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The Internet phenomenon memes

Egal ob witzige Tierbilder mit Sprechblasen, verfremdete Pressefotos oder neu interpretierte Szenen aus Filmen und Serien – Memes sind heutzutage überall im Internet zu finden. Memes werden durch das Teilen in sozialen Netzwerken schnell sehr bekannt und sind auch bei Kindern und Jugendlichen beliebt. Sie spiegeln Humor und Gruppenzugehörigkeit wider, können aber auch problematische Inhalte transportieren und verbreiten.

Was sind Memes?

Ein Bild, ein Video oder ein Filmausschnitt wird dann zum Meme, wenn es aus seinem ursprünglichen Kontext gerissen und mit einem neuen, oft humorvollen Text versehen wird. Besonders lustig sind Memes, wenn man das Original kennt – denn der Witz entsteht meist aus der überraschenden Kombination von Bekanntem und Neuem. Der Text ist dabei häufig ironisch gemeint.

Hinter Memes steckt oft eine kreative Idee, die immer wieder neu interpretiert wird und sich stetig weiterentwickelt. Memes werden auch genutzt, um Gefühle zu zeigen oder auf aktuelle politische und gesellschaftliche Themen aufmerksam zu machen. Berühmte Persönlichkeiten wie Goethe oder Napoleon oder Figuren aus Filmen und Comics bekommen neue, zeitgemäße Aussagen in den Mund gelegt. So wird aktueller Bezug zur heutigen Wirklichkeit hergestellt.

Das Besondere an Memes ist, dass dieselben Bilder immer wieder verwendet und mit einem neuen Text versehen werden. Ein bekanntes Beispiel ist „Hide the Pain Harold“ (Deutsch: „Verbirg den Schmerz, Harold“), das diesem Artikel als Beitragsbild dient. Dieses Meme zeigt den Ungarn Arató András mit einem gequälten Lächeln und wurde zu einem der bekanntesten Reaktionsbilder im Internet.

Es gibt verschiedene Meme-Formate: Ein klassisches Beispiel ist ein Bild mit einem witzigen Spruch in großer, weißer Schrift. Andere Memes bestehen aus Screenshots von Chats, Comic-Zeichnungen oder kurzen Videoclips. Viele Memes folgen bestimmten Vorlagen oder Trends. Wer sich in der Meme-Welt auskennt, erkennt diese Muster sofort.

Was Kinder und Jugendliche an Memes fasziniert

Für viele Jugendliche sind Memes weit mehr als bloße Unterhaltung – sie gehören fest zu ihrer (digitalen) Sprache. Mit Memes können sie Stimmungen, Gedanken oder Meinungen ausdrücken. Durch Ironie und Übertreibung lassen sich auch schwierige oder unangenehme Themen leichter ansprechen. Wer aktuelle Memes kennt oder selbst gestaltet, zeigt Zugehörigkeit zur eigenen Peer-Group.

Zudem fördern sie die Kreativität: Jugendliche probieren sich aus in Bildbearbeitung, Sprache und der Verbindung zu Trends in Social Media und Popkultur. Da Memes schnell erstellt und geteilt werden können, bieten sie eine einfache Möglichkeit, sich humorvoll und individuell mitzuteilen. Die visuelle Kommunikation ist ihnen ohnehin vertraut – Emojis, GIFs und Bilder ersetzen oft ganze Texte. Und da Kinder und Jugendliche gerne lachen und scherzen, treffen Memes genau ihre Vorlieben und verbreiten sich entsprechend schnell. Memes sind so beliebt, dass sie auch in der Offline-Welt präsent sind – zum Beispiel als Party-Kartenspiele oder Pausenhofgespräche.

Wenn Memes missbraucht werden

Auch wenn viele Memes harmlos oder lustig wirken, können sie problematische Inhalte transportieren. Manche Memes enthalten diskriminierende, rassistische oder sexistische Aussagen, machen sich über Minderheiten lustig oder verbreiten Verschwörungstheorien und politische Propaganda. Extremistische Gruppen nutzen Memes, um ihre Ideologien zu verbreiten – gerade bei Jugendlichen, die oft nicht hinterfragen, welche Botschaft dahintersteckt.

Oft werden sie anonym erstellt und rasant weiterverbreitet – ohne Rücksicht auf Urheberrechte oder die abgebildeten Personen. Besonders kritisch wird es, wenn Menschen durch Memes bloßgestellt oder herabgewürdigt werden, etwa wegen eines sichtbaren Handicaps. Wenn sich solche Inhalte stark verbreiten, kann das für die betroffenen Personen große negative Folgen haben.

Was sollten Eltern beachten?

Sie müssen kein*e Meme-Expert*in sein, um Ihr Kind gut zu begleiten – ein grundlegendes Verständnis reicht aus, um im Gespräch zu bleiben. Zeigen Sie Interesse an der Mediennutzung Ihres Kindes. Fragen Sie ruhig nach: Welches Meme ist gerade angesagt? So entsteht ein offener Austausch – auch über problematische oder verletzende Inhalte.

Sprechen Sie mit Ihrem Kind über einen respektvollen Umgang miteinander im Netz, die Grenzen von Humor und mögliche Diskriminierung. Unterstützen Sie es dabei, Inhalte kritisch zu hinterfragen: Wer steckt hinter einem Meme? Welche Botschaft wird vermittelt? Welche Wirkung kann es auf andere haben? Gehen Sie dabei mit gutem Beispiel voran: reflektieren Sie Ihre eigene Online-Kommunikation kritisch und sprechen Sie mit gemeinsam mit Ihrem Kind über Ihre Erfahrungen.

Auch Menschen, die sich für eine wertschätzende Kommunikationskultur im Netz engagieren, nutzen Memes, um Hass und Extremismus etwas entgegenzusetzen – eine Sammlung solcher Memes finden Sie zum Beispiel auf dem Instagram-Profil von Gustaver der Liebe.

Wenn Sie und Ihr Kind gern Memes anschauen oder teilen, werfen Sie gemeinsam einen kritischen Blick auf die Inhalte. Oder gestalten Sie selbst kreative und lustige Memes, zum Beispiel mit dem Online-Tool Meme Generator von imgflip.com oder der App Mematic. Das macht Spaß und fördert die Medienkompetenz.

Imgflip

Popular games: Roblox

Building your own worlds from building blocks, slipping into imaginative roles and completing exciting missions – the online gaming platform Roblox is still very popular with young people. As it also includes chat functions and some people earn money with their games, Roblox combines gaming, social media and creative design on one platform – which is why it has been rated 16+ since January 2025.

In brief

  • Age rating: released from 16 years(USK), recommended from 16 years(Spieleratgeber NRW)
  • Users can create their own games, use the games of others and interact with each other
  • playable with Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Amazon devices and Xbox
  • mostly free of charge
  • Problematic content: Depictions of violence, in-app purchases

What is Roblox?

The two words Robots and Blocks together make up the name of the Roblox gaming platform. Here you can create and play virtual worlds in Lego style, which is particularly popular with young people. Roblox is a mixture of game world and social network and is reminiscent of Minecraft.

After registering on roblox.com, players receive a pre-made game character (avatar) that they can customize as they wish. Clothes or a different hairstyle are free of charge. Some extra accessories cost money in the form of their own currency Robux. Functions such as creating games as well as playing games themselves are freely available.

What fascinates children and young people about it?

Many young people love the game because they can easily develop their own games. Registered users can create their own games with the “Roblox Studio” building tool and share them with others. Simple structures can be designed, but also complex worlds of experience such as cities and amusement parks. In the Roblox community, young people can let off steam creatively and chat with each other.

Roblox is particularly popular with young game developers, as they can create and publish their own games there. If a game is played frequently by other users and money is invested, there is a chance that the developers – your child, for example – will also earn a share.

What is problematic about the offer?

In January 2025, the Entertainment Software Self-Regulation Body(USK) raised the age rating for Roblox from 12 to 16. There were several key reasons for this decision:

  • Violence and problematic content: Some user-created games on the platform contain scenes that depict violence and are unsuitable for younger players.
  • Communication risks: The platform allows users to communicate via text and voice chats. There are therefore risks such as cyberbullying, cybergrooming and hate speech.
  • Increased purchase incentives: Roblox offers numerous in-game purchases, which can be a strong incentive to spend money, especially for young people.
  • Gambling mechanisms: Some games contain elements that resemble gambling, such as the purchase of random virtual items(loot boxes).

In addition, the USK criticized the lack of effective precautionary measures on the part of the platform operators, such as insufficiently secured children’s accounts and the lack of age ratings in accordance with German standards. Due to these aspects, the age rating was adjusted to ensure the protection of minors and provide parents with better guidance.

What the provider says

The provider Roblox Corporation emphasizes on its platform that it takes security and data protection very seriously. There is a reporting system for inappropriate chat messages and a chat filter. After registration, an account is automatically created in “data protection mode” for users under the age of 13. Younger players will then not have access to the social media functions, for example. Some games are also only released from a certain age. Moderators check whether uploaded image and video material meets the requirements for youth-friendly content. Inappropriate content is actively filtered and deleted. However, all of this assumes that the player’s age has been truthfully stated when registering.

Roblox offers various safety functions that allow you to keep a better eye on your child’s play. Parents can find out more about parental controls on the Roblox website.

Roblox is repeatedly accused of not sufficiently moderating both the content and the communication between users and of not taking consistent enough action against violations of the community guidelines. For example, young people may come across discriminatory and extremist content in the games.

This is what parents should pay attention to

In principle, the state does not use age labels to specify which media content parents may allow their children to play at home. Nevertheless, you should make sure that you only provide your child with games that are suitable and approved for their age. You should therefore pay attention to the 16+ label.

If your child is under the age of 16 and already has a Roblox account, you are not obliged to delete the account due to the age upgrade. However, it is advisable that you look into the changed age rating and the reasons for it and decide whether the platform is still suitable for your child. If you do not want to ban use completely, you can, for example, check the account restrictions together and adjust them if necessary. Talk to your child about the age rating and why it has been adjusted. If you decide that your child should delete an existing Roblox account, also talk to them about this and explain your reasons. If you are already using a parental control program, depending on the settings, programs with an age rating of 16 and above may be automatically blocked.

Register and create a profile together with your child and discover the Roblox game world together. Talk to him about his gaming experiences. Let them show you what your child plays and ask why they like certain games and who they socialize with.

Set the account so that your child is shown games that are as age-appropriate as possible. Use a parent PIN so that only you can change the settings. Also keep an eye on the in-app purchases made. Advise your child not to disclose any private data via the platform. Educate your child about communication risks online and encourage them to block and report suspicious or unpleasant contacts. Chat options can be limited or even disabled and age visibility can be turned off. You can also find all important steps for parental control at Roblox on medien-kindersicher.de.

Young people and their media role models

Whether in series and manga, in video games and social media or in the world of celebrities – young people encounter figures and characters everywhere that inspire them. Whether superheroes like Spider Man, game characters like Ahri, anime characters like Levi Ackerman or stars like Billie Eilish – teenagers regard a wide variety of media figures as their role models and look up to them.

What media role models mean for young people

Do you remember how enthusiastically your child told you about his favorite characters from movies and television a few years ago? From an early age, children are guided by their favorite media characters. Young people also look for role models not only in their immediate environment of family, friends or clubs, but increasingly in the media offerings they use.

Forming one’s own identity is one of the most important tasks in adolescence. Media content and characters take on important functions for young people. In this way, media role models can help people develop their own values. They can not only offer young people orientation and support, but even inspire them to try out and experiment with different identities and roles. It is character traits such as courage, honesty, loyalty, sincerity and perseverance that go down particularly well with young people. But they are also fascinated by characters who are particularly funny or original or who pursue big goals.

It is particularly important for teenagers to share information about their media idols, which creates a sense of community. Often, clothing, (youth) language or hobbies, but also media use itself, show which media role models they feel close to. Youth cultures, such as e-boys and e-girls, are popular among young people, and by belonging to such currents they also distinguish themselves from one another within their peer group.

What media role models are there?

In addition to a large number of fictional characters from films, series, games and books, real people from the media world also inspire young people. These can be celebrities from the film and music industry or social media stars. With this variety of media figures, it can happen that one loses the overview. Here are a few examples:

  • Celebrities from show and sports business such as Ariana Grande, Cristiano Ronaldo and Giulia Gwinn are important figures that young people look up to and emulate. YouTube stars such as Julien Bam, Gronkh and Shirin David are also very popular with young people. As influencers in particular, stars offer a high potential for identification and allow their followers to actively participate in their lives. This supposed closeness can lead to your child seeing them as their ‘best friend’ or ‘big sister’
  • On social media platforms such as Instagram, TikTok and the like, young people can find media role models who match their interests perfectly. Well-known fitness influencers include Sophia Thiel and Laura Sophie, while in the lifestyle sector, young people can meet Julienco and the twins Lisa and Lena, among others. When it comes to fashion, they follow Madeleine Darya Alizadeh (Dariadaria) and Helge Mark, among others, and if they are interested in make-up tips and skincare, beauty influencers such as Paula Wolf and Maxim Giacomo are interesting. LukasBS and Pandorya, on the other hand, are well-known Let’s Players and Jasmin Gnu is another increasingly diverse figure in the gaming scene. More and more influencers, so-called meaning influencers, are addressing socially relevant topics online on their channels. In Germany, Luisa Neubauer is particularly well known for her environmental content and Rezo for his political content. If you love DIYs, you might find Easy Alex or Linda Seel to be role models. Sometimes young people just want to pass the time. Some influencers offer the best entertainment on their channels – often without committing to a specific topic.
  • There are heroes, like those from the Marvel universe, who save the world together or alone. Various characters, such as Spider Man, Iron Man, Black Widow, Thor and Hulk come together and form “The Avengers” (in German: die Rächer) together with many other characters to protect the universe.
  • The Harry Potter universe is still very popular today. Whether the novels or the films – the characters still enchant young people today. In addition to Harry Potter, Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley, new characters such as Newt Scamander and Jacob Kowalski have been introduced in the Fantastic Beasts series of films, creating excitement on the big screen.
  • Anime are Japanese animated series that many young people are passionate about. Here, heroes from other worlds fight demons and monsters to protect people. Well-known characters include Tanjiro, Zenitsu and Nezuko from Demon Slayer or Satoru Gojo and Yuji Itadori from Jujutsu Kaisen.

What should parents pay attention to?

Parents don’t have to like their children’s media idols. Nevertheless, talk to your child about their media heroes. Ask which of their character traits your child particularly likes.

Media also feature figures who are not well suited as role models. They may model problematic behaviors or teach questionable values. Sometimes they reproduce stereotypical gender images, prejudices or clichés that result in a false or incomplete worldview. Media role models play an important role in forming political opinions, but they do not always live up to their responsibility. Young people are particularly susceptible to populism, extremism and disinformation during the orientation phase. This is especially true when such content comes from their favorite influencers. The role model function of internet stars can also become questionable in connection with advertising. For example, when popular influencers promote products, this can sometimes be done indirectly or covertly.

Talk to your child about critical behaviors and clarify stereotypes. Remain neutral and unbiased when asking questions and engage with their world of media role models. Maybe it helps if you remember your own youth and your idols. How did you feel at that time?

Virtual parents’ evening on 19.05.2025 from 5 to 6 pm

My first smartphone – how to get your child off to a safe and relaxed start

Your child will soon be holding their first smartphone in their hands – and with it many new possibilities, but also challenges. In the virtual parents’ evening, you will receive everyday tips on safe settings, protecting personal data and child-friendly apps. We will provide tips on media education and show you how you can empower your child to deal competently with contact risks, cost traps and the like. Find out how to help your child use digital media responsibly – for safe and positive smartphone use right from the start!

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!

Information and registration

Date: 19.05.2025 | Time: 5 to 6 pm

Speakers: Sophie Pohle (Deutsches Kinderhilfswerk) and Sophia Mellitzer (JFF – Institute for Media Education in Research and Practice)

Moderation: Nils Rudolf (FSM e.V.)

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:

    Hiermit melde ich mich zum virtuellen Elternabend von Elternguide.online am 19.05.2025 um 17.00 Uhr verbindlich an.

    * = Pflichtangabe
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    Popular games: Minecraft Dungeons

    Thrilling battles, epic dungeons and exciting stories full of secrets – that’s what players can expect in Minecraft Dungeons. The adventure role-playing game from the Minecraft-universe appeals particularly to older children and teenagers who love action and are looking for quick rewards.

    In brief

    • Spin-off game of the popular sandbox game Minecraft
    • Action role-playing game in Hack&Slay style from Mojang Studios (Microsoft) in collaboration with Double Eleven
    • Age rating: released from 12 years (USK), recommended from 12 years (NRW game guide)
    • Minecraft Dungeons is available for the computer (from €19.99 standard edition) and for consoles such as Playstation, Xbox and Switch (from 19,99€ standard edition)
    • Can be played locally or online with a maximum of four players
    • In-game purchases and DLC (expansions) available

    Minecraft Dungeons

    Minecraft Dungeons is an action-adventure game in the popular Minecraft universe. It is characterized by the Hack&Slay style – a genre that thrives on fast, action-packed battles with many opponents. In contrast to the classic Minecraftwhich focuses primarily on creativity and sandbox elements, Minecraft Dungeons focuses on combat and adventure. In computer games, a dungeon is an underground or abandoned area that can be explored by players. These dungeons are often filled with obstacles, enemies and puzzles that must be overcome in order to gain rewards or progress in the game.

    Minecraft Dungeons is a bird’s eye view game. Players embark on an epic journey to save the world from the evil Arch-Illager, who threatens the land with his dark power. A central gameplay element is the collection of equipment and weapons. Over the course of the game, players will find many different types of armor, swords, bows and magical artefacts that improve their abilities and help them defeat stronger enemies. Particularly interesting is the loot system, which provides constant rewards and significantly increases the replay value of the game. Minecraft Dungeons offers different levels of difficulty, allowing players to customize their own challenge.

    What fascinates children/youth about it?

    Minecraft Dungeons is particularly popular with children because it incorporates many elements from the classic Minecraft game while offering a new and exciting experience. In Minecraft Dungeons, players take on the role of adventurers who travel through different areas to fight hordes of enemies. There are numerous dungeons to explore. Randomly generated maps make the game varied and exciting. The game can be played alone or in co-op mode with up to four players. Minecraft Dungeons is easily accessible and not as complex as other action role-playing games. The controls are simple, so even younger children can immerse themselves in the game world without much frustration.

    What can be problematic about the offer?

    Minecraft Dungeons includes action-packed battles against various enemies, including well-known Minecraft characters (e.g. zombies, spiders, skeletons) and other fantasy creatures. The violence in the game is depicted graphically in a rather harmless way and does not show any brutal scenes. However, the frequent confrontations with enemies could be unpleasant or unsettling for sensitive children.

    Minecraft Dungeons offers the opportunity to cooperate with other players online. Although the game does not offer a direct chat function, it can be played in groups. Players often use additional platforms or apps to communicate. Children and young people can thus interact with other online players, which can entail communication risks, even if the game itself does not offer voice or text chat functions.

    The game offers various purchase options for additional content, including cosmetic items such as new skins or equipment. There are also paid seasonal expansions (DLC) and packs on offer.

    What does the provider think?

    On the minecraft website, the privacy policy and terms of use are available in German. Data is adequately protected in compliance with the GDPR. Minecraft Dungeons is linked to a Microsoft account that parents can use to set up parental controls.

    What should parents pay attention to?

    Minecraft Dungeons is an exciting game for older children and teenagers aged 12 and over, but it also presents challenges. Make sure you give your child access to age-appropriate gamesand agree on clear rules for using games in the family.

    Technical precautions can help here. As a parent, you can set the following functions via the parental controls in your Microsoft account to make using Minecraft Dungeons even safer:

    • Limiting playtime: You can limit the amount of time your child spends playing.
    • Online gaming activities: You can restrict access to multiplayer and online functions so that your child can only play with friends or selected people.
    • In-game purchases: You can restrict access to microtransactions.

    You can find more information about the Microsoft account settings at medien-kindersicher.de

    Computer games against extremism

    Computer games offer children and young people lots of entertainment, enable social contact and can even help with learning. However, there are also dangers in virtual worlds, such as disinformation and extremist speech. At the same time, games also offer opportunities to live a culture of remembrance, teach democratic values and counter extremism. In this article, you will find out what you should look out for as a parent and how you can use computer games sensibly.

    How extremism can occur in games

    Many online games thrive on interactivity and exchange with other players. As in other social spaces, there are also challenges here. Extremist groups also use games and gaming communities specifically to influence young people. This can happen in different ways:

    • Hidden messages: Extremist ideologies can be conveyed through certain symbols, language or narratives in games.
    • Targeted speeches: Extremists are looking for communication platforms for gamers such as Discord to specifically target young people in order to manipulate them.
    • Special games with radical content: There are games that have been specifically developed to spread extremist ideologies and indoctrinate children and young people.

    You can read more about extremism in online games in this parents’ guide article.

    Protection through age ratings

    The Entertainment Software Self-Regulation Body(USK) tests games and assigns age ratings. Among other things, attention is paid to how extremist symbols are handled. Unconstitutional symbols such as swastikas are prohibited under the German Criminal Code. They may only be shown under certain conditions, e.g. in a critical examination of history. During the review, the USK pays attention to the relationship between good and evil in the game, the historical context and the classification of the events and whether extremist symbols are only used decoratively or critically reflected.

    Culture of remembrance and games

    Games can be a valuable means of bringing history to life and sensitizing young people to the dangers of extremist ideologies. Serious games in particular – i.e. games with an educational mission – can contribute to this. They impart knowledge and actively involve players in solving problems. In serious games, players are very involved, find themselves in the middle of the story and have to act as those affected. This teaches them about the risks of extremism and what has threatened people in the past.

    Examples of such serious games are

    • Traces on paper: The game focuses on the Nazi murders of the sick and invites you to confront this dark chapter of history.
    • Through the Darkest of Times: Here, players are transported back to the time of National Socialism and experience how resistance was put up.
    • The Children of Bullenhuser Damm: The game tells the story of children on whom medical experiments were carried out during the Third Reich.

    Such games tell history interactively and promote an understanding of historical contexts. You can find a database of remembrance culture games on the website of the Digital Games Culture Foundation

    Preventing extremism through gaming

    Not only specially developed educational games, but also well-known entertainment games can be used to critically scrutinize extremist content. So-called “serious gaming” means that games that were not originally intended for this purpose are used for educational purposes. One example is Call of Duty: WWII, where the crimes of the Nazis are realistically depicted in one chapter.

    There are also games that deal with radicalization, for example:

    • Hidden CodesThe game shows how extremist groups appeal to young people and what strategies they use.
    • Tell Me Why: The game addresses identity issues and promotes empathy for discriminated groups.

    So-called “cozy games”, such as Stardew Valley or Venba, do not deal with the topic, but offer relaxed gaming experiences in positive, supportive worlds and can help young players to develop a healthy world view.

    What parents can do

    As a parent, you have an important role to play when it comes to guiding your child in their use of games and protecting them from extremist content. Here are some tips:

    • Find out about the games your child uses. Ask what your child experiences in the games and show an open interest.
    • Play along! Playing together strengthens the relationship and gives you an insight into the content.
    • The USK checks whether extremist symbols are used in games in an appropriate and justifiable context. Observe the USK age rating and the additional information such as pressure to act, violence, frightening moments. Observe how your child deals with this.
    • Educate your child about disinformation and practise with your child how to deal critically with information.
    • Use technical protective measures. For example, restrict contact options and explain to your child how they can block contacts and report suspicious content.
    • Pay attention to which online communities your child is active in. Extremists use social networks and gaming platforms to influence young people.

    If you find your child’s behaviour conspicuous or are worried about your child, contact advice centres for parents and young people and find out more about radicalization on the internet on platforms such as ZEBRA. You can find out more about preventing extremism in the gaming sector in the Amadeu Antonio Foundation’s brochure “Gaming against right-wing extremism”.

    Reading in the age of social media

    Books and TikTok – how do they go together? Young people show that it can be done. TikTok has long been more than just a platform for dance videos: Many use it to find out about current trends – including popular books. There is also an active book community on YouTube and Instagram that discusses reading.

    From bookfluencers and booktokers

    Reading books seems to be losing importance in the age of social media. But the Booktok trend proves the opposite: digital and analog media are not mutually exclusive!

    The term Booktok is made up of “Book” and “TikTok“. Under the hashtag #booktok, users share book tips in creative short videos – far removed from dry literature reviews. The content is entertaining and visually appealing, inspiring young people to read. Genres such as romance, fantasy, crime/thriller, young adult and dark romance are particularly popular.

    Dark romance is a particularly popular genre in romance literature. The stories are often intense, dramatic and often deal with dark or taboo subjects. Parents should be vigilant: it is often about power imbalances, toxic dependencies or psychological manipulation in relationships. An open discussion helps young people to critically question problematic depictions.

    Publishers and bookshops have also recognized the trend. They often present their own “BookTok” tables with the most popular titles in bookshops. Bestsellers are no longer created solely through classic reviews, but through viral TikTok trends.

    Bookstagram and BookTube: Reading on Instagram and YouTube

    In addition to TikTok, there is also the book community “Bookstagram” on Instagram. Here, readers share aesthetic images of their current reads, write reviews and organize reading rounds. Compared to TikTok, books are discussed more intensively here. Real book recommendations and new reading circles are created in the comments.

    YouTube also has a fixed point of contact for bookworms with “BookTube”. There are detailed book reviews, reading months and so-called TBR (To Be Read) lists in which users present their planned reading.

    Apps as reading motivation

    Certain apps make reading more exciting – and sometimes even a challenge. They help you to track your own reading behavior and set reading goals. These include

    • GoodReads: A worldwide platform for book reviews and recommendations.
    • Read-O: Gamifies reading and rewards users for completing books.
    • Bookstats: Provides detailed statistics about your own reading behavior.
    • Booksup: Enables exchange with other readers in a social media environment.

    Many of these apps offer the option of writing reviews and networking with others. Before using them, however, you should check the data protection guidelines to see what data is collected and passed on.

    What parents should pay attention

    Even though social media encourages reading, parents should keep a few things in mind:

    • Advertising versus honest recommendations: Many influencers receive books free of charge or are paid to promote certain titles. Not all reviews are objective. Discuss with your child how they can tell the difference between advertising and genuine recommendations.
    • Cost trap book purchases: Hype can quickly lead to spontaneous book purchases. Clarify with your child which books are really wanted and which can be borrowed.
    • Data protection and privacy: Many reading apps and social media platforms collect personal data. Check the data protection settings together with your child and consider what information really needs to be disclosed. Children have a right to protection of their data!
    • Dealing critically with content: Especially with genres such as dark romance, it is important to talk to young people about problematic relationship patterns and to develop a reflective view of the stories. Remain open and appreciative: ask your child, “What fascinates you about the story?” or “What do you think of the characters’ behavior?”. In this way, you encourage a reflective view, help to differentiate between fiction and reality and support your child in critically questioning problematic depictions – without curbing their passion for reading.

    Look together with your child to see which books are really exciting. Libraries or digital services such as Onleihe offer many options – without having to buy expensive books.

    Coding for kids – learning to program is fun!

    Apps, remote-controlled cars, vending machines – in our increasingly digital world, programming skills are a valuable skill. Age-appropriate apps and programs introduce children to coding in a playful way and encourage creativity, logical thinking and problem-solving skills.

    Why is coding useful for children?

    • Creativity and problem solving: Children learn to turn ideas into digital projects.
    • Logical thinking: You understand how processes need to be structured.
    • Safe handling: Programming skills help to better understand digital technologies and use them responsibly.

    Our recommendations

    ScratchScratch is an image-oriented, visual programming language and an online platform developed by the MIT Media Lab especially for children and young people aged 8 to 16. Children can use it to learn programming step by step in a fun way. With a simple drag-and-drop interface, they can create their own animations, games and interactive stories. The software is extremely appealing and gives your child the opportunity to create their own worlds. There is also a large online community where your child can share coding projects and be inspired by others. There is also an app version that can be used offline.

    ScratchJrFor younger children (aged 5+) there is ScratchJr, which offers simple visual programming for first coding experiences. The app allows your child to create their own interactive stories and games by stringing together graphical program blocks to move characters and create actions such as jumping, dancing and singing. You can customize the characters and add your own voices and sounds. ScratchJr is easy to use and has a child-friendly design.

    OctoStudioOctoStudio is an intuitive, block-based programming language that allows users to create interactive animations and games directly on their smartphone or tablet. The app was developed by the Lifelong Kindergarten Group of the MIT Media Lab and makes it possible to take photos and sounds and bring them to life with programming blocks. The use of device sensors is particularly noteworthy: projects can be controlled interactively by shaking, tilting or jumping. OctoStudio is ad-free, contains no in-app purchases and does not collect any user data. The app is available in more than 20 languages, including German, and can be downloaded free of charge from the Google Play Store and the Apple App Store.

    Programming with the mouseThis website is aimed at children aged 8 and over and teaches programming basics in a fun way, inspired by “Die Sendung mit der Maus”. The popular TV character from the show awakens an interest in coding and accompanies your child through the program. The web application uses Scratch as a basis, but does not allow you to publish your own projects. “Programming with the Mouse” focuses on entertaining games and activities to impart knowledge in an appealing way. The platform offers structured instructions that guide children step by step through the world of programming. Successfully solving tasks boosts children’s self-confidence and is fun. The website promotes creative learning and makes programming accessible to children.

    Ronja’s robotRonja’s Robot is an app for iOS and Android, developed by the Kinder Forschen foundation. It introduces children aged 6 to 12 to programming and robotics in a playful way. The app consists of two clever games: “Roberta rast”, in which your child learns programming concepts, and “Speak like Roberta”, which teaches the computer language binary code (from 1 and 0). For more advanced children, the graphical programming language OPEN Roberta offers the opportunity to delve deeper into the world of programming. Creative thinking is encouraged and your child can come up with their own solutions to tricky challenges. Your child can earn badges and rewards in the game and create coding projects together with other children as a team.

    Programming until it gets dark – what should parents bear in mind?

    Your child may forget the time when programming. Set rules for screen time together with your child. Make sure your child socializes and spends time outdoors. There may also be occasional frustration when challenges arise. Support your child, encourage them – and learn something new yourself. There are also school and leisure activities where children can learn the programs. Use the fragFINN search engine for children to find offers in your area.

    Popular game apps: Squad Busters

    Squad Busters is a fast-paced multiplayer group action game in which ten players compete to grab and keep the most jewels. The game is a mix of other video games from Finnish game developer Supercell and features characters from Clash of Clans, Clash Royale, Brawl Stars, Hay Day and Boom Beach.

    In brief

    • Squad Busters is a battle royale online action game for mobile devices
    • Age rating: released from 12 years(USK)
    • The game can be downloaded free of charge
    • Includes in-game purchases and chats
    • Currently only released for Android and IOS

    What is Squad Busters

    Squad Busters is about leading a group of characters who compete together as a team. The aim is to collect as many gems as possible or eliminate other teams. Whoever has the most gems at the end of the round wins. Gems can be earned in various ways: For example, by defeating monsters, chopping down trees, searching through bushes, destroying crates or collecting coins. Each round is different because the rules of the game are determined randomly. This keeps the game varied and exciting.

    What fascinates children/youth about it?

    In Squad Busters, children and teenagers can expect simple but colorful 3D graphics. The game looks similar to other games from Supercell, such as Brawl Stars. Anyone familiar with these games will quickly find their way around. The gameplay is also reminiscent of earlier successful titles that are played by millions of people worldwide. What is particularly exciting for children is that they can find familiar characters from other games in Squad Busters and develop them further.

    The game motivates you to spend a lot of time with it. Firstly, the game characters can be continuously improved and gradually upgraded. The aim is to reach the highest level of development – the so-called Ultra Evolution. With each evolution, the characters gain new abilities that make them stronger. This helps players to be more successful. Secondly, there are rewards in the form of chests with surprises after each round. Those who do particularly well receive more rewards and in-game currency. The currency can be used to unlock further improvements in the game.

    What can be problematic about the offer?

    In Squad Busters, players have the opportunity to play with friends and family as well as strangers and chat in group chats. This allows your child to get in touch with unknown people who may not be who they say they are. After random rounds of play, your child may receive friend requests from other players. This carries the risk of cyberbullying and cybergrooming.

    Squad Busters offers a variety of in-game purchases that can tempt children to spend real money on additional content. These include a virtual currency to purchase various items or upgrades or to buy new characters or cosmetic skins for existing characters to customize the gaming experience. Players can also purchase special power-ups or boosts that give them advantages in the game. There are also battle passes that offer regular rewards or benefits in the game.

    What does the provider think?

    There is a guide for parents on the official website of the provider Supercell. For example, it points out existing in-app purchases in the game and explains how parents can manage them and switch them off if necessary. Supercell states that it does not pass on personal data to third parties for commercial purposes or in any other way. The provider has created a “blacklist” for safe chatting. This allows certain terms to be quickly and automatically removed from chats. Chat messages can be muted and are then no longer displayed.

    What should parents pay attention to?

    Supercell states that various data must be collected in order to play the game. You can find out exactly what data the provider accesses in the privacy policy. It is advisable to first explore the game together with your child. Play together to better understand your child’s enthusiasm for the game.

    • Explain the in-app purchases to your child and discuss whether and to what extent they are allowed to use them.
    • As the game can tempt them to spend a lot of time playing it, you should set clear rules: How much time is it allowed to play daily or weekly?
    • Make adjustments to the mobile device settings together to limit in-app purchases or set a daily screen time limit
    • If you are unsure whether your child’s gaming behavior is within normal limits, you will find further information and advice on the subject of excessive computer gaming in this article.
    • Use the available settings in the game to prevent contact with strangers via the chat function, for example. Explain to your child that they should not disclose any personal information such as their name or place of residence.

    Keep in touch with your child about the game and encourage them to contact you if they have any questions or problems.

    Seitenstark – in search of inspiration

    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.

    In a nutshell:

    • Network of over 60 children’s sites
    • Children and parents or teachers can get information and inspiration
    • High standards of quality and protection of children and young people from harmful media

    What is Seitenstark?

    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.

    What fascinates children in particular?

    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.

    What does the provider say?

    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.

    What should parents pay attention to?

    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.

    Instagram

    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.

    In a nutshell:

    • Social network: Can be used free of charge after registering via the app
    • Functions: Publish and view photos, short videos(reels), live streams and so-called stories
    • Minimum age: According to the terms and conditions, the app is permitted from the age of 13
    • Caution: contains a lot of advertising, children and young people may be confronted with unsuitable content
    • Provider: Like Facebook, Instagram is a service of the US internet company Meta

    What is Instagram?

    Instagram, or Insta for short, is more than just a picture platform. Above your own feed (accessible in the app via the house icon), there are stories and live streams from users you follow. These disappear after 24 hours, but can be saved as a highlight by the person who posted the story. The feed also shows new photos and videos from subscribed channels and people.

    Users can find a wide variety of content on Insta: Posts from stars, brands and challenges through to personal profiles of friends. They can react to them with likes and comments or save them for themselves.

    You can edit your 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.

    What fascinates children and young people about Instagram?

    • Creative self-expression: young people can share their best moments and put themselves in the limelight.
    • Idols and trends: You can follow influencers, stars and trends.
    • Easy to use: Take, edit and share photos and videos quickly.
    • Community feeling: Like and comment on content and interact with friends.
    • Broadcast channels: Influencers and creators can share exclusive content that is only visible to invited members.

    Since December 2024, young people up to the age of 16 have automatically been given so-called teen accounts with additional protective functions such as restricted contact options and stricter content filters: notifications are muted between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. and automatic replies are sent to direct messages. After 60 minutes of use per day, teenagers receive a notification asking them to leave the app. Accounts of children and young people under the age of 18 are automatically set to private after creation. However, this can be changed in the settings afterwards and the profile can be set to public. All these default settings can only be adjusted or deactivated with the consent of the parents in the so-called parental supervision in the Family Center.

    What can be problematic about the offer?

    Data protection: Instagram’s privacy policy allows the sharing of user data with other services of the parent company Meta and with third parties. The app allows cross-posting. This means that a photo can also be shared on Facebook with one click. If you have an account there, you should check the settings carefully when publishing posts.

    Location sharing: Instagram can determine the location of users via the posts they post. Private accounts prevent this. Access to the location can also be deactivated in the app and in the app permissions. This means that Instagram cannot view the location of public accounts either. However, a location can be added to each posted image manually afterwards.

    Paid content: Paid content is created when children and young people not only follow an account, but also subscribe to it. The monthly price is set by the creators themselves and the subscription can usually be canceled on a monthly basis. Subscribers have access to exclusive content such as images, reels and stories. If you want to subscribe to an account, you will find the “Subscribe” button next to “Follow”/”Followed” and “Messages” on your profile. A single click on this does not yet lead to a subscription, which must be confirmed with further clicks.

    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.

    Communication risks: Functions such as chats and comments harbor communication risks such as being contacted by strangers, hate speech or cyberbullying.

    What does the provider think?

    Despite the official minimum age of 13, there is no effective age check. Until your child is 18 years old, you must consent to its use. There are extensive usage and setting options. If your child is under the age of 13, they can use Instagram if you manage the account. This must be included in the profile description. At Handysektor you can read a short version of the terms of use and download a flyer with the most important safety information about Instagram for young people.

    Parents can link their account to that of their child in the “Parental supervision”. We present all the setting options in this article. You can find out how Instagram wants to make the app safer for young people directly on the Instagram website.

    What parents should pay attention

    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.

    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.

    Which games are suitable for my child? Making the right decision with educational recommendations

    Immerse yourself in game worlds, experience exciting adventures with your own avatar and compete with other players – many children and young people are fascinated by games. As a parent, you should give your child access to age-appropriate content. Online games in particular, with their opportunities for interaction and incentives to buy, present young players with challenges. But how do you keep track of the gaming market and find suitable games for your child?

    Educational age recommendations, independent game reviews and media awards can help you make informed decisions and select suitable content together with your child. In this article, we present some of the options.

    Spieleratgeber NRW – the portal for computer games

    The NRW games guide is a media education service from the Fachstelle für Jugendmedienkultur NRW, which supports parents with media education. The platform offers extensive information on over 2000 games. The games are tested by young people and given an educational age recommendation by experts. Parents can use filter functions to find suitable games for their children by genre, platform and age. The game descriptions and video clips provide insights into the content, risks and opportunities of the games and use additional descriptions to highlight the characteristics and skills that the game promotes (e.g. reading skills, frustration tolerance and logic).

    More info: https://www.elternguide.online/spieleratgeber-nrw/

    Internet-abc.de – Games tips for children

    Whether for computer, tablet, smartphone or console – internet-abc.de offers a collection of over 1000 games for children up to the age of 12. The Internet ABC experts award points for fun, operation and technical quality and make an age assessment. Children and parents can use the search mask to filter the games by game type, game device and age group. Each recommendation offers facts and pictures about the game as well as a summary of the content. Children can rate the games with stars and leave comments.

    More info: https://www.internet-abc.de/kinder/spiel-spass/spieletipps/

    Educational media prize – educationally valuable apps and games

    Anyone looking for high-quality and child-friendly digital content will find what they are looking for at the Educational Media Prize of the media education association SIN – Studio im Netz. Every year, a jury of children, young people and experts awards prizes to digital media offerings such as apps, games and websites that are particularly recommended for young people. The award-winning digital offerings are free of problematic content such as excessive violence. The focus is on media that not only entertain, but also convey educationally valuable content.

    More info: https://www.paedagogischer-medienpreis.de

    Educational games – Learning with games

    The website of the Digital Games Culture Foundation offers parents a collection of recommended games. The selection includes both serious games that specifically impart knowledge and commercial entertainment games with educational added value. The collection also includes programs that encourage children and young people to get creative and develop their own games. The offers can be filtered according to age groups, platforms and topics. For each game there is an educational classification according to time required, complexity, game content, opportunities and possible risks.

    More info: https://www.stiftung-digitale-spielekultur.de/paedagogische-spiele/

    TOMMI – Children’s Software Award

    Every year, the TOMMI Children’s Software Award recognizes particularly recommendable digital games and educational products for children. First, an expert jury reviews the nominated media products. Children’s juries then test and evaluate the games, apps and programs in 50 libraries in German-speaking countries. The TOMMI is published by the FEIBEL.DE office for children’s media in Berlin. Parents benefit from the independent assessments, as the award highlights games that are suitable for children and offer both fun and educational added value. The award ceremony takes place every year in the Timster program on KiKa program.

    More info: https://tommi.kids/kindersoftwarepreis/

    Gaming without limits – recommendations for accessible games

    The Gaming without Borders project tests digital games for accessibility and supports game developers in designing inclusive games. Young people with and without disabilities test the games and rate them in the categories of seeing, hearing, understanding and controlling. The service shows how digital games can be made accessible for everyone. The ComputerProjekt Köln e.V. is the specialist center for youth media culture in NRW. Parents can find valuable information here on how to select accessible games for their children in order to give them an unrestricted gaming experience.

    More info: https://www.gaming-ohne-grenzen.de/

    What parents should pay attention

    Beware of the risk of confusion! Distinguish between educational recommendations and age ratings in accordance with the German Youth Protection Act. Age ratings such as those issued by the Entertainment Software Self-Regulation Body(USK) are intended to protect children and young people from developmentally harmful content and interaction risks. They are not a recommendation and can say little about whether your child can handle the content well.

    Educational recommendations assess whether a game is understandable, interesting and development-promoting for a certain age group in terms of content and emotion. They show how a medium can accompany, support or positively stimulate children and young people in their development.

    Every child develops differently. Therefore, don’t just rely on recommendations, but actively accompany your child in their media use right from the start. Observe your child to understand how they react to different content. It is best to play together with your child or try out the game yourself beforehand. You can find more information on the topic of games in the family, for example which media rules are important, in this parents’ guide article: https://www.elternguide.online/games-games-games/

    Deep fakes – deceptively genuine counterfeits

    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.

    What is it all about?

    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:

    • Face swapping: Here, a person’s face is placed on another body.
    • Voice cloning: Here, words are put into a person’s mouth.
    • Body Puppetry: Here, a person’s body movements are digitally imitated.

    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.

    What fascinates young people about it?

    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.

    What can be problematic?

    Fake videos are dangerous because they look so convincing. Children and young people in particular must first learn to question content critically.

    • Disinformation: Fake videos can be used to spread fake news and influence (political) opinions. They can spread hatred and incitement.
    • Damage to reputation: Individuals can become involved in scandals through manipulated content. This can affect members of the public as well as private individuals.
    • Extortion and fraud: Real-time deep fakes allow fraudsters to pretend to be someone else in video conferences or phone calls in order to steal money or sensitive information.

    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.

    What parents should pay attention

    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:

    • Open conversation: Show an interest in your child’s media consumption and create an atmosphere of trust so that they can turn to you if they have problems.
    • Responsible use: If your child wants to try out deep-fake apps, explain the ethical boundaries to them and discuss the legal consequences.
    • Critical handling: Show your child how to check whether it is a deep fake. Offer assistance with this:

    Conspiracy myths on the net

    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.

    What it’s about

    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.

    How do myths spread online?

    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.

    What fascinates young people about it?

    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:

    • Simple answers: Complex topics such as pandemics or wars are made understandable.
    • Feeling of control: Knowing “who is to blame” gives a feeling of security.
    • Meaning and belonging: Being part of a “knowing” group gives young people the feeling of being special and belonging.
    • Identification and cohesion: Conspiracy narratives usually work according to the principle of “good versus evil”. The outward demarcation provides a sense of connectedness within the group.

    What can be problematic?

    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:

    • Radicalization: They can make young people more susceptible to extremist ideas.
    • Isolation: The separation from other opinions can lead to conflicts in the social environment.
    • Lack of fact-checking: Young people may take information on faith without questioning it.
    • Emotional stress: Threatening scenarios can fuel fears and undermine trust in institutions.

    What parents should pay attention

    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

    • For children: SRF Kids
    • For young people: funk
    • Material tip: Track down conspiracy myths with hidden object pictures(klicksafe)

    Websites where you can check the truthfulness of news items

    Too old for children’s sites – too young for adult offerings

    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.

    An important developmental phase for 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.

    What you should pay attention to as a parent

    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.

    Offers for the transition phase

    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:

    • Films, series and video clips: Our article on educational film recommendations presents various film portals. One example is Flimmothe program guide for parents. Here you will also find educational assessments of popular channels on YouTube, TikTok and Instagram.
    • Games: The NRW games guide has taken a close look at many computer games and game apps and rated them pedagogically. You can search for suitable games for your child here.
    • Podcasts: Whether audio stories or cultural talk – podcasts are very much in vogue. In two articles, we present recommended podcasts for children and young people.
    • Search engines: In the article Search engines for children and young people, we present children’s search engines such as fragFINN for example. We explain how children can use adult search engines safely with the help of parental control filters.
    • Info platforms: Hanisauland actively and playfully introduces children and young people to politics. Handysektor deals with young people’s media issues and addresses them directly in clips and articles. Juuuport informs young users about online risks and offers free digital advice.
    • Online communities: Knipsclub is a photo community that offers a safe introduction to the world of social media. On kindersache registered users can contribute their own videos, jokes and stories.

    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.

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