Whether in social media feeds, messengers or podcasts – we are flooded with countless messages, reports and stories online every day. Sometimes it is not so easy to distinguish between truth and deception. Teaching children and young people how to recognize false information on the internet is a real challenge. This article offers practical advice on this and explains how you can talk to your child about it.
Fake news spreads particularly quickly in uncertain times. We humans are already unsettled and even experts and politicians don’t have all the answers – such as during the coronavirus crisis or wars. “Fake news” deliberately spreads rumors or even hateful reports that are intended to stir up fears and deliberately deceive us. They often offer simple explanations and can give the feeling of security. But they are not true.
These fake news items are often so cleverly crafted that they appear to be legitimate news at first glance. People who believe “fake news” share it further, so that more and more people fall for it. The problem with this is that the more often such content is clicked on, the more often it is displayed – and the more people believe it to be true. This can be problematic, especially when it comes to political posts with an extremist or populist background or when conspiracy myths are spread.
Content that can unsettle or frighten younger children in particular is also problematic. Deep fake videos in particular look deceptively real. It is therefore important to understand that not all information on the Internet is true and to know the differences between disinformation, false reports and satire.
Recognizing whether it is actually disinformation or false reports can be a tricky task. Therefore, it is helpful to follow clear steps to curb the spread of disinformation:
Source verification
Check where the message came from and who wrote it. Are the authors well-known and experts on the topic? Is it a reputable website?
Fact check
Try to verify the message with different sources. Ask yourself how up-to-date the information is and check where the figures and data mentioned come from as well as the context in which they were collected.
Checking the message form
Pay attention to the way the message is presented. Is the language serious and factual, or is emotional language and excessive capitalization used? Does the article contain catchwords such as “lying press” or similar provocative terms? Could the article be meant satirically?
Verify evidence
Make sure photos and videos match the message and are up-to-date. Pay attention to captions and whether they actually represent what is being described or are from another context.
Joint fact check
Discuss news and messages together as a family. Your child should understand that not everything on the internet can be sent via WhatsApp or comes from an AI chatbot has to be true. If you check messages together, it can gradually learn to distinguish true from false. Ask for your child’s opinion and share your own thoughts. This way, you and your child can be safer and better prepared to recognize and counteract false information on the Internet.
Here are some tips on where you can check messages and how you and your child can learn how to use them in a fun way:
Children and young people are growing up in a digital world in which they come into contact with online media on a daily basis. Clear rules and effective protective measures are essential to enable them to use the internet safely. The German Association for Voluntary Self-Regulation of Digital Media Service Providers (FSM e.V.) plays a central role here. We explain how the FSM shapes youth media protection and why it is so important for parents.
The FSM is a self-regulatory body recognized by the Commission for the Protection of Minors in the Media (KJM) in the area of youth media protection. It is committed to protecting children and young people from online content that is harmful to minors and supports digital media providers in the implementation of youth protection measures. It works closely with many other institutions in the field – in Germany and internationally.
The FSM pursues the goal of ensuring effective youth media protection in digital offerings. Its main tasks:
The FSM is part of the system of regulated self-regulation in Germany. It works closely with other self-regulatory bodies such as the USK (Entertainment Software Self-Regulation), the FSK (Voluntary Self-Regulation of the Film Industry) and the FSF (Voluntary Self-Regulation of Television). In this way, the self-regulatory bodies promote cooperation between companies, authorities and politicians for the effective protection of minors in the media.
The digital protection of minors is a dynamic field that constantly presents new challenges:
It is often difficult for parents to assess what content on the Internet is suitable for their children. The FSM offers support to ensure that youth media protection reaches families:
More information is available directly on the FSM website: www.fsm.de
In recent months, political issues have repeatedly been in the spotlight – whether due to elections in the USA and Germany or conflicts and wars. Online election campaigns, exaggerated statements in social networks and heated discussions have characterized the internet. But how can children of primary school age find age-appropriate and trustworthy information on politics and current world events? How can you as parents help them to find their way through the digital news jungle?
In this virtual parents’ evening, we will give you practical tips on how you can help your children deal with political issues online. We will show how children’s search engines help children aged 6 to 12 to surf safely and find suitable news that they can understand. You will also learn how you can jointly recognize disinformation and manipulated content such as deep fakes.
Take the opportunity to be there live and ask your questions to our experts – we will be on hand to exchange ideas and provide valuable inspiration for everyday family life!
Date: 03.04.2025 | Time: 5 to 6 pm
Speakers: Maria Wiesner and Udo Lihs (fragFINN)
Platform: The virtual parents’ evening is realized via the tool “Zoom”.
Privacy Notice: Zoom is a service of Zoom Video Communications Inc. which is based in the USA. We use Zoom via the German operator easymeet24. easymeet24 ‘s server is located in Europe. Furthermore, we have selected the configurations with the highest data and security protection within the Zoom service.
Please also take note of our privacy policy.
Registration:
Are you or your child looking for high-quality and child-friendly child-friendly online offers? Then Seitenstark just the right thing! The platform is a network of certified children’s sites that provide educationally valuable content. Your child can surf, discover and learn safely here.
Seitenstark.de is a children’s website that lists and presents a variety of child-friendly websites. The sites offer content on various topics. Whether nature and technology, music and film, art and culture or politics and religion – children will find lots of exciting content here and can learn new things in a fun way.
Many of the pages presented are linked to the site strength-seal of approval. The seal stands for high-quality, ad-free and safe internet services that are specially tailored to the needs of children. Sites with this seal offer trustworthy, verified content and protect the privacy of young users.
On Seitenstark going digital is easy and fun. In the Link-Clips places Seitenstark The mascot Starky accompanies the children as they surf the Internet and provides them with other topics in addition to the children’s pages. The mascot Starky accompanies the children while surfing and presents other topics in addition to the children’s pages, such as Children’s rights. In the category Join in! children get exciting ideas and tips for creating media themselves. Those who Games you get access to child-friendly game collections and entertaining analog and digital game tips. Under the tab Fit on the Internet the character Charlie provides important information about safety on the Internet. Your child will learn more about the Internet in general, about Fake news and data protection and answers to frequently asked questions.
The Seitenstark e. V. association forms the organizational basis of the open Seitenstark-network. As a non-profit organization and recognized sponsor of independent youth welfare, the association is committed to high-quality and safe children’s media. Its members come from the fields of children’s media, media education and educational work. All information about the association, the seal of approval and tips on media education can be found in the Area for parents and teachers.
When you gradually release your child more independently into the world of the Internet, he or she should already have learned a few rules and have safe places to go to find offers suitable for children. Therefore Seitenstark a great opportunity.
The website is divided into a children’s section and a section for parents and teachers. You can let your child surf alone in the children’s area with a clear conscience, which will give them self-confidence and help them develop their skills. Media competence promotes. However, you should always bear in mind that the discussed media usage times are adhered to and you remain in contact with your child.
Make use of Seitenstark as a contact point for discovering new topics together and imparting knowledge in a playful way. With Seitenstark children can use the Internet safely and sensibly – a great opportunity for you as parents to accompany your child in their digital learning. And you can also find out more yourself on the site.
“Just one more round!” or “Leon can watch TV much longer!” – Many parents are familiar with phrases like these. But how much media time is actually okay? Which media is suitable for my child? And at what age does it make sense for them to have their own smartphone? Fixed rules can help to find answers to these questions. However, they can also lead to conflicts. We have a few tips and background information on setting media rules in the family.
Rules are not there to enforce the will of parents, but to provide structure and guidance. They help to promote your child’s media skills and reduce the risk of problems caused by inappropriate use of media. As parents, you have the responsibility to combine the fun of media with a conscious approach. You are often better at assessing dangers than your child.
It is important that your child understands the rules and can follow them. It is best to develop the rules together with your child. This will make your child realize that their opinion counts and it will be easier for them to accept the rules. Explain to your child why certain rules are important and why they should be followed. If rules are not clearly formulated or are interpreted differently, your child will find it difficult to follow them. Another crucial point is that you as parents are role models – this means that you should follow the same rules yourself.
Which rules make sense depends on the age of your child and on how you and your child generally deal with media. This is not the same in every family.
The younger your child is, the more you should keep an eye on his or her media use. Young children need close supervision and should not spend too much time with media. Choose age-appropriate content, limit the duration of use and decide on suitable devices. Even if your child is still small, you can explain to them why certain content or times are chosen. Depending on their stage of development, children of kindergarten age can also be involved in simple decisions. From elementary school age, your child gets many new impressions and influences. They still need a lot of guidance, which is why clear, jointly developed rules are very important. You can now better talk to your child about content and let him or her have a say. This way, your child feels taken seriously and learns to take responsibility. From secondary school and adolescence onwards, you should trust your child to be more independent and support them in using media in an increasingly self-determined and self-regulated way. Young people usually approach digital media openly, but they are often not yet able to properly assess the risks. That’s why you are still important as a guide and contact person!
The following applies to all age groups: media usage rules must be sensible and flexible.
To help your child understand how to use media, it makes sense to draw up the rules together – for example in the form of a media usage contract. Such a contract makes the rules transparent and comprehensible for everyone. Exceptions can also be formulated. If your child can help shape the rules themselves, it will be easier for them to stick to them. Check regularly whether the rules still make sense or need to be adjusted if necessary.
Just as important as media-related rules are “media-free” rules – such as not using smartphones during a family meal or conversation. Such rules promote interpersonal communication and strengthen the family bond.
A frequent topic is the question: How much media time is healthy? When is it too much? The answer depends very much on the age and individual needs of your child. The rule of thumb is: the younger, the less!
One approach to regulating media time in everyday life is the use of media vouchers. These can help children of primary school age and above to independently allocate a weekly budget of media time. This gives your child responsibility for their media use without you having to constantly intervene.
It is important that your child has a varied daily routine, uses media in different ways, but also has media-free experiences.
Not only the use of media, but also the choice of content should be part of the family rules. Make sure that media content is age-appropriate and corresponds to your child’s interests. In addition to television and apps, media consumption also includes radio plays, books and music. It makes sense to include these in the rules as well.
Take into account that the content of media use varies greatly, as do the motives and needs of use. A game for mere entertainment may be weighted differently than learning with media. Discuss qualitative differences with your child. Be sure to include age-appropriate content as well.
The question of the right age for the first smartphone concerns many parents. If necessary, talk to the parents of your child’s friends and consider whether certain rules can apply to everyone.
Another important topic is the security settings for devices and apps. Many smartphones and tablets now offer the option of controlling access to certain content and limiting its use. These should always be discussed with your child. Settings such as screen time limits, age ratings and app filters can help to control media use.
However, these technical aids are no substitute for parental guidance. They should also not be used purely for control. Your child needs trust and the opportunity to gradually take responsibility for their own media use. Explanations from you and conversations about media make a significant contribution to your child learning how to use media competently.
Rules may vary depending on the child’s age and stage of development. On the one hand, stay consistent, otherwise they will not serve their purpose. At the same time, if possible, do not use the rules as a punishment or reward.
Disputes are part of child development. Children and young people learn how to deal with conflicts and find solutions. However, digital media can lead to arguments getting worse. Cyberbullying is affecting more and more children and young people. This makes it all the more important to raise your child’s awareness of respectful online behavior and to help them deal with online conflicts. In this article, we explain what you can do as a parent.
Cyberbullying means that people are insulted, exposed or threatened online, for example via apps such as TikTok, Snapchat, WhatsApp or Instagram.
There are different roles: the victims, the active bullies, but also the silent bystanders and assistants who join in. Many children and young people take on several of these roles, sometimes without realizing it. Cyberbullying can take many forms:
As digital content can be stored and redistributed, a single post can have long-term effects. Attackers can often hide behind their anonymity.
There are many reasons why children and young people bully others:
New technologies such as deepfake software have exacerbated cyberbullying. Young people sometimes use them out of curiosity or to deliberately expose others.
Bullying has been around since before the invention of the internet. But whereas in the past a child could come home after school and switch off, today children and young people are constantly connected to each other. Conflicts from school continue in class chats or on social media platforms. This is why cyberbullying can have serious consequences. Children who are bullied online often feel helpless and abandoned. In the long term, it can lead to anxiety, sleep disorders, depressive moods or even suicidal thoughts. Statistics show that almost half of young people have already experienced cyberbullying. According to the JIM Study 2024, 11% of young people have experienced cyberbullying directly in the last month.
When children and young people communicate with each other, there are always times when insults are used. This does not have to be bullying, but is often just a joke. They use it to test how far they can go. However, this limit is different for every child.
Parents can do a lot to ensure that their child communicates respectfully and is safer online:
Good prevention starts early. Parents should talk to their children about how to use the internet competently before they become active on social media. For primary school children, there are programs such as the learning offer Genial digital run by the Deutsches Kinderhilfswerk, which teach media skills in a fun way. The cyberbullying first aid app from klicksafe helps young people to deal with conflicts online.
Schools can also help by setting clear rules against (online) bullying and providing information. Parents can, for example, encourage teachers to integrate digital learning modules or videos from the Wake Up Initiative, including those from the FSM, into lessons.
If your child is affected by cyberbullying, you should remain calm and make it clear to them that it is not their fault. You can then take the following steps together:
Cyberbullying is a serious challenge for children and young people. However, parents can do a lot to empower their children, educate them and stand by them when problems arise. Make use of the support services, stay in contact with your child and advocate for a safe and respectful online world.
The annual Safer Internet Day, which is coordinated in Germany by the EU initiative klicksafe, will take place on February 11, 2025. Under the motto “No likes for lies! Recognize extremism, populism and deepfakes online”, children and young people are to be encouraged to deal critically with online content. On Elternguide.online we answer the most important questions on this topic.
Disinformation refers to the deliberate dissemination of false or misleading information with the aim of deceiving or manipulating people. The aim is to deliberately create a certain opinion or mood, for example against certain groups of people or political decisions. We explain everything about this topic in the article Fake news, conspiracies and disinformation – what does it actually mean? The text False information on the internet explains the background in plain language.
“Fake news” is invented or distorted news that relies on strong emotions to attract attention and spread quickly. They can distort public opinion and promote false beliefs. You can find out more about this in our parents’ guide article Fake news – dealing with disinformation and false reports on the internet.
Deepfakes are videos or audios that have been faked with the help of artificial intelligence. They look real even though they are not. People are shown as if they were saying or doing things that never actually happened. Deepfakes can be used to spread false information or make someone look bad. Read the article Deep fakes – deceptively real fakes to find out what you can watch out for as a parent.
Simple answers to difficult questions – conspiracy narratives are often behind this. These complex narratives explain events or situations with secret plans or powers. Such myths can quickly spread online, fuel mistrust of official bodies and lead to unreasonable behavior. You can find out more about this in our article Conspiracy myths on the internet.
Whether on social media, messengers or in online games – children and young people can come across extremist propaganda anywhere online. Extremist groups use the internet to spread their ideologies and recruit new followers. They often use manipulative content and misleading disinformation to achieve their goals. Our article Extremism online explains more about the background and how you can protect your child.
Some symbols, such as the swastika, are prohibited due to their association with unconstitutional organizations or ideologies. The dissemination of such symbols can contribute to the spread of extremist views and have consequences under criminal law. Our article Prohibited symbols on the internet sheds light on the dangers for children and where parents can get information.
The term dark social refers to the dissemination of content via private channels such as messenger services or emails that are not publicly visible. Such distribution channels make it more difficult to track disinformation and can increase its reach. If you would like to find out more, read the article Dark Social – the dark side of the internet.
Chatting, posting, liking – online communication is an important part of children and young people’s media use. However, it is associated with a number of challenges. Contact with strangers harbors risks such as hate speech, cybergrooming or sextortion. Conflicts are also possible among friends, for example through cyberbullying. Problems can arise in gaming through anonymous communication and trash talk. In our article, we explain how your family can deal with communication risks safely and confidently.
The ability to connect with others online and develop their own opinions is an important part of children and young people’s development. However, during the orientation phase, they can be susceptible to easy solutions and radical views from extremists. Keep talking to your child about their media use, keep an open mind and listen. Explain to your child why they should not trust all content on the internet. Show them how to critically question and check information and give your child access to age-appropriate news formats. There are numerous online resources and tools that can help to recognize disinformation and deal with communication risks. klicksafe, for example, offers materials and explanatory videos that are specially designed for young people.
The Internet is full of photos and videos. Images are often seen as proof of the truth of a report. However, photos and videos can also be manipulated or even faked. Deep fakes are just such counterfeits. They lead to the fact that disinformation can be spread even better, because they look very convincing.
Thanks to artificial intelligence, sound or video recordings can be falsified or even completely recreated. Developers of deep fakes can, for example, put any statement in a person’s mouth or make them do things that they did not do in real life. The software analyzes recordings of a person and “learns” their facial expressions and gestures. After that, any sentences can be spoken and the recording manipulated to make it look as if the person said it themselves.
The three most common forms of deep fakes:
Such software can now be downloaded free of charge from the Internet. There are even relatively easy-to-use apps so that almost anyone can create and distribute deep fakes. As technology is constantly improving, counterfeits are becoming increasingly difficult to detect.
Many young people encounter deep fakes in the form of humorous clips or parodies. If they fall for funny deep fakes, this is harmless in many cases. If the trick is explained afterwards, as in the video by a famous German YouTuber, it can even be an educational experience.
It becomes problematic when young people allow themselves to be manipulated by deep fakes or are targeted themselves. In other words, when a deep fake is created that exposes them. This can put a heavy burden on those affected and lead to serious consequences.
Fake videos are dangerous because they look so convincing. Children and young people in particular must first learn to question content critically.
Although the use of third-party images is generally regulated by the right to one’s own image, deep fakes have long been a legal gray area. The Federal Council has been dealing with the issue since July 2024. The new law on the “violation of personal rights through digital falsification” provides for penalties of up to two years’ imprisonment, and up to five years in serious cases. The German government is also planning programs to improve the detection and regulation of deep fakes.
Deep fakes are a rapidly growing phenomenon. While it’s not always easy to understand the technical details, it’s important that you talk to your child about these issues. Here are a few tips:
No longer a child, but not yet an adult: young people are in an exciting phase. They are forming their identity and opinions, looking for their place in the world and people they feel comfortable with. They ask a lot of questions, are curious and open to many things. This opens up opportunities for new ideas – but can also be a gateway for extremist world views.
Extremism comes in many forms – be it right-wing or left-wing extremism, religious extremism or in the form of conspiracy myths. What all these forms have in common is that they work with simple but misleading answers that can only be exposed as false at second glance, that they present people with supposed scapegoats for every problem and that they stir up hatred.
Extremists try to reach young people via online channels with highly simplified content and short statements. They rely on current online trends such as entertaining videos and images, post memes and seemingly funny pictures or spread false reports to spread their messages in an inconspicuous and memorable way. They are active on all major networks – be it YouTube, WhatsApp or Facebook.
TikTok in particular is a preferred medium. It is used by more than half of all 12 to 19-year-olds and offers an enormous reach thanks to its algorithm. By posting catchy and seemingly harmless clips, extremists ensure that their content is flushed into many channels by the algorithm – and then benefit from the fact that content on the network spreads like snowballs as soon as users interact with it. The young people who watch and share the clips are often unaware at first that they are supporting extremist ideas because the messages are initially very hidden and subtly incorporated into seemingly harmless songs or clips. These videos are often shared before young people realize their problematic origin.
Networks such as Discord, which are actually used for gaming, are also often used by extremists. They join gaming groups here, establish contact via a shared game and then spread their ideology. To do this, they often use images or well-known stories from games to reinterpret them for their own message. For young people, the line between the actual game and the extremist message can quickly become blurred.
Right-wing extremists and Islamists are particularly active on the internet. If their propaganda is clearly recognizable, it can usually be quickly deleted by the platform operators. This is why extremists like to switch to lesser-known and less strictly controlled online services such as the Russian platform vk.com after their first contact. A large part of the communication is not even visible to the public, but takes place in closed groups, e.g. on Telegram or Facebook. Young people who have been contacted via public portals are lured there – and that’s where they encounter the real, sometimes brutal or disturbing propaganda.
Both right-wing extremists and Islamists like to see themselves as victims. They pretend to be oppressed by their own or other states. Right-wing extremists in Germany often speak of the so-called “lying press”. They accuse the media of being controlled by the government, which is why extreme right-wing opinions have no voice. Both groups also express criticism of capitalism. This is particularly dangerous. Because aspects of the criticism are entirely justified and are shared by many young people. Extremists use this to win them over to their cause. Recently, anti-Semitic (i.e. anti-Jewish) conspiracy myths have increasingly been spread again from both camps. These conspiracy myths are now also being used by musicians who are popular with young people – for example in some songs by the German rapper Kollegah.
It is therefore particularly important that you talk to your child about what is on their mind. Which topics are particularly hotly debated among friends? What images and videos do they look at and share? Also address the goals that certain groups pursue when they post content with extreme political statements online.
Make your child aware that anyone can express their opinion online – even people with bad intentions. That’s why you can’t just trust all content, you have to question it. On knowyourmeme.com, you can look up well-known memes including their history (unfortunately, the site is only available in English). Mimikama.at is a good place to check the veracity of messages from social networks such as Facebook.
If you or your child come across obviously extremist content, you can report it directly to the platform operators. With large services such as Facebook and YouTube, this can be done with just a few clicks. In general, you can also use the Internet Complaint Center. In particularly serious cases, it may make sense to contact the police directly. In most federal states, this can now be done online via a so-called Internet watch.
You should also use technical parental control settings. These can help to restrict, block or mute contact from strangers. Although they do not offer complete protection against extremist content, they can provide additional protection for your child. A helpful platform for this is medien-kindersicher.de, which offers instructions for parental control settings specifically for various networks, including Discord.
There are many good offers to strengthen young people against extremism:
Has your child heard about secret world conspiracies in a TikTok video or received a chain letter with strange claims from friends? Such situations are not uncommon. Conspiracy myths spread rapidly on social networks in particular and can have a lasting impact on young people’s world view.
Conspiracy narratives and fake news are similar because they contain information that is not true. However, conspiracy myths are more complex. They assume that everything – positive and negative events – is planned in order to achieve a specific goal. It is claimed that a small group of malicious actors are deliberately keeping the truth secret in order to advance their own interests.
Conspiracy myths have always existed. Especially in the case of significant or shocking events, they offer seemingly simple explanations for complicated relationships. It is often claimed that a secret group is controlling the fate of the world or spreading false facts in order to gain an advantage. Especially in uncertain and confusing times, many people fall back on such seemingly simple explanations.
On the internet and via social networks, such stories spread particularly quickly and widely. When your child starts to take an interest in world events – usually in adolescence – and is increasingly independent on the internet, sooner or later they will come across conspiracy myths. This can happen via videos from influencers, posts on social media platforms or chain letters on WhatsApp.
TikTok thrives on short, captivating videos. The algorithm primarily shows content that matches users’ preferences. This quickly creates a spiral: once you watch or like a video with conspiracy myths, you will be presented with more such content. This makes the myths more present and credible for young people than they actually are.
Due to its lack of content control, Telegram provides a breeding ground for extreme opinions and myths. As there is no moderation or fact-checking, such content can be spread unhindered.
Platforms such as X (formerly Twitter) also play a role. Although it is less popular with young people, the lack of moderation there enables the rapid spread of conspiracy myths and radical views. Content from X can be disseminated via other networks, for example as memes, and thus also reach young people.
Wars, assassinations or the outbreak of a worldwide pandemic are difficult to comprehend – for children and young people as well as for adults. Young people are just beginning to find their own identity and place in the world. They do not yet know exactly who they want to be and are looking for orientation. Conspiracy myths can fulfill important needs in this phase:
Conspiracy stories can be entertaining, which is why they are often used in various media: the mystery of the Bermuda Triangle, aliens living among us, the idea of the Earth as a disk – such thought experiments can be interesting for children and young people and awaken their creativity.
But even if some myths seem harmless, they harbor risks:
Talk to your child about myths and help them to categorize and question them. Take your child seriously, even if they begin to engage intensively with conspiracy myths, accept parts of them as truth or exchange ideas with followers in communities. If you dismiss their interest with statements such as “It’s all just crazy conspiracy myths”, your child may distance themselves from you – and then look for like-minded people online. Instead of confronting your child with counter-arguments, you should ask critical questions together: Who is saying this? What motives could the storyteller have for spreading this story? Are there things that contradict each other? Are the sources trustworthy? Are there similar patterns in other conspiracy myths?
A critical approach to information is the most important tool against conspiracy myths. Show your child how to check the veracity of a source and provide access to reputable and age-appropriate news sources. You can also research the background and sources of the story together, as well as the arguments of the ‘other side’.
This can help:
News and information made for children
Conspiracy myths explained
Websites where you can check the truthfulness of news items
Video or game night? But which movies, series or computer games are suitable for the whole family? What does the age rating on the cover actually mean? Age ratings protect against questionable content, but are not age recommendations. This article explains the differences and shows how parents can make good decisions for their children.
In Germany, there is a system for assessing whether media could be problematic or harmful for a young audience: Age rating or age labeling. It is carried out by various institutions:
All of these checks look at whether media content contains violence, sexuality, drug use or discrimination or is particularly frightening. The more such content, the higher the age rating. After the check, the content is given the colorful stickers with the age information on them that are widely known. If a film or game is not approved for a certain age, this means, for example, that it is blocked by youth protection filters or may only be shown on television from a certain time. In cinemas, the age of visitors is checked.
Media content is checked to see whether it could impair the development of children and young people. The aim of age ratings is to protect young adolescents from traumatizing or frightening content. There is no pedagogical assessment behind it: The content is not checked to see whether it is interesting or recommendable for young users!
A recommendation, on the other hand, is nothing more than a ‘good tip’. We get recommendations from friends and neighbors, from the radio – or from educators who check media offerings to see whether they are appealing to children, easy to understand and valuable in terms of content.
As anyone can make a recommendation, it is important to question whether it is well-founded and credible. In the case of private recommendations, it helps to assess the person. In the case of articles or websites, you should know and question the authors. Good sources include:
The age rating protects against questionable content, but it is not a recommendation. Recommendations, on the other hand, can be made by anyone with an interest in media – but the criteria for this are often unclear. A combination of different sources of information is therefore important.
If parents adhere to age ratings, they can avoid frightening or scary content. In addition, recommendations from reputable sources increase the hit rate for a good media offer enormously.
Ideally, parents should also see for themselves: watch the movie beforehand, find out about the game on YouTube or even try it out for yourself. After all, you know your child best and know what they like, what is too much for them or what they are afraid of.
And above all: keep the conversation going! Talk to your child about their media experiences. Listen and show interest in the movies or games they love – but also in the ones they don’t like.
And if you’ve chosen the wrong movie – no problem! There’s always the spontaneous popcorn evening on the sofa.
Too old for the children’s program, but still too young for the social media world? There is a time when your child doesn’t really know his place. It’s somewhere between childhood and adolescence. This affects many of the so-called “pre-teens”, the approximately 9-12 year olds. They are in a transition phase, which is also reflected in their media usage.
For younger children, there are many age-appropriate offerings such as children’s apps, radio plays and children’s programs. As children get older, they are often no longer so interested in these – and turn directly to the adult world of media. The jump is quite big and the offer can still partly overwhelm your child.
At the onset of puberty, your child is on the cusp of becoming an adolescent. In some things it still behaves childlike, in others it already wants to separate itself from you. It is increasingly oriented to elders and to people, trends and ideas outside the family. As a result, there is less and less interest in children’s media.
During this phase, many children get their first smartphone and immerse themselves more and more independently in the world of online media. They have their first experiences in online games and on social media platforms. They follow stars such as influencers and streamers, interact with other users and develop their own identity. Pre-teens often lack an understanding of how to handle their own data or challenges such as communication risks online.
Whether your child still wants to watch children’s programs or is already interested in computer games, social media or TV shows for older children – support your child according to their stage of development and give them the time they need.
Gradually, you should relinquish control and support your child in being able to use media independently, safely and responsibly. Although your child has already gained some experience, he or she will still approach many things with an open mind, which means that they can easily come into contact with content that is harmful to minors online. Your child’s curiosity and desire to increasingly set themselves apart from adults will also lead them to seek out provocative content. Nevertheless, as parents, you still have an important role to play in providing guidance during the transition phase. Always talk to your child and ask about their media experiences.
Finding offers for pre-teens is not that easy and not every child will be interested. For computer games and films, there are age ratings from the Voluntary Self-Regulation Body. They indicate whether the content is unproblematic for development from a certain age. If you take a closer look, there are media offerings tailored to children in the transition phase both in traditional media and online.
Here are a few recommendations:
You should also allow your child to take advantage of offerings that are not specifically for children. Find out about programs and content in advance. When you watch a movie, play a game or surf the Internet together as a family, your child has the opportunity to ask questions and you can see how he or she copes with certain content.
Digital media enrich our everyday lives in many different ways: Music programs at the breakfast table, navigation apps on the go or chats for organizing leisure activities. (Screen) devices help us to learn, to work and are often fun. No wonder they have become an integral part of our everyday lives, whether at home or in public spaces.
However, with the growing importance of media, the ability to use them responsibly and competently is also becoming increasingly important. Today, media literacy is just as essential as reading, writing or arithmetic in order to be able to navigate the modern world safely and successfully. Anyone who does not know how to use media in a targeted and considered way can quickly run into difficulties. But what exactly does media literacy mean?
Being media literate means more than just being able to operate a device. Although this is part of it, at its core it is about the conscious and responsible use of content. This includes the following aspects:
Those who are media literate know why and how they use media, can recognize negative effects and counteract them, while positive aspects are specifically promoted.
The call for “more media literacy” is often directed at children and young people. This is understandable, as they will shape the world of tomorrow. We may not know this world yet, but it will be heavily influenced by media, especially the internet.
You can imagine the internet as a city: There are playgrounds and nice stores, but also traffic and strangers. Parents don’t just send their young children off on their own, they accompany them, explain the rules and show them what to look out for. This is exactly how it should be on the Internet. Accompany your child as they explore the digital world.
Developing media literacy is a joint task from the very beginning – in the family, at nursery and at school. The younger the child, the more responsibility parents have and the more they act as role models. As they get older, children and young people can and should be allowed to have their own experiences – including with their own devices. Common rules and an open discussion are helpful here.
Media literacy is not a “children’s game”, it is just as important for adults! Parents who want to help their children use media responsibly need to be media literate themselves. Only those who understand digital technologies and platforms can provide guidance and act as role models. You should therefore actively engage with digital topics – through joint projects with your children, exchanges with other parents or further training courses in schools and education centers. Teachers are also called upon to strengthen their own media skills in order to pass on this knowledge. Helpful information can be found, for example, in ARD programs such as “Gemeinsam Medienkompetenz stärken“.
In addition, working people and older people also benefit from better media skills. Professional development and digital work processes often require new skills. For senior citizens, media offer numerous opportunities, such as contact with grandchildren via video chats. If you want to test your own media skills, you can find out with a self-test.
The world of film is exciting and diverse – and children and young people in particular love to immerse themselves in stories and identify with media heroes. However, not every offer that looks tempting is suitable for young viewers. As a parent, it is your job to give your child access to age-appropriate content. But how can you keep track of the jungle of streaming services, TV programs, movies, social media channels and media libraries?
Educational age recommendations and independent movie reviews can help you make informed decisions and select suitable content together with your child. In this article, we present four platforms.
Would your child like to search for exciting movies online themselves? KinderFilmWelt is a free and secure film portal aimed directly at children aged three to 13. Here, young film fans can find child-friendly reviews of current movies, TV broadcasts, streaming offers and DVD/Blu-ray releases. The films are rated by the editorial team and given educational age recommendations. They show the age from which the films are particularly recommendable and easy to understand. Users can rate films themselves with up to five hearts. The site offers a film lexicon that explains terms from the world of film and offers the opportunity to take a look behind the scenes of filmmaking via educational films. KinderFilmWelt is published by the German Children’s and Youth Film Center (KJF), which is funded by the Federal Ministry for Family Affairs. The portal bears the Seitenstark seal of approval for digital children’s media.
More info: https://www.kinderfilmwelt.de/
Do you need help choosing something suitable for your child from the multitude of moving image offerings? FLIMMO is a free and ad-free guide that helps families choose TV shows, streaming content and social media channels. FLIMMO uses a traffic light system to show whether a movie, series or online channel is suitable for children. Age recommendations help with the selection of age-appropriate content. Educational assessments explain what children like about the content, which aspects could be problematic and what parents should pay particular attention to. FLIMMO also offers practical tips on media education in the family, such as recommendations on going to the movies for the first time or tips on switching off. FLIMMO is published by Programmberatung für Eltern e.V.
More information: Parents’ guide article FLIMMO
Would you like to immerse yourself in the world of film and be inspired? filmdienst.de is an online portal for cinema, film culture and film criticism published by the Catholic Film Commission for Germany. It offers comprehensive ratings and reviews, interviews and portraits of filmmakers and news from film culture, such as festival reports. For you as parents, the platform offers educationally recommended children’s and youth films and thematic film recommendations, such as on friendship or school. Educational age recommendations give an indication of when it is worth watching (together). This makes it easier for you to find suitable films for different occasions or your child’s interests.
More info: https://www.filmdienst.de/suche/filme
The German Film and Media Rating Board (FBW) is an independent institution that assesses films according to their quality and awards outstanding works with the ratings “valuable” or “particularly valuable”. The ratings indicate a particular quality in terms of content and artistry. In the “Children’s and youth films” category on the website, parents can find high-quality films on a wide range of exciting topics – even beyond the well-known blockbusters. In the “Short Film Edition”, the FBW publishes recommended short films for children aged 4 and over, including accompanying media education material on DVD. Another offer is the FBW Youth Film Jury, in which children and young people from the age of 10 rate films and publish their recommendations on the Youth Jury website. These reviews give children and parents additional insights into age-appropriate films.
More info: https://www.fbw-filmbewertung.com/kinderfilme
Educational recommendations should not be confused with age ratings in accordance with the German Youth Protection Act. Age ratings such as those issued by the Voluntary Self-Regulation of the Film Industry(FSK) aim to protect children and young people from content that is harmful to their development. They are not a recommendation and cannot say anything about whether your child can handle the content well.
Educational recommendations assess whether a film or series is understandable, appealing and beneficial for a certain age group in terms of content and emotion. Educational assessments show how a medium can support or stimulate children and young people in their development. For example, films and series that address themes such as friendship, courage or cohesion and stand for certain values are recommended.
However, do not rely solely on recommendations, as every child develops differently. Actively accompany your child in their media use right from the start and observe them to understand how they react to certain content.
Just as the Highway Code lays down rules for safe traffic, the Youth Protection Act ensures that children and young people are protected in the media world. Especially in a digitalized society, it is more important than ever to offer young people guidance and protection.
The Youth Protection Act(JuSchG) regulates, among other things, how media must be designed today so that children and young people are not exposed to any dangers when using it. The comprehensively modernized version, which has been in force since May 2021, focuses more strongly on digital services. While previous versions focused primarily on so-called carrier media such as video cassettes and DVDs, CR-ROMs or audio carriers, the updated law also takes into account the challenges of the internet. Media providers must comply with this, otherwise they face penalties. However, this is not so easy because it is a German law and the Internet knows no national borders. However, if the providers of certain services are based in Germany, they must follow these rules. The EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA), which has provided uniform rules for digital service providers across Europe since the beginning of 2024, brings additional pressure.
The Youth Protection Act stipulates the age at which young people may have access to certain media – films, programs and online content. In doing so, it draws on the age ratings of the self-regulatory bodies. Providers are obliged to make default settings that protect children and young people in particular from interaction risks such as bullying, sexualized speech(cybergrooming), hate speech, tracking and cost traps.
Many online services and apps therefore have integrated parental control settings, for example TikTok and Instagram. They carry out precise checks on how old users are or even use video procedures to prove their identity. Nevertheless, it is difficult to implement this rule: It is almost impossible to find out for sure whether the answer is really correct by simply asking the user’s age.
The law also provides for reliable, uniform age ratings for games and films that are used online. In addition, the classification is no longer based solely on content, but also on possible interaction risks such as cybergrooming and cost traps.
Previously, the familiar age ratings of the USK and FSK only applied to games and films that were available on so-called carrier media (such as CD-ROMs or video cassettes). Online providers did not have to provide any age information.
Children and young people should be able to easily seek help and complain if they feel threatened or harassed while using media.
The new Federal Agency for the Protection of Children and Young People in the Media is to ensure that these regulations are actually enforced. Organizations such as the Freiwillige Selbstkontrolle Multimedia-Diensteanbieter e.V. have online complaints offices to which young media users and adults can turn to report illegal content or content harmful to minors.
Since 2024, there have also been new regulations throughout Europe for offers that are particularly aimed at children and young people:
Platforms must explain their terms and conditions (terms and conditions of use) in such a way that young users can also understand them well.
The long, hard-to-read texts that are often carelessly clicked away when registering must therefore be replaced by new, comprehensible texts. This should enable children and young people to really understand what they are getting into when they sign up.
Privacy, security and protection of minors should be improved: Providers of apps or programs should take measures to protect their users as well as possible from dangers such as fraud, bullying or hate speech.
Unfortunately, the exact measures have not yet been defined and there are few exemplary solutions. However, the European Commission can issue guidelines to support providers in implementing the precautionary measures.
On platforms such as Tiktok or Instagram, young users create profiles that also contain private information. According to current regulations, however, children and young people may no longer be shown personalized advertising based on this information.
The platform operators must also conscientiously ask the age of the users for this – because children and young people are even less able to see through the fact that personalized advertising is being targeted at them, which is why they need even greater protection than adults.
The repeated revisions of the Youth Protection Act are important in order to adapt legal regulations to the media reality of children and young people. The law can be an important guide for you as parents and offers protection to a certain extent. At least if the providers comply with the obligations set out in the law. Unfortunately, it cannot be ensured that this is always the case. In addition, a frame does not fit each child individually. That is why you should accompany your child very closely in his or her media use, especially in the younger years. The older your child gets, the more freedom they need. Always stay in touch about his media use. This is the only way you can help if, despite protective measures, it has unpleasant experiences on the net or does not understand something.
