauty image, but can also lead to insecurity and pressure. This is because a lot of content shows highly distorted images of beauty.
Big eyes, full lips, white teeth, flawless skin – on platforms like Instagram and TikTok are dominated by one-sided images of beauty that are perfected with the use of filters and image editing, including the use of AI avatars. Added to this are the mechanisms of social media services, in which algorithms preferentially select images with naked skin and display content according to the characteristics and preferences of users. Influencers show more appearance than reality in order to earn money with clicks and product placements. Anyone who does not conform to the current ideal of beauty receives negative feedback and even hate comments. This increases the pressure on young users to meet unrealistic beauty standards. According to a study conducted by the Austrian education platform safer-internet.at in early 2024, beauty ideals on the internet put both girls and boys under a lot of pressure. More than half of the young people surveyed want to look beautiful, stylish and slim online. If children and young people are constantly comparing themselves and frequently use filters, this can have an impact on their self-perception. Pumping until you drop, starving yourself to the point of anorexia – some content even shows beauty ideals that are harmful to health, which can be dangerous if imitated.
Fortunately, there are also counter-movements online such as curvy models, body positivity and hashtags like #formorerealityoninstagram. They help to make visible and celebrate a diversity of bodies and identities. Such authentic content encourages users to take a healthier and more realistic view of beauty and their bodies.
Show an interest in your child’s media use and keep in touch with your child about their favorite influencers and content. Analyze together which editing steps are behind many images and videos and explain to him that this is mostly about marketing. Make it clear to your child that their social media feed is not an accurate reflection of reality. Encourage your child to weed out profiles that trigger bad feelings. Give your child access to the good side of the internet and show them (children’s) media that portray diverse world views and gender images. Comedy profiles such as Celeste Barber or formats for children and young people such as this video on beauty filters by TeamTimster on KIKA help to question unrealistic ideals of beauty.
Emphasize the diversity of bodies and images of beauty and encourage your child to be positive about their own body. Praise your child’s inner values, such as personality and interests, to strengthen their self-esteem. If you are unsure, your child is suffering from digital stress or an eating disorder, seek help, for example in the form of (digital) counseling services.
Radiant skin and shiny hair, perfect nails and stunning make-up – the world of beauty influencers is all about beauty. There is cream and powder, plucking and brushing. And did a lot of shopping.
If you’re wondering what can be designed, cared for and “improved” on such a body, you’ve come to the right place. Beauty influencers know their way around the aisles of a drugstore better than they know their own back pocket. They know what protects against sunburn and what helps afterwards. They know what’s trending this year when it comes to eyebrows and which braid is currently in vogue. You know the difference between foundation and primer. And they are happy to explain it to us.
On the profiles of the beauty declarants, the body becomes a large canvas – and nothing is left to chance. The topics range from basic body care and dealing with minor and major “problems” to elaborate make-up and hair tutorials or dealing with cosmetic surgery.
Since 2012, Dagmar Kazakov alias Dagi Bee has been active on social media channels since 2012 and reaches her YouTube -channel reaches almost 4 million viewers. The Düsseldorf native publishes a mix of fun videos, vlogs and beauty and make-up tutorials. Her videos always give the impression that she is passing on tips to her best friend, seemingly taking her followers right into her private life, inviting them to accompany her on her “pregnancy journey” or taking video tours of her home, which is very approachable and appealing, especially for younger viewers. Dagi Bee not only sells cosmetic products but also oat milk.
The profile is a little more specific xskincare . Biology student Leon takes an in-depth look at the subject of skin care. Around 2019, Leon says he was looking for products to treat his acne – and because no one could help him, he quickly became an expert himself. Almost 1 million people now follow him and learn from him what to do for large pores, reddened skin or fall weather. Leon particularly likes to test products and “expose” less good offers while promoting his own product line.
There is plenty of color in the face at Paula Wolf . Since 2018, the “make-up artist” has been posting videos on social media in which she elaborately designs her face – sometimes with “normal” make-up, but sometimes she also transforms herself into the Grinch, a Disney character or an animal in front of the camera. 6.5 million followers watch her on YouTube alone – and are of course always offered her extensive range of products.
Very classically presented Maxim Giacomo presents make-up tutorials on his profiles: the Berliner recreates the looks of stars, explains how to draw the perfect eyebrow and tests the drugstore to find the perfect eyeshadow. Again, of course, never without warmly recommending their own products.
For children and young people in particular, there is a lot in it: On the way to adulthood, not only the body changes, but also the view of it. Young people are often in search of their own identity, also in terms of their appearance. They are more aware of beauty ideals from the media and their peer group and are looking for their own way when it comes to body care and design. How can changing skin be cared for? How do I achieve a certain look? What do I find beautiful, what not? These questions inevitably arise – and beauty influencers offer answers.
Children and young people not only receive instructions, explanations and offers on the way to their own body and self-image, but the appropriate shopping list is also provided.
When the range of tubes and jars in the bathroom suddenly explodes and a fixed place has to be set up next to the mirror for the tutorial running on the smartphone, this can sometimes seem a little disconcerting for parents. Depending on your own passion for body care, the often very colorful and sometimes somewhat shrill videos may not always be appealing to adults.
In principle, however, understanding is the order of the day: your child is looking for guidance and support as they grow up, and they will find it on channels like these. Show an interest and take a look at your child’s favorite beauty role models together. You might even learn a thing or two about skin and hair care!
At the same time, however, a certain skepticism is appropriate here. Beauty influencers strongly convey the message that beauty is the most important topic – especially for girls and young women, this can create unrealistic beauty ideals that are neither attainable nor conducive to a healthy self-image. Talk to your child about how photos and recommendations from influencers are created. Promote your child’s media skills by explaining to them how they can view such offers critically and use them consciously. Help your child to distance themselves from unrealistic ideals – and to choose the valuable tips for themselves.
In addition, much of the content on the profiles is aimed at promoting products – be it because an advertising partnership with a cosmetics company is in the background or because it is the company’s own product line. Discuss with your child that these products are not necessarily really good, but are primarily intended to secure the influencer’s income.
The latest news, preparation for a paper or the weather forecast – check TikTok right away. Teenagers and young adults in particular are frequent users of social media platforms such as TikTok and YouTube as search engines. This can work, but it also brings its own unique challenges.
It was taken for granted for a long time – if you want to find something on the Internet, you “Google” it. But that seems to be faltering. Young people are increasingly starting their online searches on social media platforms such as YouTube, TikTok and the like. In some statistics, YouTube even appears as the second largest search engine after Google – and the trend is rising.
Why? That’s quite simple: Social media is the digital home of many young people anyway. That’s where they know their way around, that’s where they feel comfortable – and that’s why they have great confidence in the search results. When young people search here for products, events or places, the results are mostly (seemingly) personal recommendations and experiences from celebrities or from the community, instead of rather impersonal and complicated web links. This makes a credible and approachable impression on young people. In addition, videos or images are easier and more entertaining than eternal clicking through text deserts.
Platforms like TikTok and YouTube are responding to young people’s need to be able to search content easily. TikTok, for example, has made the search field significantly larger and more prominent, and now offers a widget for smartphones that can be used to operate the TikTok search directly from the home screen. The term “widget” comes from English and is a compound word from “window” = window and gadget = technical gadget. “Widget” refers to a type of interactive window.
But how can children and young people distinguish trustworthy from dubious information on social media? Is everything there really as authentic as it sometimes seems?
Because, of course, influencers are not always the nice buddies next door – but earn a lot of money with their appearances and recommendations. So if a restaurant is praised here with particularly warm words, it may well be that there is simply a particularly lucrative advertising contract behind it.
In addition, classic advertisements also appear on social networks. The algorithm also still has a say and constantly presents us with similar results – just like other search engines. And caution is also called for in other respects: In addition to serious information, fake news or even deliberate propaganda from various interest groups can also be found on the networks. Social media platforms often collect and collate at least as much data as traditional search engines.
As a parent, you should think carefully with your child about how to use the search function of social media services safely:
Show interest in your child’s media use and his or her favorite offerings on TikTok and Co. Encourage your child to use social media platforms critically. Only if your child knows the possibilities and also the advantages and disadvantages of different offers, he can choose consciously and purposefully.
Invitations for the children’s birthday party, Christmas presents for the parents, homemade jewelry – or a new living room cabinet made from grandma’s old dresser? Anyone who wants to get creative with their hands doesn’t have to look far for instructions and ideas these days, because video platforms like YouTube and social media apps like Instagram are full of DIY pros who are happy to share their ideas and instructions: DIY influencers.
DIY comes from the English “Do it yourself”. And they really do everything themselves, from cakes to winter jackets to racing bikes, explain the work steps – and usually have the right product tips in their luggage.
Anyone who has taken a look around the popular platforms knows that you can do almost anything yourself. With enough patience, motivation and the right materials. Accordingly, there are DIY channels on all kinds of topics, we present three.
Sally Özcan for example, has turned her passion for sweets into a profession. On her account “Sally’s World,” Sally bakes everything from cookies to elaborate themed cakes – and everyone can join in. The fun of pretty desserts has already attracted 2 million YouTube subscribers, so in addition to video and her blog, Sally also runs a podcast and her own store.
If you prefer wood and stone instead of flour and sugar, you’ll find the perfect solution at Easy Alex you’ll find lots of ideas and instructions. The do-it-yourselfer fills his Instagram account with ideas on home remodeling, room makeovers and more, appealing to some 250,000 followers.
And when the house is finished and the decoration is still missing? Then there are a whole lot of “decorating” channels where home and life design ideas never seem to run out.
Linda Seel
for example, shows us all kinds of creative ideas for occupation, from embroidery to IKEA hacks to complete room design, and has thus reached 130,000 users on YouTube.
Subscribers found.
While crafting with mom and dad usually drops significantly in the coolness ranking at some point in elementary school, DIY with a tablet is suddenly all the rage. For children and young people, the DIY explainers on the Internet are sometimes real stars and role models. Because here everyone will find exactly the niche they enjoy. Whether it’s elaborate cupcakes or cardboard artwork, the palette is almost inexhaustible. Young creatives can find exactly the instructions and ideas they like and enjoy – even far beyond their parents’ repertoire. Here, children and young people can learn and create something that they themselves are proud of. Often they are elaborate things that even the adults can not do, and therefore admire them all the more. In a phase of life in which young people are constantly searching for their own talents, themes and identity, this can be meaningful. And as a nice side effect, there are sometimes gifts for the whole family.
Parents can basically rejoice once when their own child discovers his creative side via online craft book. Nevertheless, there are a few points to discuss here as well:
Not all instructions are actually implemented as easily with a snap of the fingers as it seems in the video. So that your child is not quickly frustrated and loses the desire to do it yourself again: Support your child in finding instructions that match the level of difficulty of your child’s ability and experience.
What’s more, DIY influencers are like others in the industry: they make money from their content. They recommend products or content that they get paid for by companies as an advertising partnership – but not necessarily because the content is actually convincing. Promote your child’s media literacy by helping them understand these connections and critically question the videos accordingly.
“If you think positively, your life will change for the better!”. Happiness and success as if by magic – that’s what the social media trend “Lucky Girl Syndrome” is all about.
Under the hashtag #luckygirlsyndrome, millions of videos of young women can be found on TikTok, Instagram and the like. They usually look very good, smile into the camera and promise their followers success through beliefs and mantras such as “I am happy” or “Things are going well for me”. The message is: good things will happen to those who expect good things. This is called the “Law of Assumption.” In some videos, female influencers talk about all the things they’ve been able to achieve thanks to their positive outlook on life: Gambling winnings, dream jobs or the perfect apartment. They challenge their followers to talk themselves into happiness and share the resulting successes with the community. The trend is mainly common among female TikTokers. The hashtag #luckyboysyndrome occurs significantly less.
Who am I? How do I want to become? What do I want to achieve? Children and young people are in the middle of their personal development. On the road to adulthood, adolescents encounter many hurdles and must learn to deal with setbacks. Conquering a crush, getting good grades at school, shining at a dance recital – not everything they set out to do succeeds. This can make you dissatisfied and frustrated. The social media trend “Lucky Girl Syndrome” promises quick happiness and thus exactly meets the interest and longing of some young people, especially girls. They look to their idols for guidance and emulate influencers on social media. Challenges are fun for young users, and they interact with their circle of friends and role models.
Lucky Girl Syndrome” seems harmless, but it can become problematic for users. The trend lures with false promises. It doesn’t hurt to think positively. But goals cannot be achieved with thoughts alone. Those who want to attract happiness solely with the help of loudly spoken sentences and the inner attitude will soon be disappointed. Because only those who also become active and change their own behavior can shape their lives positively.
What is also problematic about the trend is that negative feelings have no place. But those who constantly suppress grief, fear or anger risk their mental health in the long run. What is also completely disregarded is the fact that not everything in life can go well and not everything can be positively influenced. What is also important to remember is that not all people have the same opportunities. Physical characteristics such as appearance, gender, and health and privileges such as social background and finances affect the achievement of personal goals.
Stay open and interested in your child’s social media use. A good basis for discussion is essential for a joint exchange on value issues. Talk to your child about his or her role models on TikTok and Cound with as little bias as possible, and ask what fascinates your child about them. Point out that how influencers are portrayed on social media may differ from how they are portrayed in private. Nobody is lucky all the time. Make it clear to your child: not everything always has to go well in life. Negative feelings are part of it and may be lived through to an appropriate degree. A positive outlook on life is good, but action must follow. Reinforce to your child that he or she is fine the way he or she is. Encourage his self-awareness and support him in critically reflecting on the self-optimization presented by some influencers on social media.
Books and TikTok – how do they fit together? Young people show that it can be done. TikTok has long been more than a platform for colorful dance videos: Young people also use it to find out about current topics – including hot books. There are also people on YouTube and Instagram who share stories about reading and their latest reads.
Reading books seems to be losing importance in the age of social media. However, Booktok’s trend proves that digital and analog media need not be mutually exclusive. Reading also still has its place in the world of young people.
The term Booktok is a combination of the English word for book and the second part of the name of the popular app TikTok. There, mainly female readers share book tips under the hashtag #booktok – far away from bespectacled older gentlemen talking high-toned about literature. The videos are entertaining and appeal to young users. The so-called booktokers particularly enjoy reading books from the romance, fantasy, crime/thriller, and young adult genres.
Publishers and bookstores are now also on TikTok, cranking up their sales in popular genres. Certain books become trendy via Booktok and thus become bestsellers. Some bookstores have their own book tables where the most popular publications are presented.
Reading challenges are also launched. In doing so, TikTokers introduce books on a particular theme, cover, etc.
There is also a large book community on Instagram: Bookstagram. Users exchange more information on books here than on TikTok. In the comments, people talk together about current readings, create reading circles and start so-called buddyreads (joint reading rounds).
It probably all started on YouTube, where reading recommendations can also be found under the hashtag #booktube.
Special apps can help make book reading itself a challenge. How many pages have I read this week? How many books can I finish in a month? They are called GoodReads, Read-O, Bookstats or Booksup – apps that can be used to track one’s reading behavior. Statistics can be shared directly on social media in some cases.
Such apps can motivate people to read more. Through some, users network with each other and write their own reviews. You can read a particular book in a buddyread at the same time and exchange ideas about it. When installing the app, you should pay attention to what other users see and what data the app collects and possibly passes on to third parties.
Publishers use social media and influencers for advertising just like other companies. Even though books and reading are usually seen as positive, you and your child should look closely at what book is being advertised. Not always the opinion of the booktoker and bookstagramer is honest and unbiased, advertising is not always marked. Finally, book purchases can also run into money. Therefore, you should talk with your child about what and how many books really need to buy. Is your child just interested in presenting the book in a video or is he or she really interested in reading?
Use your local library and borrow some books from there. Many libraries have digital access points through which e-books can also be borrowed. An e-reader is also available for check-out at the library.
In series and films, in books and mangas, in video games or in the world of celebrities – young people everywhere encounter characters and figures that inspire them. Whether it’s superheroes like Spider Man, game characters like Ahri, anime characters like Levi Ackerman , or celebrities like Billie Eilish, teens look to a wide variety of media figures as their role models and look up to them.
Do you remember how enthusiastically your child told you about his favorite characters from movies and television a few years ago? From an early age, children orient themselves to their favorite media figures. Young people also look for role models not only in their immediate environment of family, friends or clubs, but increasingly in the media offerings they use.
Forming one’s own identity is one of the most important tasks in adolescence. Media content and characters take on important functions for young people. In this way, media role models can help people develop their own values. They can not only offer young people orientation and support, but even inspire them to try out and experiment with different identities and roles. It is character traits such as courage, honesty, loyalty, sincerity and perseverance that go down particularly well with young people. But they are also fascinated by characters who are particularly funny or original, or who have big goals and agendas.
Particularly important for teenagers is the exchange about their media idols. Through this togetherness between young people, a sense of belonging to peers is created. Often, clothing, (youth) language or hobbies, but also media use itself, show which media role models they feel close to. Youth cultures, such as e-boys and e-girls, are popular among young people, and by belonging to such currents they also distinguish themselves from one another within their peer group.
In addition to a large number of fictional characters from movies, series, video games and books, real people from the media world also inspire young people. These can be celebrities from the film and music industry or social media stars. With this variety of media figures, it can happen that one loses the overview. Here are a few examples:
Parents don’t have to like their children’s media idols. Still, share with your child about their media heroes. Ask which of their character traits your child particularly likes.
Media also feature figures who are not well suited as role models. They may model problematic behaviors or teach questionable values. Sometimes they reproduce stereotypical gender images, prejudices or clichés that result in a false or incomplete worldview. The role model function can also become doubtful in connection with advertising. For example, when popular influencers promote products, this can sometimes be done indirectly or covertly. Talk to your child about critical behaviors and clarify stereotypes. Remain neutral and unbiased when asking questions and engage with their world of media role models. Maybe it helps if you remember your own youth and your idols. How did you feel at that time?
Your child is a fan of a Youtuber or streamer whose face he doesn’t know and only recognizes her by her voice and an animated character? Then it is fan of a V-tuber.
“V-Tuber” stands for Virtual Youtuber and Youtuberess. But you can also find them on Twitch or other streaming platforms. These streamers or influencers create virtual avatars, figures digitally created on a computer, with which they appear in their streams or videos. Many only show themselves with these avatars instead of their real face. The avatars are created in 3D or 2D. Often they have the style of a Disney or anime character with big eyes and colorful hair. Gender stereotypes can often be found in the process.
The 3D avatars can be compared to Apple ‘s Memoji or Snapchat ‘s Bitmoji. Some also know them from video telephony conversations, such as via Skype. Through their camera, V-Tubers can use so-called “motion capture” to record facial expressions and/or gestures, and the created avatar then imitates them simultaneously.
There are different types of V-tubers. For some, the image is similarly fixed, like other influencers sitting in front of their computers. In others, the Youtuber or Youtuberess can move around in their space, and the avatar imitates the movements. Many spend money to have the characters created by professional animators. But you can also create your own avatars with free apps.
The virtual avatar is also a kind of protection for many Youtubers. On bad days they don’t always have to smile, their avatar does it for them. It also allows them to avoid being talked about as a person. This allows them to better distinguish themselves from possible hate comments.
Children have known a talking avatar from an early age. The elephant and the mouse and other animated children’s series or game characters in games have accompanied many for a long time. So seeing an animated avatar on YouTube is not that strange for kids.
You can build the same bond with the V-Tuber as you would with other non-animated media personalities. Some, so-called parasocial relationships, are even comparable to the relationship with their friends.
It can be problematic when V-Tubers don’t reveal their real identity. They can then also not be prosecuted for any misconduct or, in the worst case, criminal acts such as fraud. They can simply delete their account if they have done something wrong.
An animated avatar is not an honest representation of oneself. The crooked nose and the pimple on the forehead are not visible on the avatars. They always look good, and can convey to children and young people that the person behind them is just as perfect.
There are still no big V-Tubers in Germany. This trend can currently be observed increasingly in the USA. But it’s only a matter of time before the first V-Tubers arrive here as well. Talk to your child about their experience with V-Tubers and think together about what it means that V-Tubers don’t show their real appearance.
Maybe somewhere in your closet you still have a T-shirt from your favorite band from your youth. Or you like to go to the soccer and therefore of course have the whole fan collection of your club – from scarf to jersey to bed linen. But nowadays not only sports clubs and musicians market such products, but also influencers. So-called merch from the idols is also exciting for children and teenagers.
Merch is the short form of merchandise and the English term for marketing. Merchandise products range from trading cards, game pieces and key chains to T-shirts, jerseys and even costumes. The jersey of the favorite soccer team is often available in baby size, the Ninjago characters as trading cards and Princess Elsa also appears on lunch boxes and backpacks. From infancy merchandise is present.
Many YouTubers and influencers also run their own merch store online. There are regularly new collections of T-shirts, hoodies and bags. This merch is rarely available in “normal” stores. Influencers draw attention to this in their videos, stories, etc. Many children and teenagers want to support their favorite influencers by buying such items. Through frequent advertising, they get the feeling that each new collection is something exclusive and rare.
This merch, just like that of bands and sports clubs, expresses belonging to a group. In addition, the influencer or musician stands for something specific, which is also transferred to the person wearing the corresponding T-shirts and sweaters with his or her merch.
Such merch is usually produced by other companies. These are not always high quality products. The prices for the things are often quite expensive, because you pay not only the sweater, but also the brand and the design. Learn more in the video from Pocket Money.
Before you comply with your child’s request for advertised clothing from a particular YouTuber, answer the following questions together:
You should also make sure that you handle the payment. Never give your child your bank account or credit card information.
Allow your child to be a fan. It’s part of growing up, as you probably know from your own childhood and adolescence. When it comes to merch, however, be critical of whether everything needs to be purchased. Encourage your child to think about it, too.
TikTok is known for this and Instagram has come up with Reels followed suit. Now also YouTube has introduced the short video format for its app. It’s called YouTube Shorts, and it can be an exciting addition to YouTube content for kids and teens.
With YouTube Shorts, users can watch short videos on the go on their smartphones. So-called creators can also record their own short videos in portrait format with the YouTube app. The clips last a maximum of 60 seconds.
The short videos on YouTube appear in a separate section in the smartphone app. As soon as a short video – often tagged with the hashtag #shorts – is selected, it appears on the entire smartphone display. A swipe from the bottom to the top displays new videos. YouTube‘s recommendation algorithm decides which videos are shown: Based on previously viewed videos, presumed interests and the alleged taste of the respective viewer are calculated. The short videos can also be viewed on the computer or laptop.
Shorts are in the rules very entertaining and entertaining. For kids and teens, this can be a reason to spend even more time on YouTube. Also, YouTube Shorts can be an incentive to upload clips yourself. This is because videos that were not professionally shot also appear in the new section. Creators with few followers and without much technical equipment can get attention this way. This was previously very difficult and rather unrealistic due to the many, professionally designed videos on YouTube.
Similar to TikTok YouTube Shorts can be very addictive, so kids and teens spend more time on it than they would like or should. The recommendation algorithm contributes to this. One swipe up is enough to watch the next video. Closing YouTube Shorts can therefore be very difficult. Watching the videos can also expose children and young people to inappropriate content .
Like other social media apps, there are communication risks when children and young people disseminate their own content online and share it with other users – such as negative and hurtful comments or cybergrooming.
YouTube‘s Terms of Use, Privacy Policy, and Community Guidelines apply. The provider provides information about possible privacy settings on a separate page. YouTube recommends that parents of underage users set up a YouTube account with parental supervision. Read also our article YouTube in the family.
Since YouTube Shorts can only be used in a beta version (= preliminary version) so far, it remains to be seen whether the provider will add further setting options.
Talk to your child about whether they use YouTube shorts and, if so, why. What does he like about it and what clips does he like to watch? Risks of use should also be discussed. Pay attention to how much time your child spends with YouTube shorts and with media in general. A media use agreement can help maintain a reasonable usage time. Does your child want to upload videos themselves? Then talk about what content should and shouldn’t be published. There is also an option to share videos only with selected people. Show your child how to block and report other users. This is important in case it receives inappropriate comments or messages. Your child should know that he or she can turn to you at any time.
YouTube is the largest video portal in the world. Although the platform can only be used officially from the age of 16, it is particularly popular with children and young people. For you as a parent, there are several ways to get your child on YouTube to protect
YouTube is the world’s largest platform for uploading and watching videos. It offers the possibility to watch numerous videos about different topics, comment on them and rate them. In addition to commercial channels, individuals also have the ability to quickly and easily post and publicly share videos on YouTube.
The content on offer is huge and ranges from makeup tutorials to music videos and Let’s Play videos. There is something for all interests and all ages. Videos by well-known YouTube stars, whose channels are often followed by several million people, are particularly popular with young people. While some are about beauty and fashion tips, others do comedy or document their gaming experience of a popular online game. Children and young people enjoy watching certain videos, participating in the lives of their idols, and talking about them.
Some formats, such as challenges, encourage users to participate. When children and young people see how quickly they can supposedly achieve fame and recognition through YouTube, this can awaken in them the desire to become active themselves and upload videos to YouTube. Children and young people can test themselves creatively in this way and strengthen their media skills. For you as a parent, there are a few things to keep in mind if your child is active on YouTube or wants to be.
Videos for children must be marked as such. No personalized ads will then be displayed in front of these videos. In addition, other functions such as live chat or the comment function are limited. The community guidelines specify a way of dealing on the platform to protect children. No content may be shared that depicts children engaging in sexual or dangerous acts, or that could endanger the physical or emotional well-being of young users. YouTube encourages its members to immediately report videos and channels that violate the Community Guidelines.
Before, during and after video clips, YouTube shows more and more advertising, as it is not necessarily age-appropriate (if the videos were not “marked” as “For Children” when they were posted). Advertising from influencers that is woven into videos as if completely by accident is difficult for children to see through.
If you or your child publish YouTube videos yourself, there may also be advertisements beforehand. You can hardly influence what advertising is running. However, be sure to label videos as “For Children” so that there is no content in the ads that is harmful to minors.
You have the option to set the restricted mode in your child’s YouTube profile. The user is then only shown videos that have been classified as age-appropriate and harmless – if they were marked accordingly when they were posted and classified as such by YouTube’s algorithm (i.e. programming that runs in the background). Inappropriate content is blocked and is not available in restricted mode.
With the so-called parental control, you should be able to decide what your child sees on YouTube or to track it. It works through an adult’s Google account. Weigh whether this is necessary, or whether agreeing on rules and having regular exchanges about YouTube use might be a better way forward for you and your child.
The problem is that algorithms do not work error-free and a video can easily “slip through”. You should therefore additionally keep an eye on what videos your child is watching and whether you find them suitable. The restricted mode can also be easily bypassed. If, for example, another browser is used or the browser data is deleted, the parental control is canceled. An additional security measure is independent parental control programs that can be easily installed on the PC free of charge. It should be noted that some programs block the entire YouTube website.
If your child wants to upload videos themselves, work out together what and how much can be shown to protect your child’s privacy. Also, talk about the dangers of cybergrooming and hate speech and make it clear that your child can and should talk to you about such things. When uploading, videos can be set to “unlisted” or “private”. Think with your child about who should have access to the content. However, you can’t completely eliminate the risk of videos being posted and shared on other social media channels.
Also talk about the right to one’s own image, the protection of intimacy and privacy, and copyright. Because it can easily happen that your child unknowingly violates such guidelines – for example, if people are seen who have not given their consent or music is used that is protected by copyright.
YouTube has long been part of children’s everyday lives and is an important channel. Keep an open mind about your child’s desire to watch videos or take action on their own. Talk to your child about possible risks and sources of danger and create usage rules for YouTube together.
Names like Lisa and Lena, Melina Sophie or Julien Bam come up often at your house and you know for sure that they are not friends of your child? Then your son or daughter probably has a crush on an Internet star or influencer.
Young people in particular often spend several hours a day on social media platforms such as YouTube, Instagram or TikTok. In doing so, they look at videos and photos of people they don’t know personally, but about whom they nevertheless know a lot and on whom they orient themselves. These so-called influencers report on their supposed everyday life in pictures or videos and deal with topics such as fashion, beauty or gaming. Influencers often have a presence on multiple social media platforms. Athletes, models and pop stars are also active as influencers.
Fans or followers or subscribers communicate with their stars: they answer surveys, respond to calls, such as challenges, or like and comment on posts. So they feel like they are somehow connected to the influencers.
The most famous influencers have an enormous reach from thousands of followers to an audience of millions: the twins Lisa and Lena have as more than 15 million subscribers on Instagram and over 10 million followers on TikTok. YouTuber Bianca “Bibi” Heinicke from BibisBeautyPalace has 5.9 million subscribers and Julian Bam 5.7 million.
Adults often miss out on this trend. For many young people, influencers are role models and have a great influence on them – hence the term influencer. They are often the same age as their fans or just a few years older and appear to act naturally, so that their followers trust them and seek advice as if they were their big siblings.
Companies have recognized the value of influencers and use both the platforms and their stars for marketing purposes. In the photos and videos of the Instagramer one sees directly or also only “incidentally” products like beauty articles or clothes of certain brands. Companies also often use influencers to boost the credibility and popularity of a brand. What looks like a personal recommendation from a famous influencer is often advertising.
The boundaries between one’s own opinion and advertising are blurring and becoming difficult to discern. This is mainly because not all influencers mark their posts with “advertising” or “advertisement”, even though this is actually mandatory. It is unclear whether the influencer bought the product in question himself or was paid to hold it up to the camera.
Children and young people don’t necessarily realize this or take a less critical view of it, as they want to emulate their online idols and are easily influenced by them. For example, if influencers dress a certain way, kids and teens associate those brands with their stars and want to dress the same way.
It seems so easy to succeed and make money as an influencer. That’s why many children and young people want to become YouTubers or influencers themselves. But the photos and videos posted don’t show the work behind a life as an influencer.
Young followers are not only influenced by topics such as fashion and lifestyle. Influencers portray themselves in certain ways, often embellished by filters and poses. They are mostly pretty, slim, athletic and successful. You have to look hard on social media for role models who don’t look perfect and ideal. Young people hardly ever come into contact with it. You can read more about this in our article Diversity and Role Models in Social Media.
Social media platforms are also used to inform and express opinions. That’s why influencers who want to politically motivate young followers or even convince them of their extreme views also cavort there. If your child begins to take an interest in social issues such as environmental protection or equal rights as a result, this is certainly a positive thing. But there are not always good intentions behind it: Quite inconspicuously, certain influencers, e.g. in a cooking video, influence their audience by interspersing derogatory comments about certain groups of people or persons that actually have nothing to do with the video content.
Don’t judge your child’s stars. You probably also had a crush on a star as a teenager that your parents thought was stupid. You don’t have to like your child’s influencers, but should try to understand what your child likes about them. Show interest and ask which people your child follows on Instagram and Co. Together, question what the influencer is showing in the posts and what could be behind it.
It is normal to look for role models when you are in the process of developing your own personality. Encourage your child to think about it and be available as a point of contact if he or she has questions.
Our colleagues from klicksafe have summarized the phenomenon of influencers in a video by #Elterninformiert.
If you think the names Lisa and Lena are your child’s classmates, listen again. Because it may well be that we are actually talking about Germany’s best-known female influencers. The two sisters Lisa and Lena became famous for their videos on the app TikTok — formerly musical.ly — famous. Millions of young people follow them on social networks. But what exactly do teenagers in particular find so great about the twins?
In 2016, the then 15-year-old twins from near Stuttgart became famous virtually overnight thanks to their music videos on musical.ly. In 2019, Lisa and Lena left TikTok and decided to be active only on other social media channels. They justified this move by saying that they wanted to break new ground and had slowly outgrown TikTok. Security concerns and the criticism surrounding TikTok also apparently played a role. However, they have been back on TikTok since May 2020.
On platforms like Instagram and YouTube the twins present themselves in pictures in the perfect light and give insights into their everyday lives in stories. Her fans also call her Leli for short. They now have their own fashion brand and an online store for Leli fan merchandise, which they promote on their Instagram profile.
Lisa and Lena can hardly explain themselves how they became so famous so quickly. Within a very short time, they have attracted a lot of sympathy and attention on the Internet with their 15-second dance videos. Female teenagers in particular see them as role models because they are of a similar age. Some also strive to get validation through likes and followers. Also, the videos are entertaining. They combine music and movement. Expressing themselves in this way and having their own taste is attractive to young people. Lisa and Lena offer orientation and entertainment for adolescents with their videos. In the process, the twins appear authentic to them. Moreover, they have been with us for many years and provide reliable and familiar companions – if not something like friends.
You may feel like you can’t keep up with what your child is saying about the new hot influencer on YouTube or Instagram. You don’t have to understand everything either. Don’t look the other way, though; talk to your child about his or her role models. This is the only way you can stay up to date and be the contact person for your son or daughter if, for example, he or she has unpleasant experiences online. Also talk about the extent to which what is posted on social media is actually authentic. Since influencing is a business model, many are concerned with reaching as many people as possible and making money from it. Advertising and staged content are not uncommon.
If your child has or wants to start a social media channel themselves through role models like Lisa and Lena, you should also talk to them about what they post.
Your child’s favorite YouTuber is giving away what seems like a great prize and your child is dying to enter? Sweepstakes look very tempting at first glance. But especially on the net, these can also be fake and therefore problematic.
The official reason is usually “I want to give something back to my followers”. However, many YouTubers benefit from sweepstakes in other ways, by getting paid for them or getting more followers and likes.
YouTube itself allows so-called contests on its platform (if they are not marked as advertising). YouTubers are responsible for this themselves and must comply with the legal regulations regarding sweepstakes, data protection, etc. In addition, such contests must be adapted to YouTube’s rules of use.
Fortunately, most sweepstakes are quite harmless and only aim to increase subscribers and likes. Because if you want to play, you usually have to be a follower.
However, there are also other cases: If an organizer asks for personal data, such as the cell phone number or similar, caution is advised. Make sure that your child does not have to provide any information that is too personal for a sweepstakes. Consider together whether the provider actually needs to know certain things in order to give something away or if they are just after the data.
The main feature of a sweepstakes is free participation. Sweepstakes may only incur small costs, such as the cost of an SMS or stamp. If a higher amount is requested, you should be careful.
The sweepstakes should be explicitly marked as such and be as transparent as possible. Participate only if the provider has indicated the conditions of participation with the following contents:
The more information available, the better.
Research if the YouTuber or Influencer has offered sweepstakes before, if they have been publicly resolved, and if the winner has been named. It is even better if it is somehow recognizable that the prize was really sent.
YouTuber RobBubble worked with WDR to examine examples of good and bad YouTube sweepstakes – go to the report.
Who is this Bibi your daughter is talking about all the time? Do they really exist? Many girls are eagerly waiting for YouTuber Bianca Heinicke aka Bibi from BibisBeautyPalace to upload a new episode of “Instagram determines my day” on YouTube. Such a video reaches millions of views within a few days. Bibi’s fans eagerly help decide what Bibi should do next. How is it that YouTuber Bibi reaches and inspires such a high number of young people?
With currently 5,141,532 subscribers, 25-year-old Bibi Heinicke is considered one of Germany’s most successful YouTubers (as of 08.06.2018). She has been active on YouTube since the end of 2012 and started with “BibisBeautyPalace” as a cosmetics and fashion guide. In the meantime, her channel developed into a kind of lifestyle channel with very different, everyday topics. Bibi explains the latest trends in make-up and hair tutorials, gives tips on typical adolescent problems around love and friendship and lets the young viewers look into her alleged private life in so-called vlogs (video diary). She is seen fooling around with her boyfriend – also a YouTuber – while shopping and on vacation. Bibi even announces the news of her pregnancy to the public in a specially made special video on YouTube.
Bibi appears to be authentic, always in a good mood and full of life. She speaks to her subscribers as if they were good friends or family members. Familiar-looking salutations like “Hello, everybody” and farewell phrases like “I love you” give the impression that there is closeness and familiarity between Bibi and her fans. This makes a special impression on the many female fans between the ages of 10-18, who see her as a kind of big sister. The particularly loyal followers refer to themselves as “Bibinator”. There is even a self-test on the Internet that can be used to find out whether one’s own knowledge of Bibi is sufficient to be assigned to the circle of “Bibinators”.
The good-humored Bibi and the friendly interaction with her audience are intentional. There is a marketing concept behind it and a lot of money is flowing. Being a YouTube star Bibi is Bianca Heinicke’s profession and she earns money through advertising. It’s called influencer marketing. This business model has evolved through social networks such as YouTube or Instagram. The YouTube star’s great influence on adolescents is used to mention, rate or promote products from paid collaborations (such as cosmetics companies) through targeted placement in videos, often without advertising labels. When influencers like Bibi are active not only on a channel like YouTube, but equally on Instagram, Snapchat, etc., even more people are reached with this veiled advertising. This is also part of the marketing concept. Just like Bibi’s pregnancy. The theme dominates the content of all their channels. There will probably be many more occasions in the future to share life’s most intimate moments with your fan community, and at the same time open up completely new business and marketing areas.
Interactions with viewers are a popular advertising strategy. With sentences like “Write your opinion in the comments,” followers are encouraged to interact. This way, the influencer’s post becomes more popular and the more money she can earn. Children should learn that advertising is not always clearly recognizable. Make your child aware of these hidden ads so they can classify what’s behind many YouTuber videos. Only in this way can they learn to deal with video formats of this kind in a reflective and media-competent manner.
Engage in conversation with your child and show interest in their YouTube star. Ask why your child thinks Bibi or other YouTubers are great and watch their videos together. Take this as an opportunity to address other things as well: What values are conveyed in the videos of BibisBeautyPalace? Often the focus is on consumption and a careless use of money.
The portrayal of stereotypical gender roles can also be a problem in YT videos. Allegedly typical behaviors of girls and boys are shown.
You can find out more about the fascination of YouTube stars among children and young people here here.
