Whether it’s clothes, books, skincare, or short videos: kids and teens want to know what’s hot right now. Behind this is often a desire to express themselves and fit in. Most trends spread through social media. But not everything that goes viral there is harmless or happens by chance.
Social media trends are topics, products, or behaviors that suddenly pop up everywhere and are picked up by many people. They usually spread across multiple platforms such as TikTok, Instagram Reels, YouTube Shorts, or Snapchat. Among the trends currently gaining the most traction are book recommendations on BookTok, Get-Ready-With-Me (GRWM) videos, skincare and beauty trends, as well as aesthetic styles like Clean Girl or Coquette. Certain role models and youth cultures are also shared and discussed on social media, such as those surrounding Tradwives, Talahons, or similar online phenomena. In addition, new sounds, memes, dance videos, or viral products regularly gain traction.
It’s not just users who decide which content becomes particularly visible. The platforms themselves also play an important role. Algorithms ensure that popular content is recommended to more and more people. As a result, trends can reach millions of people in a short amount of time. This sometimes creates the impression that “everyone” is participating in a trend. In reality, often only a small fraction of users are actually participating. Many trends also disappear again after just a few days.
Artificial intelligence is also having an increasing influence on pop culture. AI-generated images, filters, and virtual influencers are becoming trends in their own right. It is often difficult for children and teenagers to tell whether content is real or was created using AI.
For many children and teenagers, trends are more than just entertainment. When they’re familiar with the same content as their friends or classmates, they feel like they belong and can join in the conversation. Trends also help them discover their own tastes and figure out what suits them. Many trends encourage people to get creative themselves. Children and teens share their own videos or recommendations and see how others react to them. Added to this is the unique dynamic of social media: new content is constantly appearing, creating the feeling that you can’t afford to miss out on anything. This feeling is also known as FOMO.
Most trends are harmless. Still, parents should be aware of certain risks. Not every trend arises spontaneously. Many companies work specifically with influencers and advertising partners to promote their products. It is often difficult for children and teens to recognize when commercial interests are behind a trend. It becomes problematic when this leads to pressure to consume. Viral products are often portrayed as indispensable. Those who don’t join in may feel left out.
On social media, children and teenagers are constantly exposed to images of seemingly perfect people. Filters, photo editing software, and AI-generated content often make people appear more perfect than they actually are. Constantly comparing themselves to seemingly perfect role models can undermine their self-esteem. Added to this are problematic fitness and diet trends. While some recommendations are shared millions of times, they are based on misinformation or even pose health risks.
Artificial intelligence also poses new risks. Some videos show celebrities or other people who appear to be saying or doing something. In reality, their image or voice has been altered using AI. Such forgeries are known as deepfakes. They can look deceptively real, even though they are not.
Just like with challenges, individual trends can also be dangerous if risky behavior is imitated or boundaries are crossed. That’s why it’s worth taking a closer look before jumping on a trend.
First, try to take your child’s enthusiasm for trends seriously. Most of the time, they’re just trying to fit in and find their place.
Let us explain and demonstrate the latest trends to you. Use these discussions as an opportunity to explore together why certain content becomes so successful.
Talk to them about algorithms, too. Your child should understand that certain content isn’t shown to them by chance. Platforms are designed to keep users on the app for as long as possible.
It’s equally important to take a critical look at AI-generated content. Explain to your child that images, videos, and voices can now be created artificially and don’t always show what actually happened. Encourage your child to verify sources and not to share content without asking first.
Talk to your child about asking questions like these: Who started this trend? Is something being sold here? Does this trend help me, or does it put pressure on me? Would I still do this if no one were watching?
Trends aren’t necessarily always problematic. It often makes sense to weigh the opportunities and risks together. Some trends lead to new books, creative projects, or conversations about topics that interest children and teenagers.
Whether in social media clips, memes and comments or in group chats such as Telegram: Children and young people encounter many opinions on the internet. At first glance, some content seems funny, exciting or harmless. However, there may be extreme messages behind it.
Extremist groups use such channels specifically to reach young people. They give simple answers to difficult questions, convey extreme role models and stir up hatred against certain people or groups. Such content can fascinate and influence young people precisely because it often appears entertaining or close to their world and language.
If your child suddenly makes very harsh statements, stay as calm as possible. An immediate ban or an angry argument can cause your child to shut down. Ask questions. For example: “Who said that?”, “Where did you see that?” or “What do you find convincing about it?”. This will help you find out more about the source and show your child: I’m interested in you, not just your opinion.
Online games, Discord or Twitch can also be places where extreme groups make contact. So don’t just ask: “What do you play?”, but also: “Who do you write with there?” and “Are there any groups in which you are active?”
It is important not to simply let extreme statements stand. Say clearly when a statement devalues others, threatens or is misanthropic and explain to your child why hate speech can be hurtful and dangerous. But keep the conversation going. Your child should realize: My parents disagree with me, but they still listen to me.
Look at the content together. Who made the video? What feelings is it intended to trigger? Disinformation in particular often works with strong feelings, half-truths or invented claims. Children can learn to recognize such patterns. Simple questions such as “Can this be true?”, “Who benefits from this?” or “Is there a second source?” can help.
Also talk about algorithms. If your child watches, shares or comments on a video for a long time, they will often be shown more similar content. Together you can unfollow channels, report content, delete search histories or reset recommendations. Also use reporting, blocking and parental control settings and make your child’s devices safer. These measures do not provide complete protection, but they can help.
The good news is that you as parents can do a lot before things get serious: A trusting relationship, open conversations and a genuine interest in your child’s world are important. Ask what topics, influencers, games, groups or channels your child is currently interested in – without immediately judging or banning them.
Talk regularly about media content: What values are conveyed? Consciously show your child a variety of books, series, games, social media channels and role models that make different lifestyles, family constellations, gender roles and opinions visible.
Get help when things get more serious
If you notice that your child is becoming very withdrawn, only consumes extreme content, spreads hatred or has contact with radical groups, get help. Contact advice centers, hotlines or, in serious cases, the police. You don’t have to be alone.
Can’t find an answer to your question? Ask your personal questions about your child’s media use directly and conveniently via Messenger service via WhatsApp or Threema.
The new favorite profile looks friendly, responds to comments and constantly shares new photos from everyday life. For many children, the account looks like other influencers on Instagram or TikTok. But some profiles are not real people at all. More and more influencerson social media are created using artificial intelligence.
AI influencers are invented figures on social media. Images, videos, voices and texts are created or edited with the help of AI. Companies or agencies are usually behind the profiles. The figures present themselves as fashion influencers, gamers, musicians or lifestyle stars and talk about their supposed everyday lives.
Lil Miquela from the USA is particularly well known. The virtual influencer publishes fashion photos, music and political messages and has millions of followers. The German AI character Noonoouri also works with major fashion brands and publicly campaigns for sustainable fashion.
Today, AI can be used to create images, videos or texts for social media very quickly. Nevertheless, these figures do not act independently. Content, texts and collaborations are planned and controlled by humans. Such figures are attractive for companies because they can fully control the content. Many of these figures are designed in such a way that they attract a lot of attention on social media.
Right-wing populist and extremist groups also use AI influencers. The profiles often show young, attractive people. They combine harmless lifestyle content with radical or discriminatory messages; for example, they show German flags, classic family pictures or make statements against migration. Other accounts invent their own realities and show bizarre images of the future. In this way, right-wing world views are intended to appear more modern and gradually spread.
There are also projects with positive goals. Some virtual characters are intended to draw attention to social issues or show what is creatively possible with AI. The Itskamisworld account, for example, was developed to make people with Down’s syndrome more visible. Nevertheless, it remains important to classify content carefully and to be able to recognize advertising.
Children and young people use social media to switch off, share and belong. Influencers often play an important role in this. Virtual influencers often appear particularly perfect and professional, react quickly to trends and seem to be constantly available. This is precisely what makes them interesting for many young users.
Younger children in particular often do not question who is behind a profile. If an account comments regularly, talks about everyday life and responds to messages in a friendly manner, this quickly creates a feeling of closeness.
Although many young people are more likely to notice that content has been artificially created, they are under greater pressure from beauty ideals and comparisons on social media. High follower numbers, likes and positive comments reinforce the impression that the figure is popular and credible.
For some users, it is not even important whether a character is real. What matters most is whether the content is entertaining, creative or exciting.
What is particularly difficult is that AI influencers are often almost indistinguishable from real people.
Possible problems:
In addition, AI content is often not clearly labeled. It is often unclear to users whether images, videos or figures have been created artificially.
Accompany your child when using social media and take an interest in which profiles they follow. Take a look at profiles together and talk about how content is created on social media. Many AI-generated images appear perfect or particularly professional at first glance. However, some content shows small anomalies:
Children don’t have to recognize every AI fake immediately. It’s more important not to immediately believe everything that looks real on social media.
Also talk about the fact that many influencers earn money with their content. Virtual figures often seem like good friends or give seemingly honest recommendations. However, advertising and companies are often behind this.
Questions such as:
Younger children in particular can quickly mistake virtual characters for real friends. It is important that children can come to their parents openly with questions or uncertainties.
Not every child needs a smartphone with internet and apps right away. For younger children, a push-button cell phone can be a good first step: children can make calls and write messages without having to be online all the time. Many families experience this as a relaxed introduction because children learn to take responsibility for their own device, for example charging the battery, being reachable, looking after the device and adhering to rules.
Some families use a shared family device or an older smartphone belonging to the parents as a test phase, which is only used at certain times. Many children are already familiar with digital media via tablets or family devices. Their first smartphone is therefore usually not their first contact with media, but the next step towards greater independence.
You can find out more about how to assess your child’s maturity in our parent check-in “My child is getting their first smartphone – what should I look out for?“.
If you want a smartphone, it doesn’t have to be the latest or most expensive model. A solid, used or refurbished smartphone that is regularly updated is a good place to start. For many children, the smartphone is a status symbol, but parents do not have to fulfill the desire for a specific brand model.
Also helpful are:
A device that uses the same operating system as the parents’ smartphone is often practical. This makes it easier to set up security settings, screen time or family functions together and to help quickly in the event of problems. Some families also agree that older children will contribute to purchases or repairs. This makes many children more aware of how they use the device.
A prepaid card can be useful for the first smartphone. This means there are no additional costs and children learn how to use a fixed amount of credit. However, if the credit is empty, your child may not be able to contact you.
With a contract, there are usually fixed monthly costs, often with a telephony flat rate and a lot of mobile Internet. However, in-app purchases or additional data volume can result in additional costs. Younger children in particular can quickly lose track. Contracts are therefore more suitable for young people with some smartphone experience. Settings such as cost limits, third-party provider blocks or a limited data volume help to avoid unexpected bills.
Not only the device is important, but also the secure setup. Sensible basic settings are, for example:
For the first smartphone, blocked contacts or children’s versions of apps can also be useful. Regular updates keep the smartphone safer.
Technical protection functions support but do not replace supervision. Therefore, keep talking to your child about apps, chats and content. Also talk about what your child can do if something seems strange or unpleasant online. A jointly agreed media usage contract can help to make rules on usage times, mobile-free times and behavior in chats transparent for all family members.
Can’t find an answer to your question? Ask your personal questions about your child’s media use directly and conveniently via Messenger service via WhatsApp or Threema.
Children and young people encounter many different people, lifestyles and opinions on TikTok, Instagram and the like. Social media can make diversity visible and open up new perspectives. At the same time, there is also discrimination, exclusion and stereotypical images of beauty and roles. Young people can be influenced by biased social media feeds and influencers with a wide reach – often without even realizing it. In this article, we show you what you can look out for and how you can support your child in using social media in a more diverse and conscious way.
Social media offers people the opportunity to become visible and stand up for their causes. So-called “Sinnfluencer*innen” (a portmanteau of “Sinn” and “Influencer*innen”) draw attention online to barriers in everyday life, for example, or campaign against racism, environmental pollution or queer hostility.
At the same time, people who experience discrimination in everyday life are often also affected by insults, exclusion or hatred online. This can go as far as hate speech or cyberbullying. Platforms themselves can also exclude people – sometimes unintentionally. This happens, for example, when services are not barrier-free. For example, read-aloud functions, subtitles or image descriptions are important for people who cannot see well or have difficulty reading.
It can also be problematic if content on topics such as disability, LGBTQIA+ or politics is automatically filtered out by the algorithm. Certain posts are then not visible to some users. In the past, there have been such cases on TikTok, among others; after criticism, they were withdrawn.
We often encounter similar images of genders, families and bodies on social media platforms. In some cases, very common or even extreme role models are conveyed. This is already evident in the choice of topics: Accounts on fashion, beauty, decoration or nutrition are often run by girls and women. On the other hand, topics such as technology, weight training or finance are mainly posted by men. This can influence young people: Anyone who spends a lot of time on social media often encounters stereotypical role models there, according to a study by the MaLisa Foundation. This can influence how young people think about gender roles. Other perspectives and more diverse images can often only be found if you search for them specifically – for example via hashtags such as #bodypositivity.
Influencers in particular can contribute to stereotypical images of beauty and roles. Many successful female influencers appear slim and long-haired. Influencers often present themselves as sporty and muscular. Influencers are important role models for many young people. They are guided by their appearance, poses, facial expressions and gestures. For example, certain selfie poses are typical, such as when the hand appears to be casually resting in the hair.
Young people who follow influencers often compare themselves more with their appearance. In order to match their own images to the posts of their role models, they often use filters and tricks and focus on classic beauty standards such as large breasts for girls and broad shoulders for boys.
Ask your child who they follow on social media and what fascinates them about the content. Find out about current influencers, for example at FLIMMO. Look together for alternatives away from conventional role models. It is important not to devalue your child’s favorite influencers. These idols can be very important to your child. Instead, look at different accounts together and talk about them: Who is shown there? What body images, lifestyles and opinions are shown? There is a lot of content on social media that makes diversity visible. However, you often only find it when you search for it specifically. Examples of Instagram are:
Hashtags such as #inclusion, #diversity, #blackvoicesmatter or #mentalhealth can also help to discover more diverse content. If you and your child follow such accounts, your own feed will also gradually change.
Class chats are conducted via WhatsApp, reels are shared on Instagram and people organize themselves in sports clubs via Facebook groups. Many children and young people use several Meta services every day, often without realizing that they all belong to the same company. It is helpful for parents to understand how these services are connected.
Meta Platforms was originally called Facebook Inc. and was founded in 2004. The company changed its name to Meta in 2021. The company wanted to show that it has long been offering more than just Facebook and is increasingly focusing on virtual worlds and artificial intelligence.
The company includes, among others:
The apps are free to use and are primarily financed by advertising. To do this, Meta collects a lot of information about what content users view, like, comment on or share and how long they are active. Location data, device information and interests are also included.
Meta’s various services are closely interlinked. People who use WhatsApp, Instagram and Facebook at the same time leave behind a lot of information about their own usage behavior. Meta uses this information to create interest profiles for personalized advertising and recommendations.
In addition to social media, Meta is investing heavily in digital and virtual worlds. Users can immerse themselves in digital gaming or leisure worlds via the VR goggles Meta Quest. Meta is also integrating AI functions(Meta AI) directly into WhatsApp, Instagram and Facebook. They can answer questions, formulate texts, generate images or summarize content. Incorrect or misleading answers are also possible.
Meta-services fulfill many needs at the same time. WhatsApp is often the most important communication channel for young people. Class chats, appointments or leisure groups usually take place directly via the messenger. Those who cannot be reached there quickly miss out on important information or feel excluded. Instagram offers entertainment and opportunities for self-expression. Likes, comments and follower numbers give many young people a sense of attention and belonging. A lot of content is automatically suggested. Reels, memes, influencer content and AI chatbots provide a constant supply. As a result, children and young people often spend significantly more time on the apps than planned.
Meta services are designed to hold your attention for as long as possible. Children and young people in particular often find it difficult to switch off as a result. Possible risks include
Younger children in particular often do not yet understand how platforms select content or why certain posts are displayed repeatedly. Advertising or AI-generated content is also often difficult for them to recognize.
Meta refers to various safety and parental control functions within the apps. These include privacy settings, reporting and blocking functions as well as parental controls for individual services such as Instagram. The company also emphasizes that AI functions should be developed responsibly. However, critics continue to criticize the extensive collection of data and the difficult-to-understand privacy settings.
Make connections visible: Explain to your child that WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook and Threads all belong to the same company. Many functions, advertisements and data collections are interlinked.
Set privacy settings together: Regularly go through the privacy settings together. Among other things, check who can see content or send messages, whether the location is visible and which data is used for advertising. Public profiles, groups or AI functions should also be checked regularly.
Talk about algorithms: Children and young people should understand that platforms do not display the most important content, but often what generates attention for a particularly long time. This can be funny, but also provocative or emotionally charged content.
Question advertising and influencers: Discuss together how influencers earn money and why certain products constantly appear. A lot of advertising content appears personal or spontaneous, but is part of targeted marketing strategies.
Critically accompany AI functions: Explain to your child that AI systems are not real friends and are not neutral sources of knowledge. Answers may be incorrect or contain prejudices. Personal information should not be entered in AI chats.
Consciously organize screen time: Endless feeds and push notifications make it difficult to take conscious media breaks. Help your child to plan offline times and reduce notifications.
Remain open to discussion: Prohibitions alone are usually of little help. It is important that your child receives support in the event of unpleasant experiences and can talk openly about problematic content, conflicts or contacts.
Replying to a message, scrolling through social media or looking something up – for many parents, the smartphone is a natural part of everyday life. At the same time, many ask themselves: Is my baby getting too little attention as a result? The important thing to remember is that it’s not about perfection, but about conscious use.
In the first few months of life, your baby learns primarily through interaction with you. Eye contact, voice, facial expressions and your reactions help him to understand the world and feel safe. When you respond to your baby’s signals, it experiences: “I am seen and understood.” This happens in many small everyday moments when feeding, changing, carrying or playing. Babies do not need constant entertainment. Short moments of shared attention are often enough.
If you frequently look at your smartphone, shared moments can be interrupted:
This usually happens unconsciously. Babies cannot yet understand why the shared moment suddenly ends. When adults look at their smartphones, their facial expressions and reactions are often less attentive and attuned. Frequent interruptions can unsettle babies, especially if they occur regularly.
The smartphone does not have to disappear completely from everyday family life. Short periods of cell phone use are normal and generally unproblematic. Especially with a baby, many parents use their smartphone to keep in touch with other adults, search for information or switch off briefly. Stressful days, distractions and interruptions are also part of everyday life with children. Parents don’t have to be constantly available or attentive. It is crucial that there are always conscious moments of closeness and attention.
Even babies experience the place that smartphones and other media play in everyday family life. When screens are constantly present, this quickly becomes the norm. This makes it all the more important to consciously organize times together without media.
If you notice that your smartphone often distracts you or that you feel less connected in everyday life, small changes can help. Fixed moments without a smartphone are often enough to experience time together more consciously.
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.
Children and young people now use ChatGPT in many everyday situations, for example for homework, creative projects or research. The AI chatbot answers questions in just a few seconds and often acts like a real conversation partner. We explain what the tool is all about and what parents should look out for.
ChatGPT is an AI chatbot that has been trained with large volumes of text. It can understand language and formulate its own answers. Users enter a question or task and usually receive an answer within a few seconds.
The tool can summarize, explain or create new texts. Voice input is also possible. For children, using the tool often feels like talking to a real person, as the answers are formulated very naturally.
Parents can check data protection and security settings together with their child and supervise their use.
Note: As of January 2026, ChatGPT is no longer available via WhatsApp.
ChatGPT is easy to use and usually responds in just a few seconds. It helps with homework, explains difficult topics or provides creative ideas for stories and projects. Voice conversations are also possible. Questions can be asked verbally and answers are given in a natural-sounding voice. This makes it particularly easy for many children to use in everyday life.
OpenAI offers protection and control functions for families. Parents and teenagers can link their accounts and control various settings: quiet times, reduce sensitive content, restrict group chats, deactivate image generation and audio mode, switch off memory (storage function) and limit data usage for training and history. Stricter settings apply to linked accounts of young people. Parents do not see the chats, but can be notified in the event of potential risks.
OpenAI also uses age detection to automatically activate stricter protection functions for minors. These measures reduce risks, but do not offer complete protection.
Try out ChatGPT together: Use the tool together and talk about the answers.
Use the parental controls: activate and check the settings regularly.
Do not rely on technology aloneSupplement protective functions with discussions and support.
Encourage critical thinking: Explain that AI does not provide reliable facts. Ask ChatGPT to name sources and check them together with your child. A comparison with other AI offerings can also be useful.
Pay attention to data protection: Do not enter any personal data such as names, addresses or photos.
Talk about learning with AI: Make it clear that AI can support, but not replace your own performance.
Agree on clear rules: Decide together when and how ChatGPT will be used.
Keep the conversation going: Encourage your child to talk about experiences or problems.
Keep yourself regularly informed: Follow new functions and developments relating to AI offerings.
Mit Freund*innen chatten, auf Social Media aktiv sein, sich kreativ ausdrücken – mit dem Smartphone eröffnet sich für Kinder eine neue Welt. Viele Eltern fragen sich, wann ihr Kind alt genug ist für ein eigenes Smartphone. Eine pauschale Antwort darauf gibt es nicht, denn entscheidend ist vor allem der Entwicklungsstand des Kindes.
Der Wechsel von der Grundschule zu einer weiterführenden Schule ist für viele Eltern ein geeigneter Zeitpunkt, ein Smartphone anzuschaffen. Viele Kinder haben einen längeren Schulweg, den sie häufig allein zurücklegen. Über ein Handy oder Smartphone können sie schnell Kontakt aufnehmen. Die ständige Erreichbarkeit sollte jedoch nicht der Hauptgrund sein. Gerade für ältere Kinder und Jugendliche ist der wichtigste Grund für das eigene Smartphone der Kontakt mit ihren Freund*innen. Sie möchten dazugehören und mitreden können, wenn es um angesagte Apps und Social-Media-Trends geht.
Are you wondering whether your child is ready for their own smartphone? Then you should think about these things:
Ergänzend dazu bietet unsere Checkliste „Wann ist mein Kind reif für ein Smartphone?“ eine ausführlichere Orientierung. Sie geht Schritt für Schritt durch wichtige Kompetenzen.
Gehen Sie die Checkliste allein oder gemeinsam mit Ihrem Kind durch. Je mehr Punkte Sie ankreuzen, desto eher ist Ihr Kind bereit für ein eigenes Smartphone. Sie kennen es jedoch am besten und können seine Medienerfahrung und sein Verantwortungsbewusstsein einschätzen. Für jüngere Kinder eignet sich erstmal ein Handy ohne Internetzugang. Früher oder später wird ein eigenes Smartphone für viele Kinder Teil des Alltags.
Access to the Internet holds a lot of potential for your child, but also risks:
Wie Sie Ihr Kind vor sexueller Gewalt im Internet schützen können, erfahren Sie in dieser Broschüre von klicksafe.
Wählen Sie das erste Smartphone sorgfältig aus und beziehen Sie Kosten, Ausstattungen mit ein. Ein gebrauchtes Handy kann eine gute Wahl sein. Nehmen Sie sich Zeit, das Smartphone in Ruhe einzurichten. Achten Sie auf Altersfreigaben von Apps und aktivieren Sie die Sicherheitseinstellungen am Gerät. Besprechen Sie zusammen, welche Apps Ihr Kind nutzen darf und welche erst einmal nicht. Zu Beginn reicht eventuell ein Prepaid-Vertrag und keine Flatrate. So lernt Ihr Kind, wie viel es das Handy eigentlich benutzt und wie es mit mobilen Daten und WLAN angemessen umgehen kann. Auch Einstellungen im Smartphone können ein Bewusstsein für die Bildschirmzeit schaffen. Weitere Tipps, wie Sie die Handynutzung Ihres Kindes sicherer gestalten können, finden Sie in unserem Beitrag dazu.
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.
Versuchen Sie mit gutem Beispiel voranzugehen. Missbrauchen Sie nicht das Vertrauen Ihres Kindes, indem Sie das Handy heimlich kontrollieren – ein offenes Gespräch ist der bessere Weg. Wenn Sie unsicher sind oder ernste Probleme auftreten, wenden Sie sich an pädagogische Fachkräfte oder (Online-)Beratungsstellen.
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.
Weitere kompakte Hinweise finden Sie im Eltern-Check-In „Mein Kind bekommt sein erstes Smartphone – worauf sollte ich achten?“.
A smartphone offers many possibilities: chatting, playing games, watching videos. Using it needs to be learned. The decisive factor is not the age of your child, but what they can already do and understand. This checklist will help you to assess this more accurately. Your child does not have to fulfill all the points. The more that apply, the better prepared your child will be. The checklist serves as a guide and does not replace an individual decision.
… has gained initial experience in using a smartphone
… masters basic functions and settings
… has basic knowledge of costs and advertising
… consciously selects apps and content
… consciously handles personal data and privacy
… behaves respectfully online
… recognizes risks and can deal with them
… observes rules
… can assess their own usage behavior
Go through the points together with your child. This will help you recognize what is already working well and where your child still needs support. If many of the points apply, a smartphone of their own can be a sensible next step, with clear rules and support. If many points do not yet apply, your child should continue to practise these skills, for example on your smartphone first.
Even if your child is well prepared, support remains important:
Having your own smartphone is not a one-off step, but a learning process that you shape together.
The social media platform Instagram is very popular with children and young people. This raises the question of how young users can be well supported and protected on the social network. Instagram therefore offers various settings for young people to enable greater safety. We present the most important functions.
On social networks such as Instagram, young people can come across inappropriate content such as erotic images, dangerous challenges, disinformation, extremist content or advertising. Dealing with issues such as cyberbullying, problematic contacts or the unwanted dissemination of their own data and posts can be challenging. Because young people are often still learning how to deal with such risks, they need special protection. This is why platforms have been legally obliged to provide protective measures for minors as well as guidance and settings options for parents since the amendment of the Youth Protection Act.
For young people aged 13 to 17, a teen account is created by default when they register with Instagram. Such an account is characterized by the following points, among others:
About the parental supervision parents can link their children’s accounts with their own and monitor and restrict their use, e.g. set time limits or make security settings. Parents are informed about their children’s activities here – for example, how long they have been active on the network, what contacts have taken place or whether content has been reported or blocked. If you do not use parental control, If young people between the ages of 13 and 15 use Instagram without parental control, the strictest security settings automatically apply to their teen account. Young people aged 16 and over can relax the security settings of their teen account themselves without parental supervision.
The settings in the teen accounts relate exclusively to how the account itself is set up on the platform. In addition, there are general security measures that you should implement together with your child:
You can find a step-by-step guide to parental controls on Instagram at medien-kindersicher.de. Instagram offers a guide for parents with conversation starters and a glossary of important terms.
Safety settings, teen account and parental supervision create an important basis for more protection on Instagram. The following points are also important to help your child use Instagram safely:
Instagram offers families support with safe use. However, it remains crucial that you talk to your child regularly about safety, well-being and potential risks on social media and that you are available to answer questions and problems. This will help your child develop confidence and skills in dealing with media.
Instagram remains one of the most popular social media platforms, especially among young people. The app makes it possible to share photos and videos, create stories and interact with friends and influencers.
Instagram, or Insta for short, is one of the largest social networks alongside Facebook and TikTok. It offers users the opportunity to create their own profile and connect with each other.
Images and videos can be shared via the profile. Users can either publish content as permanent posts or post it as a story or live video. Stories and live streams disappear after 24 hours, but can be saved as a highlight. The photos and videos of subscribed channels and people are displayed in the feed.
Users can find a wide variety of content on Insta: Postings from stars, brands and challenges through to personal profiles of friends. They can respond with likes and comments, save content and chat with each other via direct messages (“DMs”). Profiles and posts can contain links that lead to other websites.
Users can create and edit their own posts with filters, emojis and fonts directly in the app. Content is sorted by topic using hashtags. Reels (short TikTok-style videos) can be accessed via the video icon.
At the end of 2023, Meta also launched the Threads social media app in Germany. This is linked to Instagram.
Since around 2025, Instagram has increasingly relied on AI services, offering image editing, for example, but also text creation for posts and hashtags via AI. Connecting with each other is also becoming even more possible via “friends tabs” and location functions.
Young people up to the age of 18 automatically have so-called teen accounts with additional protective functions such as restricted contact options and stricter content filters. The accounts are set to private by default and have an integrated time limit – after 60 minutes of use, young people are asked to exit the app. From the age of 16, young people can relax the restrictions themselves. The “Parental control” function allows parents to monitor and restrict their child’s use. Activation must be approved by the parent and the young person.
Data protection: Instagram should be treated with caution when it comes to data protection for several reasons.
Costs: Instagram is basically free of charge. However, many profiles advertise products that can be purchased with just a few clicks. Ads with corresponding links also frequently appear in the feeds and are difficult to distinguish from real content. Creators and influencers can also offer exclusive content that can be accessed via a paid subscription. Meta has also been offering a subscription model for Facebook and Instagram since 2024: For at least €5.99 per month, the provider promises not to show any personalized advertising. Of course, general advertising is still available – and Meta also continues to collect data.
Inappropriate content: Certain content can be problematic for young people, such as erotic images, dangerous challenges, disinformation or advertising. Influencer business models play a special role here, which young people do not always recognize. Content created using artificial intelligence in particular can contain very problematic content and is difficult for young people to distinguish from real content. This applies to deepnudes or deepfakes, for example, but also to political campaigns.
Communication risks: Functions such as chats and comments harbor communication risks such as being contacted by strangers, hate speech or cyberbullying.
Artificial intelligence: AI is also becoming an increasingly important topic in social networks. It plays a role in several areas:
Despite the official minimum age of 13, there is no effective age check. There are extensive usage and settings options for minors and their parents. You can read a short version of the terms of use at Handysektor and download a flyer with the most important safety information about Instagram for young people from klicksafe.
Parents can link their account with that of their child in the parental control. All setting options can be found on the medien-kindersicher.de website. You can find out how Instagram wants to make the app safer for young people directly on the Instagram website.
Consider together with your child at what age and according to what rules they are allowed to use Instagram. Check the app settings together so that your child can use Instagram as safely as possible. Not all photos must or may be shared with everyone or only with friends. In addition to your own boundaries, it is also important that your child knows and respects the copyrights and personal rights of others.
Talk to your child about communication risks. Show your child how they can block or report other users and explain to them when these functions are useful – for example, if someone insults your child in the comments. Your child should not accept requests from strangers and should use their own data, such as their location , sparingly.
Educate your child about risks such as harmful content, hate speech, disinformation and political opinion making. Also talk about critical behavior of influencers and stay in conversation with your child about one-sided role models and clichés. Stay interested and regularly ask who your child follows on Instagram and who follows them. It is important that your child knows that they can always talk to you if they have an unpleasant experience on the platform.
Children and young people are online every day – in class chats, playing games or on social media. They need guidance and support in their everyday lives so that they can navigate safely. Laws such as the General Data Protection Regulation or youth media protection regulations create important framework conditions. However, it is also crucial that children learn to use media safely and consciously. You will find many articles on our website to help you with this.
How much media time makes sense? What rules help in everyday life? And when does it make sense to have your own smartphone?
You can make clear agreements together and gradually give your child more responsibility. Your own behavior is also important here: Children are strongly influenced by how adults use media. Therefore, use media together as much as possible: watch content together, play games together or talk about it.
Personal data is quickly visible online. Many apps automatically collect information, even from children. This makes it all the more important to check the privacy settings together and handle data consciously. In the articles, you will find out which settings are important, where typical risks lie and how you can help your child to protect their data.
Children and young people can be confronted with stressful situations online, such as insults, false information or unwanted contact. The articles show how you can strengthen your child, recognize signals and react correctly in an emergency. Above all, it is important that your child knows that they can turn to you at any time.
Not all online content is suitable for children, especially on video platforms and social networks. Age ratings and technical protection measures can help, but are no substitute for guidance in everyday life. The articles will help you to better assess content and find a suitable approach together with your child.
A large proportion of media use takes place via messengers, social networks and online games. This can quickly lead to misunderstandings, conflicts or unpleasant situations. The articles show how communication works online and how you can help your child to act respectfully and safely.
AI chatbots, personalized content and new platform functions are now part of everyday life for many children and young people. The articles explain how AI works, where the opportunities lie and which risks you should keep an eye on.
This selection is an introduction. You can find many more articles on apps, games, social media and current trends on our website.
A cute photo of the family party in the WhatsApp status or on platforms such as Instagram is a matter of course for many. For parents, it can be uncomfortable when pictures of their own child are shared without consultation. This is not about forbidding others to do something, but about protecting your own child’s privacy.
Photos of children are personal data. Once shared online, they are almost impossible to control or delete completely. Images can be saved, distributed via screenshots or simply forwarded. You often don’t realize this. The more people can see a photo, for example via status functions or public profiles, the greater the risk of it being passed on. Children’s pictures can be misused or forwarded.
Children have a right to privacy and to have a say in what is shown of them. They also have a right to their own image, which is why photos should not be shared without consent. At the same time, they are often not yet able to assess the consequences. Every time a photo is shared, a digital image of your child is created that they can no longer control themselves. It becomes particularly sensitive when photos are published together with names, place of residence or other personal information. If other children can be seen in the photo, parental consent should also be obtained. Many relatives or acquaintances mean well. They want to share beautiful moments or express their joy. This is precisely why respectful treatment is important.
Many conflicts can be avoided if expectations are clarified at an early stage:
It is important that your attitude is understandable, without accusations.
Some react with surprise or feel criticized. It helps to calmly explain why the topic is important to you:
A change of perspective can help. Would you want such photos of yourself to be seen on the Internet?
Despite agreements, it can happen that photos are shared. It then makes sense to react promptly:
In many cases, the problem can be resolved in a personal conversation.
The older children get, the more important their own opinion is. Ask your child whether they agree with a photo. From primary school age, many children are already able to decide whether a picture of them can be shared. This teaches your child to think about their own privacy and set boundaries.
Also pay attention to your own behavior. Ask your child and other parents before you share photos. This will show you what respectful behavior can look like.
If agreements are repeatedly ignored or conflicts arise, remain calm and clear in your stance. Raise the issue again and look for solutions together. In some cases, it makes sense to bring in outside support to clarify the situation.
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.
“A real man doesn’t show any feelings” or “Women only want successful men” – when scrolling through TikTok, YouTube or Instagram, young people come across many ideas about how men or women are supposed to be. Some videos look like harmless dating tips, fitness motivation or lifestyle content. However, they may be based on extreme or oversimplified role models.
A lot of content about relationships, dating or “real masculinity” is circulating on social media. Some creators convey clear rules about how men or women should supposedly be or behave. These are often about success, dominance, attractiveness or traditional roles in relationships. Some of these role models are also used by extremist groups to appeal to young people online.
The term “manosphere” keeps cropping up in this context. This refers to a loose network of online communities that deal with masculinity, relationships and gender roles. The content can be found on platforms such as TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, Reddit or in podcasts.
Many posts initially seem like advice for young men: they should become more self-confident and muscular, earn more money or be more successful in dating. In some communities, however, oversimplified or misogynistic ideas are spread. For example, it is claimed that men are disadvantaged by equality or that they have to be dominant in relationships.
In addition to content like this, there are also trends that show very traditional female roles. In the so-called tradwife trend, influencers present a life as a “traditional wife” who mainly takes care of the household, family and her partner. The videos often appear aesthetic and deliberately staged.
Much of this content is not overtly extremist. Problematic messages about gender roles are often conveyed indirectly or linked to humor, lifestyle or motivation.
Young people deal intensively with questions about identity, relationships and their place in the world. Content about role models can therefore have a major impact.
Some aspects may appeal particularly to young people:
The Tradwife trend can also appeal to young people because it shows a seemingly harmonious life model. Conflicts or inequalities usually remain invisible in such videos. In addition, social platforms often suggest other similar content. This can give the impression that many people think this way.
Some of these videos or posts may contain problematic messages or reinforce extreme role models.
Social network algorithms can also contribute to young people seeing similar content more and more frequently, resulting in a one-sided view of the world.
Young people often come across such content by chance. This makes it all the more important to monitor their media use.
An open conversation about relationships, equality and what young people see on social media can help to critically classify extreme messages.
