Chatting with friends, being active on social media, expressing themselves creatively – the smartphone opens up a new world for children. Many parents ask themselves: “When is my child old enough to have their own smartphone?”. This question is not easy to answer. This is because the child’s stage of development plays a key role in the decision.
The change from elementary school to secondary school is a suitable time for many parents to purchase a smartphone. Many children have a long journey to school, which they often have to make alone. They can make contact quickly via a cell phone or smartphone. Constant availability should not be the main reason. For older children and teenagers in particular, the most important reason for having their own smartphone is to keep in touch with their friends. They want to be part of it and have a say when it comes to the latest apps and social media trends.
Are you wondering whether your child is ready for their own smartphone? Then you should think about these things:
klicksafe has compiled these and other questions in a checklist for parents to tick off. Go through the checklist alone or together with your child. The more points you tick, the more ready your child is for their own smartphone. However, you know them best and can assess their media experience and sense of responsibility. For younger children, a cell phone without Internet access may be suitable at first. Sooner or later, however, you should allow your child to have their own smartphone.
Access to the Internet holds a lot of potential for your child, but also risks:
You can find out how you can protect your child from sexual violence on the Internet in this klicksafe brochure.
Choose your first smartphone carefully and take costs and features into account. A used cell phone can be a good choice. Take your time to set up your smartphone. Pay attention to age ratings of apps and enable security settings on the device. Discuss together which apps your child can and cannot use for the time being. A prepaid contract and not a flat rate may be sufficient at the beginning. This will teach your child how much they actually use their cell phone and how to use mobile data and WLAN appropriately. Settings in the smartphone can also create awareness of screen time. You can find more tips on how to make your child’s cell phone use safer in our article on this topic.
Accompany your child as they take their first steps with their smartphone. Always inform your child about possible risks. Even before deciding to get your own smartphone, talk to your child about it. It can also be helpful to consult with other parents. Because most of the time, they face the same questions.
Establish common rules for media use that all family members adhere to. Keep an eye on your child’s usage times and signs of digital stress.
Find out about child-friendly offers and apps, such as the fragFINN app. You can find pedagogical assessments for mobile games at Spieleratgeber NRW.
Try to lead by example. Don’t abuse your child’s trust by secretly checking the cell phone – a frank conversation is the better way. If you are unsure or serious problems arise, contact educational professionals such as school social workers or contact (online)counseling centers.
Child-friendly information can help children get to grips with the topic. The “Genial digital” magazine from the Deutsches Kinderhilfswerk (DKHW) provides children aged 8 to 11 with information about the internet and their first smartphone in a fun way.
Many children get their own smartphone during their primary school years. With it, they can do different things and have access to the Internet. In addition to many great opportunities, however, it also exposes children to risks. It is particularly important that you talk to your child about possible dangers and make safety settings on the smartphone together.
Without your child realizing it, he or she is leaving data trails by using a messenger and other apps, as well as by surfing the web. Explain to your child the various smartphone functions and how to set them sensibly: WLAN, Bluetooth and location should remain switched off by default and only be activated when absolutely necessary. For example, GPS is necessary if your child is looking for directions to a specific location using a map app. Check the app permissions in the settings together with your child. For example, you can avoid apps accessing the camera without reason or sharing data with other devices and networks. Educate your child about online scams, such as spam emails or phishing. Additional security is provided by virus scanner apps that can protect against unwanted viruses and dangers such as data theft, subscription traps or fake offers.
It is important to use codes and passwords to ensure secure use of the device and apps. Your child’s cell phone should only be used after entering a code (PIN, swipe code, etc.) to prevent strangers from accessing personal data. Set up secure password protection with your child. This also applies to registration with social media services and apps. Secure passwords consist of at least twelve characters and contain special characters and numbers in addition to letters. Depending on the device, your child’s fingerprint can also be used to unlock the device (e.g. Touch ID on iOS). Tips for creating secure passwords are available – e.g. at Handysektor. For younger children, it is recommended that at least one parent also knows the screen lock combination and password.
Security and parental control settings can be made on every smartphone in the settings. Detailed information on this can be found, among other things, in the article on technical youth media protection.
On Android, you can block the installation of apps in the Play Store or set a password for installation or in-app purchases. To do this, activate the parental control settings. You can choose which apps your child can install without a password.
iOS devices offer even more options in their own device settings. Under Screen Time you have the option to set restrictions and assign a separate code for them. You can then, for example, allow or block the use of certain apps and restrict in-app purchases with a password. Movies, music, apps and TV shows with a higher age rating can also be blocked automatically. iOS can automatically filter and hide web content in Safari and apps.
Additional apps are also recommended:
To avoid cost traps, a tariff with a limited data volume can be useful. Make sure you also make certain settings for your child’s privacy and safety on social media apps and use Instagram safely, for example. Here you can specifically regulate the visibility of your child’s profile and the basic contact options. Some platforms offer a safer alternative mode for minors – e.g. the accompanied mode on TikTok.
We also recommend installing the fragFINN app. This children’s search engine offers a protected surfing area with tested websites. This way you can ensure that your child can only access age-appropriate and safe content, both for school research and for leisure activities.
For more information on safe smartphone settings, it’s worth visiting medien-kindersicher.de. Here you will find helpful, technical protection solutions for all your child’s devices, services and apps explained step by step.
Also remember to carry out regular software updates on your child’s smartphone to close security gaps and minimize the risk of viruses, for example
Smartphones come with some features to make chatting, surfing the web and using apps safer for your child. However, these settings on the device or parental control apps are no substitute for parental supervision. Your child should always understand why certain websites or apps should be blocked or why GPS tracking should remain deactivated. Also, always base your control and safety on your child’s age and development. Especially with teens, don’t intrude too much on your child’s privacy. However, always try to stay in conversation with your child and be there as a point of contact for questions or uncertainties.
Snapchat ist ein kostenfreier Messenger zum Versenden von Fotos und kurzen Videos. Die Besonderheit: Das lustige Selfie mit den Hasenohren oder ähnliche Bilder „verschwinden“ nach kurzer Zeit vom Bildschirm des Empfängers.
Mit Snapchat können Fotos und kurze Videos als Nachricht oder als Story an Kontakte versendet werden. Diese Snaps, also Schnappschüsse, sind nur für bis zu 24 Stunden sichtbar und „zerstören“ sich danach selbst. Die Fotos und Videos können mit unzähligen Filtern bearbeitet werden. Mit der „Memorys-Funktion“ können Nutzerinnen bestimmte Inhalte abspeichern. Neben den privaten Storys von Freunden gibt es Inhalte von Stars und Marken. Über die Funktion „Spotlight” lassen sich außerdem kreative Kurzvideos im TikTok-Stil veröffentlichen. Userinnen können über sogenannte „Snap Codes“ sowie über ihre Handynummer gefunden werden, wenn dies in den Einstellungen aktiviert ist. Das eigene Profil enthält nur Bilder und Videos, andere persönliche Angaben werden nicht gemacht. Mit der Kartenfunktion „Snap Map“ kann man sehen, wo sich die eigenen Kontakte gerade aufhalten.
Wer Snapchat nutzt, ist seit Februar 2023 automatisch mit dem Chatbot My AI befreundet. Dahinter steckt eine künstliche Intelligenz, die Fragen beantwortet, chattet und insgesamt wie ein „echter“ Freund daherkommt. Für die Nutzerinnen kann das ein nettes Spielzeug sein – ist jedoch auch mit Vorsicht zu genießen. Löschen lässt sich der Chatbot nur sehr umständlich und mit einem kostenpflichtigen Snapchat+-Abonnement.
Snapchat+ bietet für 4,49 Euro/Monat die Premium-Version, dort testen die Anbieter noch nicht veröffentlichte Features. Besonders für Kinder und Jugendliche ist das reizvoll: Es gibt mehr Optionen, den eigenen Avatar (genannt „BitMoji“) zu gestalten, und mehr Informationen über Freundeskonstellationen als mit einem regulären Snapchat-Konto.
Die App gehört zu den beliebtesten Anwendungen bei Jugendlichen ab 13 Jahren. Teenager nutzen Snapchat sehr gern, um sich mit ihren Freundinnen auszutauschen. Dazu werden statt Text einfach Bilder und Videos versendet. Die Nutzung der Spaßfilter, Videos, die mit Musik unterlegt werden können, und selbst verschwindende Nachrichten machen den Reiz der App aus. Snapchat wirkt jugendlicher und verspielter als z. B. Instagram. Die Kommunikation erscheint Jugendlichen privater, da nur mit einzelnen oder in Gruppen Inhalte ausgetauscht werden. Auf der „Snap Map“ werden Personen als Avatare dargestellt, weshalb sie wie ein Spiel wirkt.
Alle Inhalte auf Snapchat zerstören sich nicht wirklich selbst, sondern sie lassen sich nach einer bestimmten Zeit nur nicht mehr aufrufen. Mit etwas technischem Know-how sind sie auf dem Gerät wiederherzustellen. Oder es wird einfach ein Screenshot gemacht – darüber wird der Versender des Bildes allerdings informiert. Trotzdem kann es problematisch werden, wenn Kinder und Jugendliche sehr persönliche – vielleicht sogar intime – Bilder und Videos von sich versenden und diese z. B. über Cybermobbing gegen sie verwendet werden. Durch die Vielzahl der versendeten Inhalte ist die Kontrolle darüber schwierig. Kinder und Jugendliche sollten daher genau wissen, wie sie die Melde- und Blockierfunktionen nutzen können. Das ist im Falle der unerwünschten Kontaktaufnahme besonders sinnvoll. Unter anderem deswegen ist auch die Funktion „Snap Map” kritisch zu sehen. Denn jedes Mal, wenn man Snapchat öffnet, wird auch die Snap Map aktualisiert. Und aus diesen Informationen lassen sich ziemlich viele Schlüsse ziehen wie Adresse, Schule oder Hobbys; auch von eher unbekannten Online-Freunden. Auch aus diesem Grund ist es wichtig, sich gut zu überlegen, wen man in den eigenen Kontakten aufnimmt.
Auch bestimmte Inhalte können für Jugendliche problematisch sein. Dazu zählen nicht altersgemäße Bilder ebenso wie unangemessene Werbung oder Snaps von Marken und Produkten.
Nutzende müssen sich an die Regeln der Plattform Snap halten. Die Nutzung von Snapchat ist Jugendlichen ab 13 Jahren nur mit der Erlaubnis ihrer Eltern gestattet. Es erfolgt allerdings keine technische Prüfung der Altersangabe.
Generell ist es verboten, nicht jugendfreie Inhalte, wie z. B. pornografische Bilder, zu verbreiten oder zu bewerben. Minderjährige dürfen keine Nacktbilder oder sexuell aufreizende Inhalte von sich posten oder versenden. Sicherheitsprobleme können innerhalb des deutschsprachigen Sicherheitscenters des Dienstes gemeldet werden. Außerdem ist es möglich, andere Nutzende zu blockieren und zu melden. Sogenannte Content-Manager prüfen Verstöße gegen die Snapchat-Richtlinien.
Snapchat sammelt jede Menge Daten von seinen Nutzern und erläutert das sehr offen in seinen Datenschutzbestimmungen – auch, dass Daten teilweise an Dritte weitergegeben werden. Die Daten, die man über Snapchat versendet, werden bei der Übertragung verschlüsselt. Über das Family Center können Eltern in der App verschiedene Kontrollfunktionen nutzen.
Über das Family Center von Snapchat erhalten Eltern Möglichkeiten über Kontrollfunktionen, z.B. einen Überblick zu den Aktivitäten ihres Kindes oder die Einrichtung von Inhaltskontrollen in der App. Um sich mit dem Konto des Kindes zu verbinden, wird allerdings ein eigener Snapchat-Account benötigt. Jugendliche müssen der Verbindung auch selbst zustimmen.
Wenn Ihr Kind die App gern nutzen möchte, sollten Sie unbedingt über mögliche Gefahren sprechen. Regeln Sie, wer die geteilten Inhalte sehen kann und wer nicht. Gehen Sie gemeinsam die Einstellungen durch. Erklären Sie Ihrem Kind, dass versendete Bilder per Screenshot vom Empfänger abgespeichert werden können. Es ist dringend zu empfehlen, dass Jugendliche nur Freundinnen und Freunde zu ihrer Liste hinzufügen, die sie tatsächlich kennen. Eine gute Übersicht zum sicheren Umgang mit Snapchat bietet Jugendlichen das Angebot Handysektor.
Sprechen Sie über die Funktion Snap Map: Was bedeutet die Sichtbarmachung des eigenen Standorts, welche Folgen und Risiken gehen damit einher und wird die Funktion überhaupt gebraucht? Das Teilen des Standortes kann auch unbewusst passieren (beim Öffnen der App). Dies kann im sogenannten „Geistmodus“ (Ghost Mode) verhindert werden. Auch kann der App die Berechtigung entzogen werden, auf den Standort zuzugreifen. Wenn eine Freundin Ihres Kindes Snapchat+ nutzt, sollte besonders darauf geachtet werden, die Tracking-Funktion zu deaktivieren oder die Person zu blockieren.
There are many ways to do small media projects with kids. Especially uncomplicated are projects around photography. Because there is actually a camera in every family, whether in the smartphone or as its own device. Plus, you don’t have to depend on the Internet or a power outlet (when the battery is charged) to take photos. So some ideas can also be implemented quite easily outside! What kind of camera you use for a small photo project, whether photo camera, smartphone or tablet does not matter in most cases. You can get creative together with your child and try out what can be photographed besides selfies and vacation snapshots – with the photo camera on the go.
Anyone who takes photos themselves knows that the view through the camera lens is often a different one. When photographing, perspectives and proportions change completely. Go on a journey of discovery with your child. Macro photography, for example, is particularly well suited for this. That is, you get very close to objects. If available, you can also use the zoom of the camera to help you. Flowers, insects and other things look much bigger with it. This way, you can discover things together that you didn’t consider before. No less exciting is taking photos from a great distance or height. You can go in search of the best places to take pictures.
You may know this photo action from your vacation in Paris or Pisa. Photos are taken there that look as if the leaning tower is being propped up or the Eiffel Tower is being gently held between index finger and thumb.
The technique is called forced perspective. This allows you to make objects appear larger or smaller than they actually are by positioning yourself at a certain distance. This often results in funny photos that do not correspond to reality.
Such perspective photos can be easily implemented at home or outside, because any building or object can be forced into funny and crazy perspectives. Just try it out with your kids – “play” with different perspectives.
For a fun YouTube video to get inspired, click here:
Do you still know the photo love stories from Bravo? Behind it is the simple comic principle, combining images and short texts. Photos always tell stories and children love stories. Think up a little story together and package it as a photo story. This way, children can also try out their acting talent. It is even easier to create collages on a specific theme, such as “animals” or “nature”. With various apps, you can easily edit, arrange images and add text. Among other things, “Pic’s Art Photo and Collage” and “Edit Pic Collage Photo” let you edit pictures, create collages and insert stickers. “Snapseed”, on the other hand, relies on filters and correcting sharpness and contrast.
If your child has taken particularly successful photos, he or she can present them to other children in a children’s photo community such as Knipsclub or Kamerakinder. While on Instagram and the like, it’s usually the shining filter, a virtual wreath of flowers on the head or the rushing sea in the background that leads to lots of likes, the Knipsclub or the camera kids are all about the essentials: taking photos. Many photo activities and the nomination of the “Photo of the Month” encourage people to participate and try things out. In the digital exhibition, images can be marked with “Like” and commented on. Children up to about 12 years old can exchange ideas with each other. A kids’ photo community is a safe place to try out social network options in a protected space before your child posts photos and more on Instagram and other social apps starting in their teens. Talk to your child about what kinds of photos they share and which ones may be nobody’s business.
Another great idea, for advanced photographers is painting with light, also called light painting. A guide on how to do this with children can be found at“Growing up well with media“.
Even more ideas and tips for photographing with children can also be found at Knipsclub and Kamerakindern.
The cell phone raised in front of you and your lips twisted into a pout – this is what it can look like when young people in particular take a photo of themselves. This quickly ends up on WhatsApp, Instagram or Snapchat. Maybe a filter is put over it beforehand to make the colors shine more and you virtually put on bunny ears.
Young people in particular always have their smartphones in their pockets, and in any situation they can quickly whip them out to take a picture of themselves and their friends and capture the moment.
These self-portraits with the smartphone are very popular among young people. Selfies are used to put oneself in the limelight and to test one’s own effect on others. This desire on the part of young people in the midst of their personal development is nothing unusual or new. But smartphones and social media make it especially easy. The most beautiful pictures are published on Instagram & Co. – in the hope that as many people as possible will like them. From this you can see your own popularity and attractiveness. But there are other reasons to take selfies. Young people can be creative and have fun posing together. It is not uncommon for selfies to be taken simply out of boredom.
And if truth be told, many adults also take selfies to show how you’re feeling, what you’re doing, and where you are. Selfies are a great way to capture memories and share yourself with others.
It becomes problematic when an excessive amount of photos are taken or erotic selfies are posted. Young people copy this from influencers or other people. If you notice this in your child, he or she may be looking for attention. Self-dramatization is increasingly taking place digitally. Children and young people can get the feeling that they have to present themselves and constantly show what they are experiencing. Especially erotic pictures that end up on the net can damage your child’s reputation. You as parents should counteract this by staying in conversation with him! Make it clear to your child that once anything ends up on the web, it can’t be properly deleted and you have no control over where and how images spread.
There are situations or places where selfies are not appropriate. Posing at a memorial site, for example, is not very tactful. You should also talk to your child about this and set a good example yourself. This also applies to the protection of personal rights when other people are visible on the selfie. They must agree to be photographed and published.
Self-dramatization and self-presentation are important topics in adolescence, as this is how children and young people come to terms with themselves. It’s important that they try out – this can also be in the form of selfies! Accompany your child in this process and, if necessary, also show him the downsides of this trend phenomenon. Very personal pictures do not belong on the web and some experiences are much nicer as memories.
In the following video, our media educator Björn Schreiber answers a father’s question about his daughter’s self-promotion on Instagram:
After the highly acclaimed launch of the game app Pokémon GO in 2016, there continue to be enthusiastic players worldwide and more and more of these little monsters, called Pokémon. Maybe you know Pikachu, Glumanda and Shiggi from your own childhood – from trading cards or the video game.
In Pokémon GO, the player becomes the trainer. He or she collects Pokémon all around the environment. These are developed, trained and can compete against each other in battle.
Pokemon GO is a so-called location-based game app that only works with an Internet connection, GPS turned on, and camera access. On the cell phone display, the surroundings are shown as a virtual map. On this, the little monsters appear when you move with your smartphone (outdoors). In addition, in some places there are so-called Pokéstops, where you can collect the Pokéballs and other accessories that are important for catching Pokémons, or arenas, where Pokémons of different players compete against each other.
To find certain Pokémons, the player must go to certain places. Because the numerous and different monsters can be found in different places, depending on their strength and characteristics.
The fusion of reality and play certainly inspires not only children and young people. Playing online with Pokémon GO is easy via smartphone, even outdoors and together. You can take the smartphone out of your pocket at any time and search for new monsters in the immediate vicinity. It’s like an exciting treasure hunt or relieves boredom while waiting for the bus, for example.
The different levels of the game also make it entertaining and attractive for young people: collecting and evolving monsters, fighting against each other, competing with each other by leveling up, and constantly evolving the game with new gadgets and new Pokémons. In recent years, more and more events and promotions are being offered for which gamers can buy tickets and network online or offline in real time.
Since Pokémon could theoretically appear anywhere on the road, users of the app tend to always have their eyes on the cell phone display, so caution is advised in traffic. As an add-on, the manufacturer offers the Pokéball Plus: a plastic ball that is connected to the smartphone via Bluetooth and vibrates when a Pokémon appears.
The app can also tempt you to visit unfamiliar places on your own, enter inaccessible places like construction sites, or run off at night to catch certain Pokémon. Make firm rules of the game here. Your child should always go on a quest accompanied by a friendly player, and a parent or guardian should always be aware of the locations visited.
Since there are always new Pokémon, the game virtually never ends. The more and stronger Pokémon you have, the higher your game level. Many children and young people like to compare themselves with each other and want to be better than the others. That’s why the app tempts you to want to keep playing. In the rules for game use, you should therefore determine together with your child how long and how often he or she may access the app.
In terms of data protection, Pokémon GO is subject to some criticism. In order for your child to use the app and go on a Pokémon hunt, GPS reception on the smartphone must be activated at all times. You have to give the app many more permissions, including access to the SD card and the camera. It is not clear to what extent the manufacturer Niantic uses all this data or could use it in the future.
The game is financed via
In-App Purchases
. You acquire virtual Poké coins through game progress or for real money, and in exchange you can get more or less important items. Accessories are also offered in miracle boxes, for example, eggs from which Pokémon hatch. These boxes are also called Lootboxes because the actual value of the content is a matter of luck. To avoid tempting your child, you as a parent can deactivate in-app purchases on iOS or password-protect them on Android. Because even without these in-app purchases, the game is fun!
The game was put under the microscope by Stiftung Warentest in 2019 and was the only one of the games tested to receive the second-best category of “Questionable”, whereas all the others received an “Unacceptable”. The only problem is data privacy: The name of the mobile provider and usage statistics are passed on to third parties, and the privacy policy is not understandable for children.
On the official website of the U.S. game manufacturer Niantic and when launching the app, among other things, the above-mentioned problems are pointed out and tips for safety are given. In addition, guardians are advised to use parental controls in the settings of cell phones. This can be used to limit game time and in-app purchases. Through the Niantic Kids Parent Portal, parents can set up, manage, and customize their child’s game accounts before their first game. More information offers the in-app purchases
Your child is eager to go hunting for Pokémon? Here you are faced with the task of assessing whether your child is aware of the risks being addressed. In addition to data protection issues (especially constant location tracking), this includes whether your child already understands the principle of “augmented reality” – that is, the merging of reality and play.
Always download only the original app (from Niantic). Third-party apps are often infected with malware.
You, as the parent or guardian, must set up a separate children’s account for children under 13. It is recommended to create a new account and not use an existing Google account. Use the Niantic Kids parent portal to manage your child’s game account.
It’s best to discover the game together with your child and agree on rules for the duration of the game, the permitted play radius and in-app purchases. Team up with friendly families and don’t let your child go off on their own. Maybe the game is a good opportunity for a joint Pokémon walk in the fresh air!
When young people on the street hold their cell phones in their hands much like a sandwich or talk excitedly into the air with headphones, it’s hardly surprising: they’re probably recording a voice message. This is also a popular way for families to stay in touch with each other in their often busy daily lives or over long distances.
Almost every messenger has the function to record voice messages. To do this, press and hold the microphone to the right of the text field within a chat or group and speak the message into the smartphone. After releasing the microphone button, the voice message is automatically sent to the selected person. This can listen to the message as many times as desired and also pause in between.
Voice is usually a better way to express how a message is meant. Does the voice sound angry, perhaps? Or is someone making a joke? The spoken voice can replace the emojis of a text message and make the message more authentic. With a voice message, there is more scope to express and communicate thoughts and feelings to others in less time than typing.
The advantages of this type of communication are the low effort and time savings that voice messages bring. On the road, for example, you can quickly ask in the family chat at the supermarket with shopping bag in hand what is needed for dinner. Eternal typing or the planning of telephone calls, for which both conversation partners must have time at the same time, are eliminated.
Voice messages can also help keep in touch with friends or family members who live farther away. Using your own voice is a quick and uncomplicated way to make it clear that you are thinking of each other.
Voice messages can also be annoying: Some people use them because they don’t feel like typing long texts. With voicemail, some get into the talking and don’t really have anything important to share. Instead, you get minutes of audio. Not always the received persons are able to listen to a voice message. While text messages can be read, voice messages must be listened to again in order to comprehend what may be important information. This is especially annoying with long audios.
Voice messages are sometimes sent faster than intended as soon as the microphone icon is released. Many messenger apps now offer the option of listening to the recorded message before sending it and checking whether it should really go out that way.
When recording and listening to voice messages, people in the vicinity should not feel disturbed. A text message can be read and typed silently – this does not apply to voice messages. Therefore, care should also be taken to ensure that when a voice message is played, not everyone can simply listen in. To avoid eavesdropping, many young people play the messages very quietly and hold the speaker of their smartphone very close to their ear. What may look a bit strange at first glance is a way to use voice messaging in public as well.
When recording voice messages, loud noises such as road noise or wind can interfere. Sometimes it also happens that you accidentally close the microphone, which means that the recipient cannot hear what is being recorded. Be aware that voice messages are a convenient option, but can never replace face-to-face exchanges. Make an agreement within the family and also with other people for which messages and in which situations audios are suitable and when not.
Surely you know WhatsApp the Facebook Messenger or Signal . But have you heard about TeamSpeak and Discord heard? If your child (or you yourself) enjoys playing computer games, you may have encountered the terms. These are programs that gamers use to communicate while playing – via chat or headset.
The English name TeamSpeak means “to speak in a group”. Mumble and Discord are also used for this purpose. To communicate with each other, each user connects to a server or creates one himself. Others can join these servers and organize themselves into channels. The players can then use these to talk (via Internet telephony or VoIP) and write (via chat) to each other. The software may be used in accordance with the European Data Protection Regulation (DSGVO) from 16 years, with parental consent from 13 years. The USK classification of the tools partly differs from the terms and conditions of the individual tools.
Playing online games is particularly appealing to children and young people when it takes place together with friends or other players. They enjoy competing with others. Although gaming often takes place alone in front of a screen, for many gamers it is part of the experience to exchange ideas during the game. TeamSpeak, Mumble and Discord are good options for this. These communication tools also work when a game is being played on the side. Since TeamSpeak and Discord are very common, young gamers can meet their friends and make new acquaintances there. The possibility to create channels publicly or privately allows communication on different levels – for private exchange as well as for information.
If your child is a gamer and wants to use one of the programs, you should decide together which one is suitable. Do some research on the offers and their security settings. If possible, try the tool beforehand. Since some programs collect personal data, you should be aware of the current data protection regulations and privacy settings.
Talk to your child about the responsible use of such programs and what dangers are involved. Personal data should not be disclosed to strangers in the chat. It is also possible to come into contact with unknown people. Agree with your child that he or she can turn to you at any time if he or she comes into contact with unpleasant or frightening content. Among other things, people with right-wing extremist views also exchange information via such platforms. You should keep this danger in mind if your son or daughter wants to use the tools.
“Do you know what you want to be when you grow up?” is a popular question asked of children. The answer “I want to become a YouTuber!” is not uncommon. At the latest, when children start secondary school, the desire grows in some to have their ownYouTube– or Instagram-channel with real followers and earn a lot of money with it – just like their social media role models. For some parents, this is hard to understand.
Making videos and getting paid for it is not a “real” profession that you can study or for which there is training, is it? Every day, kids and teens see influencers on social media who can make a living – and have a lot of fun doing it. It seems like it’s quite easy to become a social media star and earn money with quickly created videos and photos.
Many social media stars have actually not learned this and can make a living from it. But there are courses of study or training that can be helpful if the career goal is YouTuber or Influencer. Read more about it at Studycheck or aubi-plus.
Thanks to mobile media connected to the Internet, it’s not hard, YouTube and other social media channels. It doesn’t seem to take much more than a smartphone and your own channel – and you’re ready to go. So, theoretically, your child could also reach an audience of millions with their own videos. However, it is not quite that simple.
Creating content for social media and video platforms is a creative process. It can strengthen children’s and young people’s self-confidence and media skills if they are accompanied in the process. However, it also involves a lot of work that takes time. Famous influencers didn’t become successful overnight or immediately make a living from their content. In the beginning, YouTube videos were often simple in design. Nowadays, many videos are high-quality and were produced with a lot of effort. In addition, an influencer is usually active on several channels in order to reach as many people as possible. In addition, social media stars earn money primarily through advertising contracts. They have to be able to deal with that, too. Many of the successful influencers or YouTubers have their own management. To be truly successful, YouTubers and influencers have to set themselves apart with their content and invest a lot of money and time in good content.
In the second part of “My child wants to become a YouTuber – What now?” you will learn how you can support your child if he or she has this desire.
On special occasions like birthdays or Christmas, many children’s wish list often includes a new game console. You may feel overwhelmed because there is not just the one console. What should you look for when buying a console for the family or your child?
The right game console is the be-all and end-all for certain games. Meanwhile, there is a large offer and the question arises in what they differ.
A stationary console (e. B. PlayStation , XBOX , Nintendo Switch ) consists of the console itself (comparable to a mini-computer) and a control device (controller). The console is connected to a TV or monitor and you can start playing. Stationary devices are popular because there are games exclusively for certain consoles. In addition, they offer more functions than just gaming pleasure. With these devices you can also surf the Internet, listen to music or watch movies.
For portable consoles (e. B. Nintendo DS, Sony PlayStation Portable) everything is in one device, so you can also play on the go. On bus rides, the car ride to the grandparents and on longer trips can be played as long as the battery lasts. These so-called handheld consoles include models with pre-installed games and those for which the games have to be purchased separately. Portable consoles usually have weaker performance, but are cheaper to purchase compared to stationary consoles. Nintendo Switch combines the advantages of stationary and portable devices. This can be connected to a TV and has two controllers that can be played with. At the same time, the Nintendo Switch has its own screen, so it’s fully usable on the go.
If you decide to buy a game console together with your child, there are some things to consider.
Familiarize yourself with the parental control settings of the respective console and use them. Many consoles also offer a “Parental Control” system. This is a type of parental control that allows only games suitable for the child’s age to be played and movies to be watched. If you are considering buying a game for your child, be sure to check the age rating and age recommendation of the game. On the USK website you can search specifically for the release of a particular game. Also consider connecting the console to the Internet. Some games can only be played online. Consider beforehand whether your child can already handle the communication risks involved. Since technical solutions do not offer one hundred percent protection, always discuss the gaming experience with your child as well. Let us show you some favorite games and play a round with us! Set rules for playing together.
Inquire about the cost of different consoles. Depending on the type and equipment, there are large differences in price. Depending on what and how much your child plays, you can often go for inexpensive or used models. Portable consoles are often not upgradeable. This may mean that when a newer version is released, your child will want it. Talk about it and consider whether cost-sharing would be a solution. Having a console and playing with peers can be important for your child to be part of a friend group.
Use the home WLAN for your child’s console. In this way, you avoid unnecessary costs when surfing via the cell phone network and have more opportunities to influence the times of use (however, this should always happen in consultation with your child and can never replace the accompaniment of media use).
More information about the individual game consoles and how to activate the parental control settings can be found here:
What you should basically pay attention to when you want to give your child a media gift, you can learn at webhelm.
As parents, you have a special responsibility for your child’s media education. But you are not alone in this. The exchange with other parents can be an important support. But you don’t always have time for an in-depth conversation on the spur of the moment. Therefore, there are concrete offers and formats to exchange with other parents on parenting topics and to inform oneself. We would like to present some of them to you here.
The idea is simple: parents of children up to the age of 14 are invited to a host or hostess’s home and exchange ideas in a small group for about two hours on set topics. The moderation is done by dedicated parents. In addition to topics such as nutrition or stress, they often deal with children’s media use, rules of use or new trends. There are no expert lectures, but only the exchange among each other. The idea is that parents already bring a lot of knowledge with them and can share it in Parent Talk. This format exists in Bavaria, Lower Saxony and North Rhine-Westphalia. You can check the linked websites to see if a parent talk session is organized in your area. Often the active parents cooperate with authorities or social workers, so you can also find there.
Media education evenings for parents are held regularly at many schools and other educational institutions. These often include an overview of cell phones and the Internet or topics such as cyberbullying and hate speech, child-safe media use, or how to learn and create content with media. As a rule, a media education specialist is on site to introduce you to the topic and answer your questions. You will also find out where you can get further information and ideas on media education. It is best to ask your child’s school if such a parents’ evening can be organized.
You would like to become active yourself and request or organize an offer for parents? The distribution and accessibility of media education professionals in Germany varies widely. Especially in rural areas, it is sometimes difficult to contact suitable people. Each federal state organizes this area of responsibility differently. It is best to contact your child’s daycare or school first. There are usually social workers, and sometimes teachers, who deal with media education issues. Ask specifically. Often, media educators from the surrounding area are already known and can help.
Throughout Germany, there are media education initiatives, media centers and freelance players offering seminars, workshops and lectures for parents. Also search the Internet for suitable contacts or offers in your area.
Such parents’ evenings are also increasingly offered online – among others by Elternguide. Recordings of these online parents’ evenings are available, for example, from klicksafe and the Internet-ABC. Elterntalk NRW tried out the podcast format. Two media educators regularly talk about topics related to media literacy in their podcast Medially.
Under YouTube videos or in social networks, you often find comments from people who are upset, insulting or just ranting. Many users have already had contact with bullying – with themselves or with others. It’s not just people who are in the public eye who get clobbered by other Internet users. Is that just part of life?
It’s not the Internet’s fault that people clash or want to harm each other. On the net, however, it is particularly tempting for some people to cheat, insult or threaten. It’s easier for them to instigate conflict when they don’t directly realize that the other person is suffering. Yet vulgarities are no less bad just because they take place online.
The Internet is by no means a lawless space and no one should have to fear going online. The same rules and laws apply as usual, and it is important that everyone knows and abides by them.
Conflicts always arise between people, even children and young people argue. This is quite normal, and it’s how they learn to deal with conflict – offline and online. However, it is often more difficult for them to assess how far one can go and at what point limits are exceeded. Especially with hate messages and bullying, children and teenagers are sometimes very mean without even realizing it.
The older your child gets, the more he or she is online and can also get into conflicts with adults there. In their teens, children are using more and more platforms or apps where they may encounter messages, comments and content that spread hate, agitation and untruths. It is very important that you do not leave your child alone in this process and prepare them in time on how to deal with it.
The most important thing is that your child knows that you are approachable and supportive when problems and conflicts arise. Children and young people only gradually learn to assess risks and dangers well and to deal with conflicts. Various strategies can be helpful in this regard:
More on the topic of “Conflicts on the Net” can be found at the following points of contact:
– Dealing with hate in social media at the Amadeu Antonio Foundation.
– Bullying at Juuuport.
– Dealing with fraud and misinformation at Mimikama.
If you think 360° photography or virtual reality (VR) is only for people with a lot of money and the necessary technology, you’re wrong. Take some cardboard and glue, your own smartphone and you can dive into distant worlds and virtual realities. We explain how you can experiment with VR & Co. together with your children at low cost.
It doesn’t have to be expensive VR glasses. For many purposes, a smartphone or tablet is already sufficient. You can use it to view 360° photos by swiping your finger to the right or left over the image.
To really dive into virtual worlds, however, VR glasses would be great! It’s very easy and cheap to make, for example, from a pizza box. Glasses like these are called Cardboard. And crafting and painting such your very own VR glasses is fun too! How exactly this works is described in this manual. On this page, you can also order the optical lenses needed for the VR glasses for a few euros. The smartphone is then placed in the glasses and off you go on a voyage of discovery!
Assembled Google Cardboard VR mount, CC by 2.0; Author: othree (https://www.flickr.com/people/12452841@N00)
Especially for the first try out, Google ‘s applications are a great thing! Is there a place your child has always wanted to travel to? Search for it together on Google Maps, such as Niagara Falls. Go to “Photos”. Among them there are also photos in a 360° view, so you can see the place from all sides. If you have Google Street View installed, such images can also be viewed in VR view with cardboard VR glasses. To do this, click on the icon in the upper right corner of the photo, which shows a small pair of VR glasses. Now the image splits and the smartphone can be inserted into the VR goggles. Let’s go to Niagara Falls!
With Google Expeditions you can go on exciting expeditions, for example to the dinosaurs or to a space station in outer space. There are also exploration tours, where the virtual environment has been enhanced with text panels and images, so that you can get information by clicking on an icon. You can even bring the dinosaurs into your own children’s room with the AR mode. AR means augmented reality. You don’t need VR goggles for this, just your smartphone with a built-in camera that films the surroundings. Dinosaurs will then appear on the display in your own child’s room!
On YouTube there is a large number of 360° videos. If you have the YouTube app installed on your smartphone, you can travel with your child into space or dive with sharks in the Caribbean Ocean with just a few clicks. Search for 360-degree videos and activate VR mode via the glasses icon.
With the Street View app, you can also take your own 360° photos, view them and share them with others, for example to show dad how nice it is with grandma at the zoo. To do this, tap the icon with the photo camera in the bottom right corner of the app. Then tap the icon again and the camera opens. Now follow the orange dot and take as many photos on the right, left, top and bottom until there is no more gray area on the display. The app helps with this. Once you have ticked the checkbox, the 360° photo is completed and it can be viewed with or without VR glasses. The photo does not have to be published, but can also be shared privately.
Maybe you’ll manage to trick reality and capture a person several times in one 360° photo!?
It takes a moment to get used to looking through the VR glasses because the brain first has to superimpose the two images that a smartphone displays in VR mode. Sometimes it helps to slide the smartphone slightly to the left or right to make it fit.
Some people also get “seasick” when they put on VR goggles. This is what you should look for in your child. For starters, it is best to choose such content that does not contain movements and fluctuations. For other content, it can help to move along with the image or video.
Precisely because the virtual environment feels so real with VR goggles, the addictive potential for children is greater than for adults. In general, immersion in virtual worlds with VR goggles is only recommended from around 13 years of age. You should always accompany and time your child’s VR experiences. Approach the technology slowly with your child. Look at photos first before playing videos.
There is a lot of content and games for VR goggles that are not for every age suitable. For example, first-person shooter games can also be found in the app stores. Weigh which apps and games are beneficial, but which may scare your child.
Remember how you used to suffer along with the main character of your favorite show when she experienced something terrible? Is it that the news anchor greets you at the same time every night and you greet back inside? In the case of your child, it may be the influencer who is visited on the smartphone shortly before bedtime to say “Good night! These are all examples of so-called “parasocial relationships” that each of us enters into.
Typical of this type of relationship is that they are always one-sided and the relationship remains imaginary. So it’s not like a parent-child relationship where both sides are active and you can give each other a hug. An emotional bond, such as with the series character or the favorite news anchor, is still there. In the past, this was mainly known from television, but today the Internet plays a major role – especially among children and young people.
Influencers often let their audience actively participate in their lives – via videos, Instagram stories or live chats, teenagers can be very close to their idol. Private information is also posted. For example, Bibi let her followers share the birth of her child. This apparent closeness often creates a sense of friendship on the part of their followers.
For adolescents in particular, such parasocial relationships are also helpful: especially during puberty, they can serve as role models in cases of insecurity. They can help to find and consolidate one’s own identity. And they can provide guidance, even on serious topics like first love that their children may be reluctant to discuss with their own parents.
However, care should be taken to ensure that children and young people do not take refuge in this media world and its characters and stop building “real” social relationships, because interaction with “real” people – family members and peers – is important for development.
A parasocial relationship is something totally normal. It is important that your child understands that these relationships are not a substitute for friendships. In addition, a critical look at your favorite social media stars should never be missing. This is where you as a parent come in – show interest in your children’s role models, and discuss the positives and negatives of these relationships. And if you find it hard to relate to your child’s parasocial relationship with an Internet star – remember your own youth and your own idols. How did you feel at that time?
You’ve probably come across such images on the Internet, perhaps without even knowing it: memes. These are mostly pictures with funny text on them. You can find them on Facebook, for example, or get them sent via WhatsApp. Memes are especially popular among young people because they are usually funny and can be quickly shared with others.
An image (or even a video or film clip) becomes a meme because it is known from another context and the familiar is combined with a new text. That is, memes are funny especially when you know what the picture looks like in the original or where it’s from. The saying to a meme is often ironic. Behind a meme is a specific idea that is picked up and adapted by others over and over again.
Memes are shared to express feelings, but also to comment on current (political) events. For example, you have famous historical figures like Goethe or Napoleon or characters from movies and cartoons say things that have to do with the present and reality.
The special thing about memes is that the same images are used over and over again and given a new text. A well-known example is “Futurama Fry.” On it you can see the character Fry from the cartoon series Futurama squinting his eyes. Used mostly to express that you are not sure about something. In this example, Fry is not sure if he entered his password or username incorrectly: Not sure if wrong password/or wrong username.
On the site meme-generator.net you can create your own memes. If you want to learn about the origins of a particular meme, it’s worth taking a look at the site knowyourmeme.com, a kind of Wikipedia for memes. Unfortunately, the site is only available in English so far. This is also due to the fact that most memes are in English.
Communicating with images is typical, especially for young people. Writing messages without emojis is unimaginable. Image communication partially replaces the written word. In addition, children like to joke, laugh and have fun. Memes combine these preferences and they are quickly sent.
Memes are possible because the Internet and digital media make it so easy to find and edit images. At the same time, it can also lead to the fact that associated rights were disregarded. The creator of an image is not asked whether it is allowed to use, modify and publish it. Or persons depicted have not consented to a picture of them being disseminated on the Internet. Unfortunately, for some people, the joke of a meme comes from showing off the person depicted, for example, because they have a visible handicap. If such a meme goes viral, meaning it is changed and shared over and over again, that person may always be associated with that negative context.
It is precisely the virality, i.e. the rapid and widespread dissemination of such memes, that people with extreme political views also make use of in order to convey their opinions to the world in a witty way. This is particularly appealing to young people, without them thinking carefully about what potentially populist and extremist statement lies behind a meme.
But also people who stand up against extremism and hate speech on the net try to use memes to counter these people. A collection of memes to counter extreme political views can be found on the site no-hate-speech.de.
In an educational project, young people created memes themselves. You can check them out and make your own memes here: https://www.bildmachen.net/hall-of-meme/
If you and your kids like to watch and share memes yourself, question the content sometimes, too. Create fun memes together, as this encourages creativity and engagement with images and text.
