News Overview 2025

Generative AI bots have long been part of our everyday digital lives, whether as chatbots in social media or as special companion apps such as "Character.AI". They explain, advise in difficult situations and even offer emotional support. But what influence do these AI companions have on our interpersonal relationships and communication? What opportunities and risks arise when people develop bonds with AI companions? klicksafe is addressing these questions with the focus topic "AI and me. In an artificial relationship." on Safer Internet Day. The international day of action is coordinated by klicksafe in Germany.

The klicksafe Youth Panel is the youth advisory board of klicksafe and has been active since 2009. It consists of committed young people between the ages of 13 and 18. Together, they are committed to making the internet a better and safer place for children and young people. In order to strengthen the work of the young people and make their commitment more visible, the klicksafe Youth Panel now has a new look and its own website.

Chain letters, shock videos and risky challenges - things get scary digitally around Halloween. Children and young people are sometimes under great pressure to take part or forward the content. The younger the children are, the less able they are to assess whether the content is true or not and whether there really is a danger. We give tips on how parents can support their children in this case.

The Digital Services Act (DSA) has been in force since 2024. However, many citizens are still unaware of the benefits the DSA brings for them. A Europe-wide campaign entitled "DSA for YOUth" now aims to change this. As part of the campaign, all citizens will receive a lot of information about how the DSA protects them and what benefits it brings, especially for children and young people.

Today is Children's Sites Day! Every year on October 21, this day of action draws attention to the diverse offerings of the German children's website landscape. While the Day of Children's Websites has had a different motto in previous years, in 2025 everyone is invited to set their own focus or draw attention to children's websites in general. However, the day will also be used to draw attention to the difficult situation of good children's offerings. For example, the German Children's Fund is calling on the German government to do more to promote non-commercial children's websites.

In a survey conducted by the Vodafone Foundation, young people between the ages of 14 and 20 provided information on their social media usage behavior. The young people reported many positive aspects such as networking, inspiration and entertainment. However, for some, negative feelings can also accompany their use. In particular, the length and frequency of their social media use worries many young people. klicksafe offers various materials to support young people in using social media in a self-determined way.

A new EU law on digital fairness aims to strengthen consumer protection in the digital space. Manipulation in purchasing decisions, opaque price structures and misleading advertising by influencers could soon be a thing of the past. Ultimately, this will benefit all citizens in the EU, but especially children and young people. This is because their limited life experience makes them particularly susceptible to manipulation. Before the Digital Fairness Act takes its final form, all citizens are first invited to contribute their issues.

Some Instagram users will have noticed in the last few days that something has changed on the platform. The app informs them that their exact location can now be transmitted. This happens every time you open Instagram. Other users can then see where the person is located on a map. According to Instagram, the function is intended to help friends know even better what they are doing. In our article, we explain to parents how the Instagram Map works and why caution is advised when sharing your location.

Every year, October is dedicated to cyber security across Europe. The reason for this is European Cyber Security Month (ECSM). In the coming weeks, numerous webinars, activities and awareness campaigns on the topic of cyber security will take place. In line with this, klicksafe is presenting the newly revised quiz for young people on the subject of data protection.

In future, Facebook will automatically convert all accounts of people between the ages of 13 and 17 into so-called teen accounts. The security settings of these teen accounts are stricter than those of accounts for adult users. In addition, parents or other guardians can accompany and support teenage users through the parental control function. In our article, we explain what exactly is changing for teenagers on Facebook with teen accounts.

The NRW Media Authority is launching the second phase of its "Source: Trust me" campaign in the fight against disinformation. The campaign focuses on the question "Who benefits from disinformation?". The aim is to make it clear what interests and intentions lie behind misinformation so that it is easier to see through its effects.

For many children, starting school not only means new challenges, but also new interests and changing media preferences. In line with this, the parents' guide FLIMMO has put together a selection of child-friendly films, series and knowledge programs that are tailored to primary school children.

On October 1, 2025, klicksafe offered a digital school lesson for all registered school classes for the second time. Regardless of whether the school is in Berlin or Buxtehude: With just a few technical requirements, all schools were able to take part with their class and thus actively promote pupils' media skills.

At secondary schools at the latest, there is at least one class chat in almost every class, often even several in parallel. However, in addition to organizational information and agreements, harmful and forbidden content is also shared in unregulated class chats or cyberbullying takes place. In order to prevent such problems and excessive demands due to message spam, rules for the group chat should be defined together with the pupils at the beginning of the school year. Our class chat teaching unit, which we have updated and expanded to include new case studies, is suitable for this purpose.

Surveys repeatedly show that many children in Germany are affected by sexual violence on the internet. Reports such as the RTL program "Attack on our children", which highlights the extent of cybergrooming, have also alarmed many adults. The good news is that education, safe attitudes and clear rules can reduce the risk of children becoming victims of sexual violence online. We explain what parents and educational professionals can do to make children strong against cybergrooming.