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.
Instagram remains one of the most popular social media platforms, especially among young people. The app makes it possible to share photos and videos, create stories and interact with friends and influencers.
Instagram, or Insta for short, is one of the largest social networks alongside Facebook and TikTok. It offers users the opportunity to create their own profile and connect with each other.
Images and videos can be shared via the profile. Users can either publish content as permanent posts or post it as a story or live video. Stories and live streams disappear after 24 hours, but can be saved as a highlight. The photos and videos of subscribed channels and people are displayed in the feed.
Users can find a wide variety of content on Insta: Postings from stars, brands and challenges through to personal profiles of friends. They can respond with likes and comments, save content and chat with each other via direct messages (“DMs”). Profiles and posts can contain links that lead to other websites.
Users can create and edit their own posts with filters, emojis and fonts directly in the app. Content is sorted by topic using hashtags. Reels (short TikTok-style videos) can be accessed via the video icon.
At the end of 2023, Meta also launched the Threads social media app in Germany. This is linked to Instagram.
Since around 2025, Instagram has increasingly relied on AI services, offering image editing, for example, but also text creation for posts and hashtags via AI. Connecting with each other is also becoming even more possible via “friends tabs” and location functions.
Young people up to the age of 18 automatically have so-called teen accounts with additional protective functions such as restricted contact options and stricter content filters. The accounts are set to private by default and have an integrated time limit – after 60 minutes of use, young people are asked to exit the app. From the age of 16, young people can relax the restrictions themselves. The “Parental control” function allows parents to monitor and restrict their child’s use. Activation must be approved by the parent and the young person.
Data protection: Instagram should be treated with caution when it comes to data protection for several reasons.
Costs: Instagram is basically free of charge. However, many profiles advertise products that can be purchased with just a few clicks. Ads with corresponding links also frequently appear in the feeds and are difficult to distinguish from real content. Creators and influencers can also offer exclusive content that can be accessed via a paid subscription. Meta has also been offering a subscription model for Facebook and Instagram since 2024: For at least €5.99 per month, the provider promises not to show any personalized advertising. Of course, general advertising is still available – and Meta also continues to collect data.
Inappropriate content: Certain content can be problematic for young people, such as erotic images, dangerous challenges, disinformation or advertising. Influencer business models play a special role here, which young people do not always recognize. Content created using artificial intelligence in particular can contain very problematic content and is difficult for young people to distinguish from real content. This applies to deepnudes or deepfakes, for example, but also to political campaigns.
Communication risks: Functions such as chats and comments harbor communication risks such as being contacted by strangers, hate speech or cyberbullying.
Artificial intelligence: AI is also becoming an increasingly important topic in social networks. It plays a role in several areas:
Despite the official minimum age of 13, there is no effective age check. There are extensive usage and settings options for minors and their parents. You can read a short version of the terms of use at Handysektor and download a flyer with the most important safety information about Instagram for young people from klicksafe.
Parents can link their account with that of their child in the parental control. All setting options can be found on the medien-kindersicher.de website. You can find out how Instagram wants to make the app safer for young people directly on the Instagram website.
Consider together with your child at what age and according to what rules they are allowed to use Instagram. Check the app settings together so that your child can use Instagram as safely as possible. Not all photos must or may be shared with everyone or only with friends. In addition to your own boundaries, it is also important that your child knows and respects the copyrights and personal rights of others.
Talk to your child about communication risks. Show your child how they can block or report other users and explain to them when these functions are useful – for example, if someone insults your child in the comments. Your child should not accept requests from strangers and should use their own data, such as their location , sparingly.
Educate your child about risks such as harmful content, hate speech, disinformation and political opinion making. Also talk about critical behavior of influencers and stay in conversation with your child about one-sided role models and clichés. Stay interested and regularly ask who your child follows on Instagram and who follows them. It is important that your child knows that they can always talk to you if they have an unpleasant experience on the platform.
Whether it’s a vacation by the sea, a birthday party with friends or cocoa in the morning – taking selfies and uploading them to Instagram, WhatsApp or Snapchat is a matter of course for many of us. Children and young people also want to share pictures of themselves and their experiences with others – and preferably in the best possible light. In the past, only professionals could edit photos to make a face look “perfect”. Today, this is very easy with apps and their image editing options, such as face filters.
On Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat users can take photos directly in the app and select a filter beforehand. Filters are placed virtually over the photo or video taken. This makes it quick and easy to integrate funny elements such as elf ears, beards or butterflies into the photo or video. In addition to fun filters, so-called gender swap filters and beauty filters are very popular.
Gender swap filters make it possible to convert female into male and male into female. Beauty filters, such as the YouCam Makeup app, change the person’s face and adapt it to certain specifications. Features such as skin texture, hair and eye color or facial features can be changed. AI-supported image generators that reshape people in the style of famous paintings, for example, are also popular.
The choice of filters is unlimited and is constantly growing. Children and young people find it funny and entertaining. They can also use filters to slip into other roles and try their hand. Sometimes filters even provide more anonymity, since the face is not always recognizable.
Beauty filters are used to quickly “prettify” your own face and adapt it to a certain ideal of beauty. Some young people feel more comfortable with filtered selfies than presenting their true selves in public.
With apps like Spark AR Studio, you can design your own filters and use them on Instagram. Young people can thus imitate the filters of their role models. There are even small trends and challenges developing with face filters, such as the Yearbook Challenge with retro filters. Challenges with family and friends like the #funnyfilterchallenge on TikTok are especially fun.
Big eyes, narrow nose, pouty mouth and perfect complexion – face filters can convey a very one-sided image of beauty and gender images. If young people often see such pictures of their idols on social media, this can give the impression that their own bodies are not normal and beautiful and that they must look just as perfect. As a result, they resort to filters that distort their own ego.
As young people’s self-confidence is not yet firmly established, they compare themselves strongly with other people and with widespread ideals of beauty. They may not like pictures of themselves without filters or how they really look. Yet at least some people meet the usual expectations of beauty. Gender-swap filters can convey a false gender image. They are mostly stereotypical and only differentiate between male and female. Some of them are also associated with costs or collect or store personal data.
A counter-movement in social media is called “body positivity” or #nofilter or#nofilterneeded. Images posted under these hashtags aim to show real people without using filters. However, there is no guarantee that the photos are filter-free.
Understand your child’s enthusiasm for Face Filter when it’s all about fun and creativity. Have them show you what filters your child is using. Talk to him about filters that are supposed to make you more beautiful and what is really behind them. Make it clear that filtered images have little to do with reality and encourage them to do without filters from time to time. You can also show your child in the app settings of social media platforms how to “Like” posts on e.g. Instagram can hide. This can reduce the pressure to get as many likes as possible. Browse the web together for photos tagged with the hashtags #nofilter or #facepositivity . Talk about your own self-image and encourage your child to accept themselves and see themselves as beautiful.
For hours Tiktok-videos, constantly posting something on Instagram or only post via Snapchat connecting with friends – do you sometimes get the impression that your child’s life takes place almost exclusively on social media?
Perhaps the question arises as to whether this is still “normal” use and at what point your child is already addicted. In this article, we take a closer look.
Young people have a close relationship with their smartphone. They use it for research, for schoolwork, but above all, of course, for communication. They use their smartphones to keep in touch with family and friends, stay up-to-date and position themselves in their peer group. To a large extent, this happens via social media. This is where they can show and present themselves, respond to each other and find like-minded people.
But despite all the fascination, social media also has its drawbacks. The successes that young people experience there in the form of likes and comments activate the reward system. The platforms’ psychological tricks capture our attention and are designed to make us spend more and more time online. In short, social media makes it extremely difficult for us to put our cell phones down. Young people in particular therefore often spend a lot of time on social media. So much so that parents are worried that it could be an addiction.
“2.6 percent of children and young people between the ages of 12 and 17 in Germany” meet the criteria for addictive behavior in their use of social media, according to the latest figures. This was published by health insurance provider DAK on its website in summer 2024. The risk of depression has also increased and is associated with an addiction to social media. But what does this mean?
It is important to note that social media addiction is not yet a registered disease or disorder. We can therefore only observe behavior that is similar to other addictions such as computer game addiction. And as always, this behavior is more complex than it seems at first glance. It’s not just about how much time children and young people spend on social media, but how they feel about it. An addiction in the classic sense is only present when people show several criteria of addictive behavior over a long period of time. These criteria can be, for example
In most cases, addictions do not arise solely because an addictive substance such as social media is present. Rather, they are linked to other causes, such as problems in the family, socially difficult situations, personal setbacks or psychological problems.
Anyone who notices addictive behavior in their child over a period of months and is becoming increasingly distressed should seek help urgently. For you as parents, however, the worries often start much earlier – and it also makes sense to take preventative action on this topic at an early stage:
Seek help if you are very worried about your child’s behavior. Contact your pediatrician’s or family doctor’s office, school social work, counseling centers such as the Nummer gegen Kummer or addiction counseling centers.
Chatting with friends, posting content, following stars – social media is very popular with many children and young people and an important part of their everyday lives. In this article, we present some popular platforms and apps and explain why they are so fascinating.
Dance challenges, LipSyncs and comedy – the Chinese platform TikTok offers an endless variety of entertaining short videos and is one of the most popular social media apps among children and young people. Users design their clips with trendy music, fun effects and creative filters. A special feature is the algorithm that displays personalized content in the “For you” feed according to the user’s preferences. Following viral trends and influencers, discovering new functions and video formats and connecting with each other via chat and hashtags fascinates children and young people. TikTok harbors risks such as data protection issues, inappropriate content such as war videos, pornography or drugs and entails communication risks. Endless scrolling can lead to extreme media use and promote digital stress. Parents can use the Accompanied mode control function for younger children.
Instagram is a popular social network where users share photos and videos. The app offers functions such as stories, reels and livestreams and focuses primarily on aesthetics. A variety of image and video editing tools such as filters give users the opportunity to express themselves creatively. The platform encourages interaction through likes, comments and direct messages. Children and young people use Instagram to network, follow role models and trends and present themselves online. Young users find it appealing to post selfies, test their impact and share beautiful moments with friends and family. The platform belongs to the large US internet company Meta. Challenges include the illusory world of perfect self-presentation and advertising by influencers. With parental control, Instagram can be set up safely and usage times can be controlled.
Threads is a text-based app from Instagramthat was specially developed for close friends. The functions of threads are the platform X platform. Users can share photos, videos and messages with selected contacts and view real-time updates about their location, activities or mood. This intimacy and the link to Instagram make threads attractive to young people. As on all social media platforms, there are risks in online communication and in being confronted with harmful content.
Snapchat is a social media app for sharing photos and videos. The so-called “snaps” disappear automatically after 24 hours. The relaxed, spontaneous communication and the fun filters and effects make the app popular with children and young people. Young people use the app to connect with their friends in particular. Snapchat rewards daily exchanges between friends with the Snapstreaks function and awards flame symbols. If the location function is activated, users can see where their contacts are currently located on the Snapmap. Snapchat users are automatically connected to the AI chatbotMy AI which answers questions and chats like a “real” friend. Snapchat is challenging in terms of privacy and data protection and can increase the pressure to be online all the time. The Snapchat Family Center offers parents setting options such as the activity overview and content controls.
BeReal is an ad-free social media app where users share spontaneous snapshots. Once a day, all users receive a simultaneous notification to take a photo with the front and rear camera within two minutes. Anyone who wants to can share their location. The spontaneity and authenticity make the app particularly popular with young people. Users can exchange ideas and network with each other via the comment function and in BeReal groups. The request to post a photo on time can cause digital stress for users and tempt them to disclose overly private information.
Knipsclub is a safe photo community that introduces children to social networks creatively and in a protected environment. Children can share, edit and comment on photos here under pedagogical supervision. In Knipsclub, users do not share any personal data and all content is moderated. This makes the platform a good alternative for parents who want to give their children a safe introduction to social media. Other protected options are platforms such as children’s issues of the DKHW or the children’s forum of Seitenstark. These children’s websites offer age-appropriate content, encourage creativity and offer moderated forums on specific topics.
TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, BeReal and Threads may be used from the age of 13 with parental consent according to the terms and conditions. When choosing social media services, make sure they are age-appropriate for your child. If your child is still younger, offer them alternatives such as the Knipsclub to make it easier for them to enter the world of online networking. Actively help your child get started with their own smartphone or on one of the popular social media platforms. Make sure your smartphone and apps are childproof and talk about the risks of social media use at an early stage. Educate your child about topics such as data protection, communication risks and community rules. Stay in touch about favorite channels and influencers to better understand and support your child’s media behavior.
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.
Instagram recently introduced Threads, a new text-based app designed to facilitate private communication between close friends. With this app, users can share photos, videos, messages and stories with a selected group of people. We explain what’s behind Instagram ‘s new text-based app.
Threads was developed to fulfill the need for private and personalized communication with close friends. The functions of Threads have similarities with the platform X Among other things, users can seamlessly share photos, videos and messages with selected contacts as well as real-time updates that show their own activity or mood. Meta’s free messaging app aims to increase the feeling of connection between friends and fulfill the social needs and preferences of young people in today’s digital age.
The functions of threads correspond to young people’s need for self-expression and social contacts. It allows users to control who can see their content and offers a more intimate space for interaction. This makes it possible, for example, to check the news without being distracted by the latest pictures and stories from all subscribed Instagram profiles. Instagram is also used by many adults and all kinds of stars and companies. This means that young people are not really ‘among themselves’ – with threads they are.
Similar to other social networks, there are also potential risks with threads. As all users can publish content there, young people can come across content that is not can be age-appropriate or even problematic, such as harmful content, hate speech, disinformation and manipulative content for political opinion making, war videos and propaganda or conspiracy myths and fake videos. Even if the content violates thread guidelines, it may be visible on the platform until it is discovered and deleted. Communication risks ranging from cyberbullying to cybergrooming can also be addressed.
Instagram offers various tools and settings to protect children and young people who use threads. This includes data protection controls, reporting functions and advice on safe online behavior. In addition, the platform regularly updates its privacy and security features to address new concerns.
An Instagram account is required to use Threads to its full extent. It is not possible to create only a Threads account. Your child will therefore probably use both platforms. Go through the settings together with your child and determine which data the app is allowed to access.
When registering for the first time, the profile is automatically set to “private” on threads for people under the age of 18. However, this default setting is very easy to bypass by clicking on “public”. Then all thread users can follow your child, repost their content, send private messages, etc. This increases the risk of unwanted contacts enormously.
As a parent, you can link your Instagram account to your child’s account. Parental supervision extends to your child’s activity on both Instagram and Threads. For example, you can view followers, accounts that are followed or privacy settings.
Try to understand why it is important for your child to share a status or certain personal information. Talk about privacy and communication risks online. Accompany your child in an age-appropriate manner and keep asking about your child’s online experiences. It is important to talk openly about this so that your child knows that they can confide in you if they experience harassment, disturbing content, cyberbullying or cybergrooming.
Use the option to delete or report content. Accounts that you no longer wish to interact with can also be blocked.
The app only offers added value if it is really only used to communicate with good friends. Your child should only include people in the list of “close friends” that they actually know. Set rules together about what content your child should and should not share. Please refer to our legal information for social media use.
Playing a prank on someone, for example ringing the front doorbell and then just running away, that’s probably something everyone did as a child and had fun with. Much like the challenge phenomenon, which involves filming yourself completing a challenge and posting the clip online, pranks are the modern version of the childhood prank: videos of pranks played on others can be found in large numbers on YouTube & Co. You can learn more about this in this text.
As children get older and they begin to think ahead, that is, to imagine what will happen next, they get excited about pranks and movies in which mishaps happen to people.
“Prank” is the English term for prank. Many influencers film the pranks they play on friends, other influencers from social networks or even uninvolved passers-by. People who play pranks on others in this way are called “pranksters”. Many of them are usually harmless and funny, such as prank phone calls or scaring your girlfriend or boyfriend in their sleep. If a person has been pranked, they are said to have been “pranked”.
Especially the social networks popular with children and young people such as
YouTube
and
TikTok
are popular platforms for pranks of all kinds.
In order to attract a high level of attention from the community and get as many clicks as possible, however, some pranks are becoming increasingly problematic. YouTuber ApoRed dropped a bag in a savings bank during his “bomb prank” and shouted “You all have 30 seconds, you better run if you value your life!”. Some passers-by were very scared and subsequently had trouble sleeping. ApoRed was sentenced to probation and 200 community service hours. The trial was intended to make it clear that the state also takes note of crimes in social networks and does not tolerate them.
This example is, of course, an extreme individual case that does not represent the rule. YouTube has since tightened its terms of use, as more and more such videos have had serious consequences. It is now illegal to post pranks and challenges that involve “the risk of real danger or death” on YouTube.
Whether on TikTok, YouTube or Instagram – problematic pranks affect every age group. The aim here is often to frighten the “victim” with supposedly dangerous situations, sometimes even to provoke disgust or despair. In some cases, even young children are presented in this way by caregivers such as older siblings or parents, who are often particularly well received by the community due to their awkward behavior. One example of this is the “egg cracking prank”, in which parents pretend to record a baking video and then suddenly crack an egg on the child’s forehead. Other pranks also use face filters or similar to scare children. However, consumers of such videos must be aware that such pranks can lead to emotional damage in the children concerned and a loss of trust in important caregivers.
You can find out more about questionable family pranks here at Webhelm.
In fact, young people are more likely to watch prank videos than make them themselves. However, influencers like to encourage people to imitate the content, whether with a camera or not, whether harmless or not. Young people are often not even aware of the consequences. Others may come to harm or may not find it funny to be featured in a video. The right to one’s own image is part of the personal rights to which everyone is entitled – including underage children. Explain to your child that uploading photos or videos without the consent of the persons recorded is prohibited. Disregarding personal rights can be prosecuted under criminal law in Germany.
If your child enjoys watching such videos online, let them show you and tell you what they like about them. However, also make it clear that dangerous pranks in particular are not suitable for imitation and that a lot of content on social networks is staged, even if it appears authentic. Keep an open mind for funny and harmless challenges or pranks from your child’s influencers.
You can find out more about the phenomenon of challenges in this article.
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.
What would it have looked like to have attended a US high school thirty years ago? This question is on the minds of many on the web right now. Under the hashtag #yearbookchallenge circulate on TikTok and Instagram numerous photos in the style of yearbook portraits from the 1990s. Behind the viral trend is a paid AI app.
In the Yearbook Challenge, users create photos of themselves in the style of an American yearbook from the 1990s using the app Epik – AI Photo Editor. The app uses artificial intelligence to rejuvenate the face and add different hairstyles, clothes and accessories. A challenge becomes who mixes his real yearbook photo under the new pictures and asks the followers which one is the original. Both celebrities and many influencers have already taken part in the trend.
“Just graduated from high school for $6.99! What do you think of the photos?”. The allure of transforming yourself into an American high school teenager is tied to all the myths and dreams surrounding a school days in the US. Teenagers enjoy using AI apps to edit their own selfies so that they look like something out of a high school series. In addition, it is exciting for them to receive photos that look similar to the pictures from their parents’ youth. Many young people also emulate their role models on social media and want to get in on the current trend as well.
Several selfies are needed for photo editing. The South Korean app developer SNOW is behind the app Epik. Anyone who uploads photos agrees that they will be stored and processed by the app. In addition, personal data must be entered in the app. The AI-generated photos borrow heavily from gender stereotypes such as poses and clothing, and beauty ideals such as smooth skin and symmetrical faces. The AI app erases irregularities of the original images altogether. Full body photos in particular are greatly altered by making them slimmer. Similar to the use of face filters, participating in the Yearbook Challenge can lead to distorted self-perception and unhealthy comparison to supposedly perfect bodies of others.
If your child would like to participate in the Yearbook Challenge, here are some things to keep in mind:
The app can be fun and creative way to see yourself in different roles and ages. Why not try out different AI image generators together and talk about the results?
Instagram, Snapchat and WhatsApp are used by many young people. All of these services offer a particularly popular function: the creation of so-called Stories. Snapchat had them first, but since Instagram, every teenager knows them.
The “Story” is for sharing current experiences with others. You don’t post a single photo in the chat or in your channel, but upload photos or videos in a story, which are displayed in an automatically running sequence. Subscribers or contacts can usually see them only for 24 hours.
You can decorate your story with all kinds of means – depending on your talent and taste. The apps mentioned above offer similar options here, such as captions, emojis, location markers, linking people, filters, funny stickers, or even polls.
Stories often seem very realistic or close to the lives of others. It can be especially exciting to see what’s going on with your favorite influencer and girlfriends. When you just experience something exciting or beautiful that you would like to share with your friends or followers, the story is a popular tool. Because with pictures and videos a little story can be told.
Since Stories deletes itself after 24 hours, the inhibition threshold is lower to publish rather unflattering, embarrassing and private pictures or videos of oneself. The rule here is: Think first, then post! Only pictures and clips that could easily be seen in the newspaper or on television should be published.
But the possibilities of the Story function can also endanger privacy: The location marker can be used to track where you are at any given time. Unpleasant or dangerous situations can quickly arise, for example, if someone comes to the linked location and seeks out your daughter or son.
Here it helps to agree on rules. Clear rules about what is posted and when create orientation. It doesn’t always have to be at the same moment that a photo is taken! Consider establishing cell phone-free zones with the family where family life can be spent undisturbed and private.
To protect privacy, make sure your (minor) child’s account is set to private. This way, his stories can only be seen by his own followers. It is best to create the user account together with your child, set up the privacy settings and check the security settings.
Talk openly about the potential dangers of careless posting so your child can understand rules of behavior. Your child will then know that you, as parents, are the first point of contact in the event of cyberbullying, harassment or disturbing content.
The content from the stories of your child’s favorite influencers and friends should also be critiqued. Talk to him about it and consider together how calculated a snapshot is likely to be among stars and influencers.
“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.
After waking up, many young people reach for their cell phones first thing in the morning. Who has liked my last picture? What funny videos have my friends sent? Where is the next cool party? Find out why social media is so important, especially for young people, in this article.
Social media or social networks are platforms that are used to network and exchange information with others via the Internet. Currently, Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat and YouTube are particularly popular with young people.
Through these channels, they can upload pictures and videos that are liked, shared and commented on by their followers. Users find out about the latest information on various topics in order to stay up to date. Trends are made or spread via social media. The platforms can usually be used free of charge via browser and/or app.
Being part of it, being able to have a say, being up to date, trying out and presenting oneself, meeting people with the same interests, trying out new things – these are all reasons for young people to use social media. They use the platforms to share insights from their private lives with friends or sometimes even strangers.
Young people in puberty are in the process of forming a personality. Through feedback on posts in social networks, they receive recognition, feel a sense of belonging, and increase their self-esteem. Influencers also help people find their identity by providing inspiration and being role models.
Social media channels are places where young people meet and share, and where parents don’t necessarily have insight.
Being on social media means being visible to others online. Not all young people are aware of this. You reveal things about yourself on Instagram and the like that other people – even strangers – can follow. In addition, young people are often under pressure to be permanently online so as not to miss anything. Read more about this in the article “The phenomenon FOMO – Fear of missing out“. Media self-portrayal also plays a major role here. Who gets the most likes, comments or clicks and is particularly popular? Young people compare themselves with each other and want to be like others in order not to attract negative attention. That’s part of puberty.
In addition to interacting with peers, teens can connect with strangers through social media. Their photos are commented on or they receive subscription requests from unknown people with unclear intentions. You can find out more about this in the article “Communication risks on the Net“.
Because social media is an important place for young people to share and explore, it can be difficult for them to be excluded from it. Talk to your child if you have concerns about them signing up for a platform. Go through the privacy settings together so that it is safe to use. Children and teenagers also have a right to privacy, so you should not secretly check your child’s smartphone. It’s important to stay in touch and ask what it’s doing on social media. Explain to your child what the risks are and what a conscious approach to private photos, videos or other information in the online world should look like. If you openly share your concerns and remain interested, your child is more likely to turn to you for help with fears or problems than if you only issue prohibitions or unfounded assumptions.
Around 2 million people follow the heute-show on Instagram, while Postillon has 1.3 million followers. Both formats make satire and thus reach a huge target group – including children. But do children even understand this satire? Can they tell the joking messages from “real” ones?
Satirical depictions show people, conditions, situations and grievances in exaggerated form. Means of satire are: Exaggeration, distortion, defamiliarization and irony (an obviously false statement intended to ridicule an actual statement). Through the use of satirical means, for example, misconduct is to be mocked and criticized. Thus, it is often the behavior of powerful and famous people, – for example, from politics – that is depicted in satirical forms. Precisely because satire is often used to criticize, it is protected by our constitution, the Basic Law. Satire falls under the freedom of art and expression. But be careful: Other people must not be offended, even in the context of satire.
We encounter satire mainly in the media. Satirical depictions are disseminated in poems, novels, cartoons, caricatures and films. Artistic performances or programs on television can also show satire. This content is also shared in online media and social platforms. More and more famous is the representation as hoax: this is fake news, that is, made-up news. The Postillon is known for this in Germany. The “news” from politics and society that is reported here is all made up.
If one accepts the messages (especially hoax) as true, this can be problematic. After all, they are false reports or exaggerations. Children develop humor between the first and second year of life. Irony, exaggeration or alienation are more difficult to understand – here children often still need hints that it is not the truth. Basically, it can be said that children understand and laugh at irony when they have information about the context, understand what the statement actually means, and realize that irony is not true. So in order to recognize satire, children must already have quite a bit of prior knowledge.
The point at which a child can handle satire therefore depends on social, cognitive and linguistic knowledge. Every child is different and brings different skills as well as prior knowledge. Some studies have shown that children as young as six understand simple ironic remarks. From the age of nine to ten, it can also already be recognized that such statements are meant to be funny.
Scientific studies on children’s understanding of irony are still very imprecise, so it is not possible to say correctly from what age children understand satire. So parents need to keep an eye on whether their child encounters satire on TV or the Internet and how they understand it. Watch the series or cartoons with your child and discuss what you have seen. Make your child aware of what the actual statement is and what it means – the satirical portrayal should not be left without context.
Special caution applies to deliberate false reports (hoax). Here it is important to inform children that the message does not correspond to the truth and is intended to be funny or to draw attention to grievances. Especially for older children, you can also explain how to recognize false reports and check facts.
Satire is meant to expose ills in our society and make us laugh – don’t leave your child alone with this and laugh together.
Perfect skin, shiny hair, model figure – this is a familiar image for many teenagers from the dazzling Instagram world. Young girls in particular take the lifestyle or appearance exemplified there as a model and perceive it as the ideal. In this article, you will learn what this means for their self-perception and how you can support your child in feeling comfortable in their own body.
Many of the photos or videos posted on Instagram do not correspond to reality. Whether it’s a classmate or a beauty blogger, everyone wants to present their followers with the most enviable photos possible. To do this, use the filters provided by Instagram, with which the skin looks smoother, the sun brighter and hair shinier. With special apps, even the nose can be made smaller or the waist narrower.
Influencers in particular present themselves and their lives on social networks as almost flawless and perfect. Their followers perceive this portrayal as authentic and emulate them. This can be expressed by a desire for the latest sneakers or by dissatisfaction with one’s own body. Because the Instagram world has little to do with reality, as “normal” bodies are hardly present and therefore not desirable for young people. Teenagers are subjected to pressure to come close to this skewed reality.
To be part of the community, there is also pressure to post your own photos on Instagram. In the process, even taking pictures or filming is sometimes seen as frustrating because it takes a long time and the finished media products do not always meet expectations. For many young people, the number of likes and comments is then also seen as confirmation of their person. Self-doubt increases when the posted photo or video receives few or no likes.
Various studies have shown that young people who use Instagram are particularly likely to feel uncomfortable in their bodies. Snapchat is also criticized for this. Young people are not only confronted with perfect images of others in social networks, but also through TV formats such as “Germany’s Next Topmodel” or through advertising. However, young people feel a particularly strong personal connection to their role models in social networks.
The distorted body images in social networks are much criticized. There are strong efforts to present bodies in all their forms in the media, e.g. by people showing themselves on Instagram and Co. under hashtags like #formorerealityoninstagram or #teambodylove without makeup and naturally. The images are not edited. In this way, an attempt is made to convey a realistic body image, especially to young people, and to encourage them to accept their own bodies.
In addition, there are demands to mark edited images as such in the future in order to make it clear that they do not correspond to reality.
Stay in conversation with your child about his or her role models. Look at pictures together on Instagram and ask what exactly it is that it likes about the pictures. Make your daughter or son aware of edited images and question how realistic they can be. It also helps to remember that very few people have the look of influencers and models, and that even they have to use photo editing.
Perhaps show channels that specifically try to upload realistic photos. Work together to find channels or hashtags that are less stereotypical and more reflective of the diversity of society. This gives your child different incentives for their own personality development.
Use a photo editing app together for fun and change a photo of yourself or your child using filters. This way, your child also realizes how easy it is to change or even manipulate an image. Completely independent of media, you can support your child daily in accepting and loving their own body and thus strengthen their self-esteem.
