Instagram, WhatsApp, YouTube or TikTok – the internet is not a legal vacuum. Anyone who uses social networks or messengers should know the basic rules. This applies to adults as well as children and young people. As a parent, you can help your child to use photos, videos, texts and personal data responsibly. And also set a good example yourself.
From the very first steps online, it is important to introduce children to Instagram and how to handle personal data. Vivid comparisons help: Does your child not want personal details or secrets to be shared in class? The same applies online.
Advise your child to check whether the information is really necessary before sharing it. This includes name, telephone number, address, date of birth, photos, videos, messenger IDs, location data or passwords. Personal data of others may also only be shared with their consent.
Also take a look at app permissions together. Not every app needs access to location, contacts, microphone or camera. Check the settings when you first start the device and regularly after updates.
Parents should also reflect on their own online behavior. Sharing children’s photos or information (“sharenting”) can have long-term consequences, for example through AI-generated deepfakes. Children have a right to privacy, even from their parents.
On platforms such as YouTube, TikTok or Instagram, there is a lot of content that has been uploaded but not created by the user. This includes music, films, series, texts, images, graphics and computer games. These works are protected by copyright and may only be shared publicly with the consent of the copyright holder.
It becomes problematic, for example, if a dance video with a protected music title is uploaded or a picture of a well-known sportswoman is used as a profile picture. Screenshots, memes or short video clips can also be relevant under copyright law. Infringements can result in fines of up to 500,000 euros or account suspensions.
There is content with free licenses, for example under Creative Commons(CC) licenses, which may be used and shared depending on the license. The name, license link and changes must be specified. In addition, photos and videos are now often edited with filters or AI tools. Rights and personal rights remain intact; an image does not automatically become “free to use” just because it has been technically modified.
The right to one’s own image is part of personal rights and applies to all people, including children. Photos or videos may only be published or passed on if the person depicted has given their consent. In the case of underage children, the parents generally decide. However, as they get older, children should be involved in an age-appropriate manner and be able to participate in decision-making. This applies to public posts as well as messenger messages.
This is often underestimated, especially in class or group chats. Screenshots or forwarding without consent are legally problematic, even if they are only shared with friends. As children get older, they should decide for themselves what content to share. Agree clear rules with family and friends and check the privacy settings of the apps. Messengers are not a legal vacuum.
In recent years, platforms have been more heavily regulated, for example by the Digital Services Act (DSA, fully implemented since 2024) or the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Providers must take risks for minors into account: no personalized advertising, age-appropriate algorithms, rapid reporting of harmful content and uniform complaints procedures.
Nevertheless, responsibility remains in everyday family life. Instagram, privacy settings and a conscious approach to content cannot be completely outsourced to platforms. Many conflicts do not arise from bad intentions, but from ignorance, peer pressure or insecurity.
Learning new things and doing homework with chatbots, playing music via voice command on smart speakers, and receiving content recommendations tailored to personal tastes—artificial intelligence (AI) is an integral part of our everyday lives. Children and young people in particular use AI tools as a matter of course, but not always consciously. AI technologies are developing rapidly and continuously. It is not easy for parents to keep track of everything: Which applications are particularly popular with young people? What opportunities, challenges, and risks arise from their use?
At the parents’ evening, we will introduce you to the most popular AI applications and look at their significance in the everyday media lives of adolescents. One focus will be on the risks for children and young people when communicating with chatbots, e.g., disinformation, inappropriate or problematic responses, and when interpersonal relationships are replaced.
Join us live, get practical tips on how to introduce your child to the safe and responsible use of (generative) AI, and ask our experts your questions—we will provide answers and are available for discussion!
The virtual parents’ evening is an event held as part of Safer Internet Day 2026 – you can find out more about the campaign day at klicksafe.
Date: February 11, 2026 | Time: 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Procedure: (Media education) input (approx. 40 minutes) followed by an open discussion
Speakers: Lidia de Reese und Nils Rudolf (FSM)
Moderation: FSM e.V.
Platform: The virtual parents’ evening is realized via the “Zoom” tool.
Privacy Notice: Zoom is a service of Zoom Video Communications Inc. which is based in the USA. We use Zoom via the German operator WTG. The WTG server is located in Europe. Furthermore, within the Zoom service we have chosen the configurations with the highest data and security protection.
Please also take note of our privacy policy.
Registration:
Listen to books, play games with sound, create your own recordings. There are now various audio pens that can do this – from TipToi to TING and BOOKii to Anybook. It is impossible to imagine many children’s rooms without these pens. The Tellimero is a particularly open-ended product.
Tellimero is published by Pädagogik-Verlag Betzold, a traditional provider of educational and learning materials. The idea behind the pen is to create a flexible tool that is not tied to specific books or products.
Instead, the pen works with stickers: the pack contains a whole stack of different sticker sheets with colorful dots, animals, instruments and symbols. Some motif stickers already contain noises, such as animal sounds, melodies or other sounds. The 200 or so single-colored dots can be played with as desired.
The stickers are not intended for decorating, but instead make the pen “talk”. If you touch a sticker in recording mode, sound can be recorded – up to five minutes per sticker. This sound is played back in playback mode. This allows you to record books, add sound to objects or record tasks acoustically.
The pen itself is clearly laid out and has three buttons: on/off, record and playback. If you use several Tellimero pens, existing recordings can be copied to other pens via a PC. Finished audio files can also be loaded onto the Tellimero.
The Tellimero is doubly exciting for children: they can listen and be creative at the same time. If adults prepare materials –
At the same time, children can get creative themselves: record their own stories, set riddles to music or use the pen for learning. The operation of the three buttons is so intuitive and simple that the pen really can be used without any problems from the age of 4.
The great creative freedom also brings challenges. Children can’t just be given a pen and a book and be kept busy – preparatory work is required. Stickers have to be distributed, recordings made and content prepared.
If you want to use Tellimero for language learning, for example, you can’t use ready-made products, but have to record books or materials yourself.
As the stickers can be replayed, there is also a risk that children will overwrite stickers that have already been discussed. To avoid this, the so-called “teacher mode” should be used when recording.
As with all audio pens, parents are the “human recharging service”. An empty battery at the crucial moment is one of the most common points of frustration.
According to the publisher, the Tellimero is primarily intended as an educational tool. It is often used in nurseries and schools, for example for language development, station learning or orientation aids. Teachers can, for example, add suitable audio content to a phonics table, a globe or station training. The pen has received several awards for this, including the Comenius EduMedia seal and the Worlddidac Award.
Tellimero is also suitable for private use, whether for creative “fun uses” or for learning and everyday tasks. However, parents should be aware that there are no ready-made materials and the content must be designed entirely by themselves.
Tellimero is a good alternative for families who not only want to listen, but also get creative themselves. Young and old can work together to develop funny, helpful or educational content for the stickers – and they can do it again and again.
Children and young people encounter AI in many places today: Chatbots answer questions for homework, voice assistants help in everyday life, creative apps generate images, music or short stories. This can be exciting, inspiring and confusing at the same time. Many parents therefore ask themselves: How do I guide my child so that they use AI curiously, safely and critically without being overwhelmed? Don’t worry: you don’t have to be an AI expert to accompany your child safely.
Artificial intelligence is often surprisingly clever. It responds quickly, friendly and sometimes more convincingly than adults. However, children should understand: AI does not “know” anything. It merely calculates which answers are likely to seem correct. And that is precisely why it can make mistakes, adopt prejudices or invent content.
Many AI applications also save the data entered. Depending on the tool, more or less information can be collected. Children should therefore learn early on to handle personal information with care. It should also be clear that AI is no substitute for personal advice, teachers or parents.
The younger children are, the more guidance they need when dealing with AI. For primary school children in particular, it is important to try things out together, ask questions and scrutinize results.
Can’t find an answer to your question? Ask your personal questions about your child’s media use directly and conveniently using the messenger service via WhatsApp or Threema. You can find more information here.
The smell of cookies, shopping stress, shining children’s eyes: the holidays are approaching and digital devices and games are on the wish lists of many children and young people. What should parents consider before and after giving a gift? Between the years and during the vacations, there is also time for shared family media experiences. How can this be designed in a safe, age-appropriate and even creative way? In this article, we give you an overview of offers from the Elternguide.online partner network.
The Christmas vacations can be long, especially when the weather outside doesn’t really invite you to play. If you have devices such as smartphones, tablets, cameras or a laptop at home – how about you and your child just get started? You can take photos or film together, try out new creative apps and actively organize media time. It’s great fun and your child will also learn something about media skills along the way.
On the website kinder.jff.de there are suggestions for simple media projects that children aged 3 and over can do at home with the support of you as parents. This is helped by child-friendly video instructions in which the implementation of the media projects is shown step by step. How about a photo memory with Christmas tree decorations or an audio story about Christmas traditions?
knipsclub offers a safe environment for young photo fans between the ages of 8 and 12 to try out their skills in a closed and pedagogically supervised photo community and exchange photos with each other. On the website you will find creative photo tips, for example on
You are probably familiar with challenges from social media, e.g. dance challenges on TikTok. Children and young people love to take on challenges. Challenges don’t necessarily only have to take place on the Internet, you can also play them at home with your family! Why not try out the top photo challenge, the clip challenge or the re-enactment challenge? We have made a few suggestions in our parents’ guide article. You can find more Advent challenges on the website of the JFF project webhelm.de.
Children have many questions and learn early on that their questions will be answered on the Internet. How is Christmas celebrated in other countries? What craft tips and baking recipes are there for Christmas? The children’s search engine fragFINN offers children access to around 3,400 verified websites, including almost 400 children’s sites. Primary school children can gain their first Internet experience here in a protected surfing room and learn how to use search engines and search results. In the fragFINN Advent calendar, children can open a little door every day, behind which are links to other children’s sites with a wide range of information and offers suitable for the winter season. You can find more playful learning pages in this parents’ guide article.
Your child probably also likes watching videos and going to the movies. A TV evening together can be a really nice family experience. Pay attention to the FSK age rating to protect your child from unsuitable content. But be careful: FSK ratings are
Parents must decide individually when their child is ready for their first smartphone, depending on their level of development and experience. After all, a smartphone theoretically opens up the whole world of the Internet to your child, with all its opportunities and risks. klicksafe offers comprehensive information for parents. Use the smartphone readiness checklist to check whether a smartphone is ready to go under the Christmas tree. Has the decision been positive? Then find out about the technical setting options and set up your smartphone to be childproof. You can find all information material from klicksafe in this topic special.
Would you like to prepare your child for the first smartphone under the Christmas tree? Child-friendly information on the first smartphone is available in the children’s magazine Genial Digital from Deutsches Kinderhilfswerk. The fragFINN app gives your child a protected surfing space on their first smartphone and gives them access to quality, positive content.
Are you considering buying a smartwatch as an alternative? Then take a look at this topic from klicksafe. Please note: technical protective measures are no substitute for family discussions and media rules. Stay in contact with your child and accompany them as they take their first steps with a smartwatch or smartphone.
In addition to discussions and media rules, technical youth media protection is an important component of media education. Use the screen time and digital wellbeing settings on smartphones to set time limits for the entire device or for different apps and to filter content. The parental control program JusProg offers a precise filtering option for websites and safe default settings for mobile devices and laptops. Google Family Link and YouTube Kids offer the opportunity to make media experiences safer for your child in the world of the internet giant Google. Social media apps such as Instagram and TikTok also offer safety features and parental guidance options. Streaming with the family can be a fun activity during the vacations. Almost all streaming services have certified offers for the protection of minors. Use your own child profiles and the parental control function with the PIN. Many of the youth protection programs have been approved by the expert commission of the Voluntary Self-Regulation of Multimedia Service Providers (FSM). You can find out more about technical solutions for the protection of minors in the media on the FSM website.
Detailed instructions for all devices can be found on the website medien-kindersicher.de.
Which games should I give my child for Christmas? Are games okay for preschoolers? In the family section of the USK website and via the USK brochures, you will find all the information you need on the USK’s age ratings, the additional information and how to deal with the subject of games in the family.
The USK mark indicates the age at which a game does not cause any developmental impairments. The additional information such as “fantasy violence” or “pressure to act” gives parents a good indication of whether a game is suitable for their own child. Educational assessments of games can be found at the NRW games guide. Descriptions of popular games like Fortnite, Minecraft or Roblox are available on Elternguide.online. The USK lexicon explains the most important terms, devices and genres.
Would you like to make your child happy with a game for Christmas? Find out about the distribution channels for games and technical precautionary measures. Various settings for the protection of minors can be made on consoles as well as in game stores and the games themselves. Play together with your child and ask them interesting questions about their favorite games.
The team at Elternguide.online wishes you and your family a wonderful Christmas season and lots of fun using media safely and creatively!
Want to quickly watch a children’s series, a movie for the evening or the important soccer match? It’s all on Joyn. Joyn is a streaming platform like
Joyn is the German middle ground between traditional television and major streaming services. The service can be accessed via smartphone, tablet, PC or smart TV, via app or in the browser. Children and young people can find current TV shows, their
Joyn is particularly attractive for children and young people because the basic version is free of charge and can sometimes even be used without logging in. Many freely available live TV contents can be accessed directly in the browser. For additional functions – such as personalized recommendations or saving watchlists – registration with an email address is required.
If parents don’t want to or can’t subscribe to their own streaming service, Joyn is still easily accessible. The platform offers many shows and series that are currently being talked about in the school playground, including Big Brother, The Masked Singer and Germany’s Next Top Model.
Particularly appealing for young fans of the programs: Joyn offers opportunities to actively participate in the app. For example, viewers can vote on who advances to the next round in a show, take part in quiz formats or take part in competitions. This reinforces the feeling of being right in the middle of the action and motivates viewers to tune in regularly.
Anyone using Joyn will initially only be shown content that is approved for under 16s. The account must be verified with an ID number for everything that is approved from 16 or 18. However, this age verification does not offer complete protection. Parents can create a profile and secure it with a parental control PIN so that children can only play content that has been approved for ages 0, 6 or 12.
Important to know: Content that cannot be played remains visible. Preview images, titles or short descriptions can arouse children’s curiosity or draw their attention to topics that are
Joyn emphasizes that the protection of minors is an essential part of the platform and that all legal requirements are complied with. The parental control PIN cannot simply be deactivated and the provider provides detailed instructions on how to set up profiles for children. Age verification is carried out in compliance with data protection regulations and the data is only stored temporarily
Make clear agreements with your child about what can and cannot be watched. If possible, use the offer together – especially with younger children. Actively accompany your child, talk about the content and whether something may cause anxiety or unpleasant feelings. Set up a profile with a parental control PIN if your child is too young to view content from the age of 16 or 18. Make sure that content with a parental rating of 0, 6 and 12 years remains accessible to everyone. Talk to your child regularly about what
The JIM study (Youth, Information, Media) provides insights into the media use of young people (aged 12 to 19) in Germany. It is conducted annually by the Media Education Research Association Southwest. Here we summarize the most important results so that parents can better support their children.
Almost all young people (98%) own a smartphone that they use every day. On average, they spend around four hours a day on the device, with older young people spending over four and a half hours. It is not only the duration that is decisive, but also the type of content that young people consume. This usage time includes both school work and leisure activities. From the age of 16 in particular, many use their smartphone almost continuously. Even if they are aware of how important it is to take breaks, many find it difficult to regulate their use independently.
Social media platforms and messengers remain the most important channels for communicating, finding information and organizing everyday life.
For the first time, the 2025 study focuses on the topic of artificial intelligence (AI): 91% of young people use at least one AI tool.
Even younger teenagers use AI regularly. Parents should therefore
The study also shows that many young people have negative experiences: Around a quarter are aware of cases of bullying in their environment, while 9 percent have been affected themselves. The
In addition to this overview, we also recommend the miniKIM study on media use by young children and the KIM Study 2022 for younger children.
Further detailed information on the JIM Study 2025 can be found on the website of the Medienpädagogischer Forschungsverbund Südwest and at Handysektor.
An idea for the next birthday present, help with a math problem or simply a question about the opening times of the swimming pool: many families now use artificial intelligence in their everyday lives. At the same time, many parents are wondering which AI services are reliable, safe and also suitable for children. After all, not all AI is the same; the offerings differ significantly in terms of data protection, transparency and target groups, for example.
It’s obvious: AI tools can make everyday life easier. Chat bots and so-called AI agents find and bundle information, explain complicated content, take on small tasks or even act as conversation partners. Many services – from search engines to messengers – now have integrated AI functions. This makes them even easier to access and convenient to use.
At the same time, this also increases risks. Some services place little value on data protection and privacy, collect extensive usage data or are difficult to understand. Others deliver results that are difficult to assess or are not always correct. The seemingly simplest services, which are already integrated into apps and websites, are not always the best. Unfiltered content can also be problematic for children.
The search for suitable AI offerings is not easy. Many tools appear similar and yet differ greatly. We present three possible alternatives:
Perplexity AI – the AI search engine with transparent sources
Perplexity AI works like a chatbot, but compiles information more like a search engine. One advantage is that the AI displays the sources used for each answer. This makes it easier to assess the results and can be particularly helpful for young people doing research for school or projects. Perplexity AI can be used free of charge in the browser or with a paid Pro account, which saves searches, uses better AI models and enables more uploads. The provider states that it uses data for further development, but does not sell it. The service is not specifically aimed at children, but can be a more transparent tool for searches if used with supervision.
Duck AI – the AI with a focus on data protection and privacy
DuckDuckGo is known as a data-saving search engine and browser. The browser does not collect any data, does not record IP addresses and blocks advertising. With Duck AI, the service now also offers its own AI function, also with a strong focus on data protection: queries are sent to the models anonymously, chats are not saved and data is not passed on for training purposes. The AI can be used free of charge, even without your own DuckDuckGo browser. This can be a reliable alternative for parents for whom the protection of personal data is particularly important. Again, this is not a special offer for children, but an option with clearly communicated data protection.
KinderGPT – the AI especially for children
KinderGPT is a German service that is specifically aimed at families. Content is filtered and prepared in an age-appropriate way. Parents can limit usage times or approve subject areas. According to the provider HillcrownAI, no personal data is passed on. The basic version is free, additional functions can be activated for a fee. KinderGPT does not replace supervision, but offers a protected environment in which children can gain their first experiences with AI.
Which AI service is suitable depends largely on what it is to be used for. Together with your child, think about where your priorities lie: quick and easy use, high security or verifiable results? If you are aware of what you expect from an AI, you can also look for ‘the right one’.
Stay up to date on what AI can do and where the pitfalls lie. AI offerings are developing rapidly and new offerings are constantly being added. It is therefore important to stay informed about new possibilities and limitations.
Regardless of the service you choose: Discuss safe behavior when using AI with your child. Explain what data can be given to an AI – and what should remain private. Find out together how AI works and how you can question and check results to be sure. Also be aware of your role as a role model.
And finally: Get to know contact points together where you can find support if problems arise.
Of course, you know your child’s friends from school or the sports club. But what about acquaintances with whom your child has contact only via the Internet? Whether online gaming, in video chats or via social media – wherever children and young people communicate with each other, they can come into contact with people who have negative intentions. According to the JIM Study 2024, almost a third of the 12-19-year-olds surveyed had experienced sexual harassment online.
Platforms such as Instagram, TikTok or Discord, which children and young people like to use, also attract users with paedocriminal tendencies. This is criminal behavior directed against minors. Adults approach children with the aim of sexually harassing or even abusing them. This targeted approach online is called cybergrooming.
The strategies are varied – but they are always aimed at gaining the trust of children and young people and gaining control over communication.
A clear warning signal is if the stranger wants to move the chat to a private messenger such as WhatsApp or Telegram – because nobody can read it there. This chat should remain secret at all costs. In such private conversations, trust is built up that can later be exploited. This is often followed by a request for intimate photos or videos. These can then be used for
You can find out more about this problematic phenomenon in this video from the Kinderschutzbund:
You can find more tips on how to protect your child from sexual violence on social networks here.
Children and young people are particularly curious. Therefore, they sometimes forget all warnings and can fall into a trap. Make it absolutely clear to your child that even in such cases, the perpetrator is solely to blame. Cybergrooming – even attempts – are punishable in Germany. If your child is sexually harassed, be there for your child and do not blame him or her. Report the perpetrators on the respective platform or to reporting centers. Secure evidence by taking screenshots of the chat history and profile and make sure you report it to the police! But be careful with depictions of abuse of children and young people. It is a criminal offense to possess them. The Internet Complaints Office has summarized information on dealing with depictions of abuse online in this PDF. You can find more information on this topic in this article.
Children and young people can find help, advice and information here:
The following contact points are available for parents:
You can find more digital advice for children, young people and parents here.
Having their own tablet can be exciting for children: playing games, reading books, getting creative or using educational apps. However, many parents ask themselves: when is it worth giving them their own device – and when is the family tablet enough?
A shared tablet makes sense in the early years. Your child can try out content while you accompany, explain and restrict what they see and do. One family device is often enough to gain initial experience with apps, videos or games and to reflect on media use together.
It makes sense for your child to have their own tablet if they want to use media independently on a regular basis, pursue their own interests or use learning apps that require personal accounts. For children from around 6 to 7 years of age, having their own device can be useful if you clearly regulate and supervise their use.
It’s not age that matters, but your child’s maturity: Can they follow rules? Do you know how to surf the net safely? Can it reflect on content and distinguish between games, learning, and entertainment? Only when these skills are in place is it worthwhile to purchase your own device.
A tablet for children should be robust, intuitive to use and not too expensive. Simple devices with a sturdy casing and a child-friendly interface are good entry-level options. Check whether educational apps, audio books or creative tools are useful and whether in-app purchases and advertising can be deactivated.
Whether it’s a family device or your own, set usage times, content, and rules together. Parental Controls, family accounts, and youth protection apps help to control media use. Discuss together: How long should your child be allowed to use the tablet? What content is permitted?
Having your own tablet can promote digital independence if you provide guidance: explain functions, try out learning apps together, and talk critically about advertising, algorithms and content. This will teach your child to use media consciously and reflectively.
Can’t find an answer to your question? Ask your personal questions about your child’s media use directly and conveniently using the messenger service via WhatsApp or Threema. You can find more information here.
“Just ask a chatbot!” – This is a tip that parents now often hear when it comes to quickly searching for information or support with tasks. ChatGPT has long since become part of everyday life not only for adults, but also for children and young people. We provide an insight into what the tool can do, how it works and what you should look out for.
ChatGPT is an AI-based chatbot that analyzes texts and writes them itself. It can answer questions, provide ideas or summarize longer texts in natural language and often with astonishing precision. The AI has been trained with huge amounts of data from books, websites and conversations and mimics human communication. ChatGPT can also be integrated into other services, such as WhatsApp or Instagram.
The free version uses the GPT-4o-mini model with training data up to around October 2023 and can also access the internet to a limited extent. The Plus version has comprehensive internet access and offers additional functions.
Question: I am planning my son’s birthday. Can you help?
ChatGPT: Sure! How old will your son be and what does he particularly like? Then we can collect ideas for games, decorations or food.
Question: He’ll be nine and loves dinosaurs.
ChatGPT: How about a dinosaur treasure hunt in the garden? You can hide little figures and draw a map. Or bake dino cookies – would you like me to find you a recipe?
With “Family Pairing”, OpenAI offers the option of linking parent and child accounts in order to offer underage users more protection. The aim is to show
ChatGPT is easily accessible, fast and versatile. It can write creative texts, answer complex questions and communicate in several languages. For many children, it feels like they are talking to a real person. The tool encourages creativity, language comprehension and structured thinking, while supporting digital independence.
Children and young people use ChatGPT for example for:
OpenAI emphasizes:
Try it out together: Test ChatGPT together. Then discuss which answers are useful or problematic. This will help your child learn how to deal critically with AI.
Use the family pairing function: Check the settings and activate protection mechanisms if necessary.
Encourage critical thinking: Explain that ChatGPT does not provide “truth” but recognizes patterns. Answers can be wrong or contain prejudices.
Keep an eye on data protection: Do not disclose any personal data together, i.e. no names, addresses, telephone numbers or photos. If your child uses ChatGPT via WhatsApp or other apps, discuss the fact that additional data is shared there.
For school: ChatGPT can support learning, for example to explain difficult terms simply or to summarize texts. However, it should not be used for homework. Make it clear to your child: AI is a tool that can support learning, but cannot take over.
Keep the conversation going: Encourage your child to speak up if they feel uncomfortable or receive inappropriate content. AI can be exciting, but should always be used consciously and critically.
It can happen that children or young people come across content online that depicts violence. When scrolling through social media, on video platforms or when such videos are shared in group chats in Messenger. This may involve fights, abuse, accidents or drastic images from war zones. Such content can frighten and disturb children or young people. It also violates the right to one’s own image of the person concerned and may even be punishable by law.
Under no circumstances should such content be redistributed. This prevents even more people from seeing the content. If the content is illegal, publishing and redistributing it can even have criminal consequences.
We can also encourage young people to do even more by not ignoring such content, but actively reporting it. Look together to see where the report function can be found on the platforms used, such as Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok or YouTube. According to the terms of use, violent and cruel content is not permitted and should be deleted. Messages or people can also be reported on WhatsApp.
The online advice platform for young people Juuuport even offers a separate reporting option for young people, e.g. for violent videos, extremism or hate speech. The internet complaints offices FSM, eco and jugendschutz.net then take care of these complaints.
Violence also plays a role in fictional media content, such as films, series or games. Content that is easy for older children, teenagers and adults to process can frighten young children. This is why there are age restrictions for depictions of violence in the media, which are regulated by the protection of minors in the media. The age labels of films or computer games show you as parents from what age the content shown is suitable.
However, children and young people can also come across real depictions of violence online. An experience report from Juuuport clearly shows how differently young people deal with violent videos online and can make it easier for you to start the conversation.
Talk to your child about possible negative experiences online. Show them the reporting and blocking functions on the relevant platforms and discuss how algorithms select content. Also explain how to ‘maintain’ or reset this content to keep your child’s online experience safer and healthier. Talk about what it means when photos or videos have a ‘sensitive content warning’ and what your child should do if this happens. Also find out about the legal regulations for the protection of minors in the media and about technical protection options via apps and settings for your child on devices or in individual services.
Can’t find an answer to your question? Ask your personal questions about your child’s media use directly and conveniently using the messenger service via WhatsApp or Threema. You can find more information here.
Chatting via Messenger, playing games together or taking part in social media trends – media enable us to be in contact with others. Children and young people face many challenges when communicating online. On Elternguide.online, we explain how you and your family can deal safely and competently with communication risks online.
When we write messages via Messenger, we don’t just use letters, we also like to use emojis. However, care should be taken to avoid misunderstandings. Chatting, posting and gaming is fun. However, being constantly available can overwhelm children and young people, lead to digital stress and the fear of missing out(FOMO). Be aware of your role model function and, if necessary, make technical adjustments together to regulate media use.
Whether through online gaming, video chats or social media – it’s easy to meet new people on the internet. Contact with strangers can be risky because we don’t know the person’s intentions and don’t know who is actually communicating with us. Is it really the same age gamer friend? When paedophile criminals write to children or young people to initiate sexual contact, this is known as cybergrooming. If supposedly private images such as nude photos are used to blackmail someone, this is called sextortion.
Sometimes communication with friends and acquaintances can also become problematic. Among young people, there is a risk of cyberbullying, for example, via chat groups. Sexting, the sending of revealing messages and images, can be problematic in relationships. It is helpful if rules are agreed on how to deal with messenger chats. Discuss this with other parents and your child’s teachers. Talk to your child about being careful with their own data, such as nude images. Explain to them how they should deal with insults and nasty comments and make them aware of reporting points.
AI applications have long since arrived in the everyday lives of children and young people and automatically accompany them when they use search engines, messengers and social media. They chat with chatbots such as MyAI on Snapchat, enter into intimate relationships with AI contacts or use programs such as ChatGPT or MetaAI to collect ideas or find solutions. In doing so, they encounter challenges such as misinformation, problematic content and data misuse as well as the difficulty of distinguishing between human and machine communication. Talk to your child about the opportunities and risks of AI tools and make safety settings in the apps together. Promote your child’s critical thinking and encourage them to question answers from chatbots, check information and understand AI as a tool – not as a substitute for their own services or real friendships.
The internet is not always a friendly place. Trolls and haters launch attacks under the guise of anonymity and deliberately provoke people in comment columns. Online hate speech can spoil the fun of posting videos and photos online. Thinking carefully about what you post or share is the first step to a safe browsing experience.
Forming their own opinion is one of the developmental tasks of children and young people. During the orientation phase, they can be susceptible to simple answers and radical positions from extremists. Whether on social media, in forums, chats or in online games – children and young people can come across extreme opinions and conspiracy myths everywhere online. Make it clear to your child why they should not trust all content online. Show your child how they can check information and familiarize them with the various reporting points on the internet.
Many gamers play games together, even if they are sitting in different places. When gaming, communication takes place via a headset or the chat function within a game. It is not always clear who is talking to you on the other end. If possible, players should block other people’s contacts. Gamers sometimes use harsh language, known as trash talk. If insults and conflicts escalate, this can lead to hatred among gamers. Keep in touch with your child about their favorite games and use technical youth media protection solutions.
You can learn even more about communication risks and how to deal with them in these posts:
Many apps cost nothing at first glance. Only when you take a closer look do you often realize that you have to pay in order to use them properly and have fun. Children and young people in particular can easily fall into cost traps, especially with games apps. We explain what parents should look out for, what risks there are and how in-app purchases can be controlled with a view to protecting and involving children.
Costs can arise not only when downloading an app. Many apps initially appear to be free, but certain functions, levels, virtual items or special benefits can only be unlocked against payment, such as accessories for avatars. Often a virtual currency is also offered, which must first be purchased via credit card, PayPal or prepaid cards in order to progress in the game or unlock extras. If you are not careful, you will only see how expensive the game has really become on your next mobile phone contract or credit card bill.
Providers often advertise a so-called premium version within the free app. This offers additional functions or game content and can be understood as a paid full version. For children, the free app looks like a test – and the inhibition threshold for spending money is low.
Children and young people react sensitively to rewards and progress in games. Apps such as Roblox, Minecraft, Fortnite or Brawl Stars make targeted use of this: With just a few clicks, game characters can be embellished, levels can be unlocked faster or virtual coins can be collected. Virtual currencies seem abstract and are difficult to link to real money, so children often don’t even realize that they are spending real money – on things that have no real equivalent value.
Loot boxes are particularly critical: they contain random rewards that children perceive as small surprise gifts. The random effect can lead to them repeatedly investing money in order to receive the “right” reward. In games such as EA Sports FC (formerly FIFA), children can draw soccer stars in so-called packs; whether a favorite player is included is decided solely by chance. In Brawl Stars, children also open boxes that contain random power-ups or new characters. Such mechanisms are similar to gambling and are particularly problematic and tempting for young players.
There is also social pressure: those who progress faster or fail less often have an advantage in the game and can assert themselves better in front of friends. These psychological mechanisms make in-app purchases particularly appealing.
Parents can do a lot to protect their child from cost traps. It is important that you discuss the topic with your child and make clear agreements. In addition to technical settings, you should sensitize your child to cost traps and gradually give them responsibility in dealing with money in the digital space.
Since 2023, USK age ratings have included additional information on online risks such as in-app purchases, loot boxes and chats. This information can be found on game packaging, in app stores and in the USK title database. This makes it easier for parents to recognize which games are age-appropriate and where particular caution is required.
If your child has already made in-app purchases, you should first check whether refunds are possible in the app store. It is also worth carefully documenting any unclear debits and taking screenshots. It is then advisable to contact the provider directly – especially if subscriptions or purchases were not clearly marked. If the problems persist or occur repeatedly, consumer advice centers offer additional support and legal advice to protect families from further cost traps.
Whether fashion, fitness, gaming, knowledge or lifestyle – children and young people spend a lot of time on social media and meet digital role models there. Influencers present content that entertains, inspires or informs. This overview shows parents what types of influencers there are, what topics they cover, what young people pay particular attention to and what opportunities and risks they present.
They know what’s going on on the catwalks and in the fashion stores: fashion influencers show the latest trends, give styling tips and often combine clothing with beauty, sports or lifestyle topics. Younger viewers in particular use these profiles to get inspiration for their own style, outfits and self-presentation.
Problematic: unrealistic beauty and body ideals, high consumer pressure, advertising for products.
A workout in the morning, followed by the perfect breakfast – fitness influencers live for sport and health and share training plans, nutrition tips and motivation with their followers. They appeal to young people with sporting ambitions as well as beginners.
Problematic: exaggerated body ideals, unrealistic training goals, advertising for products or nutritional supplements.
From savings accounts to crypto custody accounts: finfluencers explain saving, investing, trading and cryptocurrencies. They often combine tips with personal success stories and glamorous lifestyle portrayals. Older young people come across these channels when pocket money, part-time jobs or their first major purchases become relevant.
Problematic: lack of qualification, unrealistic promises of profit, monetization, possible financial losses.
Politics, science, psychology or history – knowledge influencers convey complex topics in a clear and understandable way. Examples include Mai Thi Nguyen-Kim, Mirko Drotschmann and Leon Windscheid. They explain content in an entertaining, approachable way and often with a wink. Many young people perceive them not only as a source of information, but also as role models who influence language, ways of reasoning or school interests.
Problematic: limited depth, susceptibility to errors, monetization, simplified representations.
Chips and popcorn out – Let’s Players play video games and comment on strategies, tips and stories. The gaming scene is male-dominated, but female and queer Let’s Players are becoming increasingly important and serve as role models for children and young people.
Problematic: addictive potential, excessive screen time, monetization, interaction with strangers.
Whether crafting, baking or restoring furniture – DIY influencers show step-by-step instructions for creative projects. Children and young people can try out their own skills and copy ideas.
Problematic: risk of imitation for dangerous work, advertising for products, monetization.
They let their followers take part in what appears to be everyday life: Preparing breakfast, shopping, decorating or doing sports – lifestyle influencers show everyday content and entertainment. Young people look to them as role models and follow their preferences and everyday rituals.
Problematic: unrealistic everyday expectations, consumer pressure, advertising, privacy.
Dancing, comedy, pranks – entertainment influencers offer short, funny content. They are stars at peer group level and provide entertainment, but rarely more in-depth information.
Problematic: Violent or joking content, monetization, uncontrolled comments.
They campaign for the environment, social justice, tolerance and mental health. Sinnfluencer*innen motivate children and young people to get involved in society.
Problematic: one-sided representations, ideologization, possible advertising or sponsoring.
