News Overview

Practicing democracy and experiencing diversity - children can do this in the unique German-language children's website landscape. Every year on October 21, the Day of Children's Websites draws attention to these diverse offerings. In 2024, the motto of the day is "For democracy and diversity". An online rally is offered for children to get to know many exciting children's websites.

The usage habits of young people are constantly evolving. For example, voice messages have become an essential part of their communication. The JUUUPORT advice and information platform is adapting its services to this development by revamping the advice tool both technically and visually. A new podcast with the JUUUPORT scouts has also been launched.

Who can young people trust when it comes to news? Which sources are reputable - which are not? What sometimes makes fake news so credible? And what role do we ourselves play as disseminators of information? These and other questions are addressed in the new quiz "Safe News instead of Fake News", which was created in cooperation with ZDFheute. The new poster for the quiz also focuses on the most important tips offline.

For millions of children and young people, digital games are part of their daily leisure activities. To ensure that children have a positive experience, they should use age-appropriate and safe games. The USK's age ratings provide many parents with guidance when making their choice. The USK has been testing digital games for 30 years. Here you can find out what you need to bear in mind when playing games safely and how you can guide children competently.

October 3 is an important national holiday. On this day in 1990, two separate German states became one again. For children and young people, reunification is a historical event with no personal connection. How can we nevertheless bring this important piece of recent German history closer to our children? How do we convey the political and personal consequences of the division of Germany - and how do we continue to do so today? We have looked around the internet and compiled some good information on reunification for children.

The "klicksafe" brand was registered 20 years ago today and the EU initiative began its work in Germany. Since then, we have established ourselves as one of the most sought-after initiatives for internet safety and media literacy. This makes klicksafe one of the oldest and most experienced media literacy initiatives in Germany.

Islamist influencing uses modern social media platforms to win over young people to extremist ideologies. Islamist influencers present themselves as authentic and charismatic personalities who mix lifestyle tips and religious advice with anti-democratic or misanthropic messages. The new report by jugendschutz.net shows that social media services have reacted to this with commitment, but unfortunately also inconsistently by hiding and deleting content. This extremist content reaches a broad young target group on platforms such as YouTube, TikTok and Instagram.

The new "Genial digital" website from the Deutsches Kinderhilfswerk is aimed at children of primary school age. It comprises three themed modules and three interactive learning modules. Important questions about children's digital lives are answered in a fun and informative way. The aim is to teach children how to navigate the internet safely using smartphones and tablets.

Today is World Children's Day! Under this year's motto "Into the future with children's rights!", the German Children's Fund and UNICEF Germany are calling on society as a whole to focus more consistently on children's rights. Among other things, children have the right to safe, digital participation. To mark the occasion, we show what makes a good online offering for children.

Instagram is one of the most popular social media platforms among children and young people. According to the terms of use, the minimum age is 13. Instagram is now introducing new teen accounts for minors aged 13 and over by the end of the year. These will give parents more insight and control over their children's Instagram usage. We provide information about the changes and what parents should bear in mind.

Almost half of all children and young people say they have already seen porn - according to a recent representative survey by the NRW Media Authority. We provide information on the most important results and offer educational professionals, parents and young people educational materials.

How digital media is used today and how political content is consumed online has a proven influence on our democracy. This makes it all the more important to promote children and young people's media and democratic skills at an early age. On the occasion of the International Day of Democracy on September 15, we will show you how you can support the democratic education of adolescents.

Children and young people spend a lot of time on social networks every day, where they are also confronted with a variety of advertising content and unhealthy food trends. For example, when "junk fluencers" advertise fast food, potato chips, soft drinks or high-sugar snacks. We provide information on how junk fluencer marketing can influence children's eating behavior and how parents can promote their children's advertising skills.

Is Paypal "Family and Friends" a secure payment method? Can you post a class photo on Insta just like that? What do you do if you are a victim of identity theft? Together with the Rhineland-Palatinate consumer advice center, klicksafe has developed a card game for school classes. It allows pupils to test and expand their knowledge of online shopping, cybercrime, apps, games and social media.

The potential danger for children and young people online is increasing. Currently, generative AI is making it increasingly difficult to distinguish reality from fakes and is increasing risks such as sexualized violence, bullying and extremism. This is a key finding of the annual report by jugendschutz.net, the joint federal and state competence center for the protection of minors on the internet.