News Overview

Just play a level, quickly check a reel, listen to a new voice message - and hours have passed again. Social networks, games and streaming portals cast a spell over young people - sometimes to such an extent that the real world fades into the background. In our new topic area, we therefore answer the most important questions about excessive media use and media addiction. When does media use become too much? At what point do we speak of addiction? What can parents do to prevent it? And when do they need to intervene?

Today, the world's largest video games fair, gamescom, opens its doors to all visitors in Cologne. At klicksafe, parents can find detailed information about video games and media education. Although gaming is now part of everyday life for many people, parents still have many questions about how to guide children sensibly in the world of video games. To coincide with the start of gamescom, we have therefore put together an article with lots of information on this topic for you.

In a recent study, ECPAT Germany, the Working Group for the Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation, focuses on the phenomenon of so-called "pocket money meetings". What sounds rather harmless in terms of the term is actually a form of sexual exploitation of children and young people. Online ad portals and dating platforms are specifically used to offer or seek intimate pictures and meetings in exchange for money or gifts. We explain what parents should know about it.

"But everyone else has one too!" - this argument is probably well known to parents. But at what age should children get their first cell phone? Many parents use the transition from elementary school to secondary school to equip their children with their own smartphone. How can parents tell if their child is ready for their own smartphone? And is a smartwatch a good alternative? We answer the most important questions parents have on the subject of "Smartphones in children's hands".

Roblox is one of the largest gaming platforms in the world. More than 100 million people use Roblox every day. Among them are millions of children and young people. In recent months, the company has announced several changes that are intended to improve the safety of minors on the platform in particular. We summarize what the changes are and what parents need to watch out for.

Media professionals and creatives can submit their contributions on the topic of data protection from now until December 5, 2025. Pupils and students are also invited to apply: The "Special Youth Prize", endowed with 1,500 euros, will once again be awarded for them.

Computers, tablets and smartphones are usually used more intensively than usual during the vacations. However, this doesn't have to be a negative thing, as you can also work creatively with these devices. Which camera setting is the right one? How do you edit radio plays? And how do you animate games? With the right tools and information pages, children can quickly learn the most important tricks for working creatively with media. This makes the supposedly boring vacation time fly by. This not only offers added value for their own media experience. It also enables an informed and critical examination of media content. klicksafe presents recommended offers.

The summer vacations are finally here and digital media also plays a big role for parents and children during the vacation season. For children, it's a time to play more - both offline and online - and to socialize. For parents, it's often about taking a break, planning outings and activities and finding ways to keep the whole family entertained and engaged. We tell you what to look out for to have a safe digital summer vacation.

The TOMMI children's software prize is being awarded for the 24th time this year. A children's jury will decide which games will be awarded a prize. Anyone between the ages of eight and sixteen can now apply to be a member of the jury. Publishers of games, apps and digital learning opportunities can also submit their products to the TOMMI until August 28.

More and more young men are trying to "optimize" their appearance using sometimes extreme methods - including self-harm such as "bone smashing". The trend originally comes from the incel scene and is marketed on social media under the slogan "Maximize your looks". Behind this supposed lifestyle trend often lies frustration, insecurity and problematic beauty ideals.

The EU Commission has published new guidelines on the protection of minors - an important step towards greater safety for young people in the digital space. The guidelines provide further clarity for online platforms on how they must implement the requirements of the Digital Services Act (DSA). A new age verification system is also intended to solve the well-known problem that many sensible protective measures can easily be circumvented by providing false age information.

With the new portal "MEDIA easily explained", there is now a central point of contact in plain language on topics relating to media literacy - for people with learning difficulties, limited language skills or a need for reading support. The portal of the Bavarian Regulatory Authority for New Media (BLM) is the first in Germany to bundle media literacy offers in plain language. klicksafe is also represented with two offers.

In a digital world, children are confronted with problematic content at an ever earlier age. Therefore, protection on the Internet is more important than ever. The good news: fragFINN.de, Germany's leading non-commercial children's search engine, is becoming increasingly well-known and popular with children and parents. At the same time, however, the industry is facing a worrying development: the number of safe, child-friendly websites is falling continuously.

Virtual assistants and AI-based interaction platforms have become increasingly popular in recent years. Platforms such as Character.AI also hold a great fascination for children. This is because users can communicate with all kinds of characters that are controlled by artificial intelligence (AI). We explain what parents and educational professionals need to know about Character.AI in order to guide children competently.

Children sucking on ice cream, doing gymnastics in tight leotards or looking wide-eyed at the camera: Photos and videos do not necessarily have to show bare skin to be of interest to pedocriminals. With a new guide, the children's rights organization Save the Children is now calling on schools, kindergartens, clubs and other stakeholders to take a critical look at the publication of all images of children. klicksafe supported the creation of the guide in an advisory capacity.