Telegram is a messenger service like WhatsApp , Signal Although the messenger is considered relatively privacy-protected compared to others, Telegram has come under criticism for spreading fake news and conspiracy narratives.
Telegram is a free messenger service that advertises particularly high security and speed. Anyone who wants to use the app must register once with a cell phone number by calling or texting. Afterwards, an account can be used across an unlimited number of devices. It is also possible to create a user name.
Telegram offers features like other messenger services: sending (and editing) images, videos, audio files and emojis. It can also be used to conduct surveys. Another special feature of Telegram is the creation of public groups and the subscription to (thematic) channels: Messages can be sent to an unlimited number of users, but only the channel creator and the administrators are allowed to write.
In so-called “secret chats”, messages are not stored on the provider’s servers. This is to prevent messages from being intercepted and read in any form. The “self-destruct function”, with which a message automatically disappears from the sender and recipient after a set time, also contributes to this.
As with WhatsApp you can get in touch with others quickly and free of charge via Telegram. Especially the exchange in groups makes Telegram interesting. For older teenagers, contact with like-minded people in Telegram groups could also be exciting and problematic at the same time.
Despite encryption and secret messages, the app has some pitfalls: The end-to-end encryption ensures that messages can only be read by the chat participants, but must first be activated. In addition, all communication content, with the exception of secret chats, is permanently visible to the operator and is stored on its servers.
Because of its subscribable channels and groups, Telegram is popular and criticized in equal measure. Institutions such as newspapers can use it to send out regular updates. But these groups also bring together people who exchange and spread right-wing ideas or other extreme opinions among themselves. Also listen to an episode of the youth podcast “What’s up…?”.
As with similar apps, contact risks such as sexting, cyberbullying and the spreading of so-called fake news cannot be ruled out. Registering with a username poses a particular risk: This is public, so that even people who do not have the cell phone number can contact you. The messenger also requires access to the address book and contacts are permanently stored on Telegram servers.
The Russian provider advertises data protection and privacy. In addition to the encryptions, there is, for example, the option to secure the app with code or fingerprint. Telegram is also open source, which means that anyone can see how the app is programmed and how the security measures work. The app is also to remain free of charge and advertising at all times.
Before you register, you must also agree to the Terms of Use. These require a minimum age of 16. In addition, the users undertake not to use the service for sending spam or cheating, not to promote violence and not to publish illegal pornographic content. However, it is unclear whether and how compliance with these conditions will be verified.
Before your child uses a messenger like Telegram, you should talk to him about communication rules and possible dangers. Consider beforehand what speaks for Telegram or whether another service would be better. If it is to be Telegram , refrain from registering with a public username.
Instead of leafing through an instruction manual, children and young people prefer to look for the right tutorial on the Internet. Such a cinematic instruction manual is not only available for the operation of devices, but also for very different areas of everyday life. There are recipe tutorials where people cook or bake in front of the camera. In other tutorials technical questions are solved. You can learn new languages or play an instrument with such videos and much more.
Tutorials have become known primarily through video platforms such as YouTube. Typical for these videos is that a person explains something to the audience – often by demonstrating it himself in the video.
The terms tutorial and explainer video are often used interchangeably. But there is an essential difference: In tutorials something is demonstrated, according to the motto: “How does something work?”. Typical are hair styling or dance tutorials. Explainer videos, on the other hand, are primarily about the question, “Why does something work this way?”
The helpful video instructions can be watched anytime and anywhere thanks to a smartphone or tablet. In step-by-step instructions, experts in a particular field explain a topic in an understandable way. The videos can be stopped and watched as often as you like, which is handy for a computer game, craft or beauty tutorial, for example. This way you can join in right away yourself and take the time you need by pausing for each step.
Often tutorials are made by influencers, famous YouTubers. Here, but also with lesser-known YouTubers, a relationship often develops between YouTuber and viewer during the tutorial, which loosens up the learning experience. The YouTuber talks around the tutorial about other things that pop into his head, digresses from the topic, and often addresses the viewers directly (“Hello, dear ones” or “You’re going to fold this sheet to the right” or “Here’s what we’re going to do”). This often happens in an entertaining way.
If your child enjoys watching tutorials on video platforms, try searching for videos together. There may also be helpful videos for learning or ideas for recreational activities, such as craft ideas or tricks with the scooter.
Ask to see what videos your child likes to watch and ask what fascinates him or her about them. There are many tutorials that seem to reflect typical role models: Female YouTubers make beauty tutorials, male YouTubers make tutorials on computer games, so-called Let’s Plays. This is a good occasion to talk about outdated role stereotypes.
You should realize that the creators of tutorials are not always real experts and you should check the videos and their content. The channel info usually tells you a bit more about the creators, so you can better assess the quality.
If something still doesn’t work after watching a tutorial, it’s not necessarily your child’s fault – the creator of the tutorial may have made a mistake.
Video platforms like YouTube should be shared first, as your child can quickly encounter scary or disturbing content here. For younger children, we recommend setting options such as “Restricted Mode” or the YouTube Kids app. If your child is aware of the risks online and you think he or she is aware of them, you should also give him or her the freedom to be online independently.
Teenagers in particular attach great importance to the opinions of their peers. This probably explains the popularity of an app like Tellonym. But in addition to appreciative and nice comments, their users can be anonymously insulted and insulted by others. If your child uses this app, you should be aware of its use and associated risks, such as cyberbullying.
“Tellonym is the most honest place on the Internet. Find out what your friends of you, answer anonymous questions, and ask others things you never dared to ask before! never dared before!”
This is the slogan with which the app Tellonym advertises for new users in the app stores. Tellonym is where you get anonymous feedback and ratings from friends and strangers. The app is especially attractive for teenagers.
Registration is done via your own phone number or e-mail address, whereupon you receive a link to forward to friends and acquaintances. They could then leave a comment on their own profile – even anonymously – without having to register separately. For the time being, comments are only visible to the person who receives them. If the user replies, the comment appears publicly in the user’s profile. In addition to positive comments such as compliments, there are also negative, so-called “tells” in which users insult or sexually harass other users.
To easily see what’s happening on other Tellonymer’s profiles, you can follow other users. This can also be done anonymously by clicking the “anonymous” button again within three seconds after clicking “Follow”. The follower count visibly adjusts anyway. It is also possible to connect your account with Instagram, X or Snapchat or to synchronize your account with your phone contacts. However, this is a major invasion of privacy, which is why we do not recommend activating this function for data protection reasons.
The age recommendation of the app varies depending on the provider (USK: 12 years, iTunes Play Store: 17+ years). According to the terms and conditions at Tellonym itself, if you are a minor, you need parental permission to register and must be at least 13 years old. However, if you register with the app, you only have to choose between “I am 16 or older” or “I am younger than 16”. If you indicate that you are under 16, parental consent is requested but not verified. As a parent, you can best assess whether your child is already comfortable with the app and its risks.
Most concerning is the risk of cyberbullying via the app. Since it is possible to write tells anonymously, i.e. under the protection of not being recognized, the inhibition threshold for some users to attack, insult or harass others with sexual comments is lowered.
Tellonym providers are aware of the problem of cyberbullying and provide parents with tips on how to protect themselves from attacks on their website. Thus, the reception of completely anonymous messages from non-registered users can be disabled. Certain words as well as senders of certain messages can be blocked. However, this is not 100% possible if the sender or senderess is not registered with Tellonym. Therefore, it is recommended to completely disable receiving anonymous messages from non-registered users. Messages can also be reported if they violate Tellomym ‘s TOS. According to its own statement, reported posts are checked and deleted if necessary.
In general, every message sent is supposed to pass through a filter – but how exactly this works remains unclear. Tellonym points out the difficulty of a good balance between censorship and protection.
Your child wants to use the app or is already an enthusiastic Tellonymer? Listen to him about the reasons he wants to use the app and whether he is aware of the possible risks. Especially if your child is younger than 16, you should get to know the app together with, look at the security settings and adjust them. You can find good and pictorial instructions on this at Klicksafe.
Talk to your child about what to do if he or she encounters cyberbullying or similar and receives unpleasant or abusive messages.
Mirko’s son is constantly hanging out on YouTube. He wonders what his child finds so fascinating about the video platform. Our media educator Björn Schreiber provides some initial answers.
The JIM study is conducted by the Medienpädagogischer Forschungsverbund Südwest (mpfs). Data on media use by children and young people between the ages of 12 and 19 is published here every year. For this purpose, approximately 1,200 young people throughout Germany are surveyed by telephone each year. The broad topics are diverse: media equipment, leisure activities, information behavior, Internet use, apps and games, and digital media at school. The topic of bullying is also addressed.
If you are interested in the study, you can find it on the website of the Medienpädagogischer Forschungsverbund Südwest (mpfs). In addition to the JIM study, there are also the KIM and miniKIM studies, which examine the media use of (younger) children, and the FIM study on media use in the family.
