Bullying, exclusion & insultsProblems in class chat - what schools can do now
For the survey "Use of class chats at schools in Germany 2026", 1,257 pupils aged 10 to 16 were interviewed on behalf of WDR. You can download the complete survey results download here. Below we summarize the most important results for you:
How many pupils use class chats?
82 percent of the pupils surveyed stated that they take part in at least one class chat. While this figure is around half at the end of primary school (51 percent), it rises to 91 percent in secondary schools. Most pupils (43%) are only active in one class chat, but it also happens that children are active in two (37%) or three (13%) school chat groups.
By far the most popular platform is WhatsApp: 92% of pupils use this messenger for class chats. In contrast, internal school platforms are only used by 20 percent. The only other relevant platform is Snapchat with 19 percent.
How often do students use class chats?
Of the students who are members of a class chat, 49% use it daily. Overall, 82% use it at least once a week or more. The frequency of use could be related to the number of messages exchanged in class chats. In around half (48%) of the class chats, up to ten messages are posted per day, in around 40% of the chat groups even up to 50 messages per day. In 13% of class chats, there are up to 100 or even more messages every day - that is one in ten class chats.
What do students use class chats for?
Unsurprisingly, the majority of students use class chats for school-related topics (90 percent). More than half of the students surveyed stated that the class chat had already helped them to solve problems in class. In addition to school-related content, funny content (65%) is also often posted. Private exchanges also frequently take place within the chat groups (58%).
What negative experiences do pupils have in class chat?
Around one in three children (35%) report having seen unpleasant things in class chat. Insults or embarrassment are most common (around 25 percent). One in five children (around 19%) also report rumors or lies and exclusion or bullying from a specific person in the class chat. This almost always affects other pupils (91%). However, teachers were also targeted in 29% of cases, according to the survey.
16% of pupils stated that they themselves had already been the target of insults and bullying. 20 percent have already felt excluded in a class chat.
At around 9%,videos or images of violence or injuries are significantly less common than insults and bullying. Images or videos that incite hatred, violence or exclusion against certain groups were mentioned by around 6% of respondents. Around 4 percent of the pupils surveyed reported that they had already been confronted with nude images or videos in class chats.
Do children know where they can get help?
Encouragingly, 87% of the pupils surveyed said they knew who they could turn to for help. Teachers (80 percent), social workers (64 percent) and other pupils (26 percent) were named as the main points of contact. However, the children who actually spoke to others about their problems in the class chat most often did so with their parents, friends or siblings. Only 12% have turned to teachers with their problem and only 7% to social workers.
It is also positive that around 80 percent of pupils were informed at school about how to use class chats sensibly and responsibly.
What can teachers do?
Teachers generally do not have access to the chat group. Teachers are often advised not to privately participate in and monitor class chats due to the requirement for teachers to maintain distance from their students. However, if teachers are aware of harmful or illegal content and activities, they must take action and, for example, help to preserve evidence.To prevent problems, educational staff should informpupils about the risks of class chats at the beginning of the school year and define binding rules for group chats. Make it unmistakably clear what content belongs in the chat and what must not be shared under any circumstances. Decide together who will ensure that the rules are adhered to and who will impose any sanctions.
klicksafe offers the teaching unit "Rules for the class chat" with new case studies and group tasks for download to help develop such rules.
In line with the teaching unit, classes can use the rules developed in the poster "Our rules for the class chat" poster. The teaching unit is suitable for class 5 and above. Classes can order the poster for the teaching unit as a print version (size DIN A 1) from klicksafe.
Teachers can also order project 18 "Nudes, dickpics and co. - no-gos in class chat!" from ourteaching material "Let's Talk about Porn" can be used. This project also includes an interactive PDF with which pupils learn what content belongs in the class chat and what does not. Please note that this teaching material is recommended for pupils aged 14 and over. Before using the material in class, please check whether the content is suitable for your pupils.
Once everything is settled, teachers should continue to keep an eye on the issue of class chats. As the WDR survey shows, problems occur even though around 80 percent of pupils have received information at school about correct behavior in class chats. Discuss the class chat, e.g. in class leadership lessons or the class council. Ask about the current atmosphere in the class chat. Group chats often have a negative effect on the class atmosphere. Analog conflicts are also negotiated and continued digitally. Children should always know who they can confidently ask for help in an emergency and receive immediate support. Involve parents or the school community if there are increasing problems in class chats at your school.
Report: Inside class chats
WDR has published a 30-minute report on the topic of class chats. You can watch this report free of charge in the ARD media library until March 18, 2027.
Further materials from klicksafe
klicksafe offers many other materials on the risks that can lead to serious problems in class chats - both for educational professionals and for parents:
