News Overview 2020

Action against disinformation is fundamental for the communicative basis of our society

Next week sees the start of European Cyber Security Month, a Europe-wide month of action on the subject of cyber security. Every October since 2012, citizens and companies in EU countries have been made aware of the dangers associated with Internet use and have been made aware of suitable protective measures. All organizations that communicate the topic of cyber security to a broad audience can participate in European Cyber Security Month.

You always wanted to know how to protect your child from unwanted contacts via messenger services on the smartphone? You want to avoid your child falling into a cost trap when using online games? Wondering how to prevent your child from consuming inappropriate content via video streaming services? With www.medien-kindersicher.de, a free online information service is now available that provides parents and guardians with understandable and reliable answers to precisely these questions.

How can young people deal with cyberbullying if they are affected themselves? Where can they turn to if they don't want to confide in their family or teachers directly? To support young people in dealing with cyberbullying, young people from the klicksafe Youth Panel developed the cyberbullying first aid app in 2016. klicksafe is now publishing the app and the accompanying klicksafe flyer "What to do in case of cyberbullying?" with a new design and new content.

"Mein erstes Internet-ABC online" (My first Internet ABC online) is an interactive story set to music for elementary school children in grades 1 and 2. The aim is to give children who are unfamiliar with reading or have only limited reading skills their first access to media education. The hands-on story was developed as an interactive extension to the printed hands-on booklet. The topics from the hands-on booklet can be linked to the online material and explored in greater depth - and vice versa. Both materials, the booklet and the story, can be used individually or in combination directly in the classroom with little preparation time.

Germany's largest telephone counseling service for children, young people and parents is celebrating its fortieth anniversary this year. To mark the occasion, the association is launching an online campaign via its Facebook and Instagram social media channels during the Week of Civic Engagement from September 11-20, sharing memories, facts and figures from the past 40 years - not least to draw attention to and thank the more than 3,000 volunteer counselors for their commitment over 40 years. Because without them, no counseling would be possible!

TikTok is also one of the most popular apps among children and young people in Germany. How do they use the platform and what risks do they perceive on TikTok? Insights into the perspective of adolescents are provided by the new ACT ON! Short Report from the JFF.

Today, 81 years ago, the 2nd World War began. All the more worrying is the fact that last Saturday right-wing extremists protested in front of the Reichstag in Berlin. Conspiracy believers and right-wing extremists made thereby in social media before and during the demonstration mood.

The past few months have shown that schools can no longer do without the Internet. It is therefore all the more important that students are competent and safe on the Internet, that they can actively protect themselves from dangers, and that they know how to take advantage of opportunities. With the new handout from the MKFS Foundation in cooperation with klick-tipps.net, media education at elementary schools can succeed.

Parental control software is supposed to help parents keep an eye on their children's media use. However, some apps focus more on monitoring than on control, as Stiftung Warentest's parental control software test shows. Only two systems were convincing in the test.

Report "Filter mechanisms of search engines" published

In the video series "mobil & safe" we explain in cooperation with mobilsicher.de what parents have to consider when children start using a smartphone. Today, the last video in the series has been released. On the new overview page for "mobil & safe", all nine episodes are now available for free download.

The Data Protection Media Award (DAME) competition initiated by the Professional Association of Data Protection Officers in Germany (BvD) is entering its fourth year. Media professionals and creative minds can submit entries for the award, which is endowed with 3,000 euros, until December 10.

While the first federal states are starting school again, most children and young people are still enjoying their summer vacation. The vacation season is a good opportunity for educators to talk to children and young people about media use and to raise awareness of safe and positive use of the web.

Alexa, do I need an umbrella today? Siri, play my favorite song! Voice control of everyday applications via smart speakers is no longer a rarity. We are increasingly surrounded by a connected and smart living environment. This includes smart TVs, voice assistants and wearables, which are also becoming increasingly popular among young people. klicksafe publishes a new accompanying material on the topic of smart devices to complement the klicksafe explanatory film "Siri, Alexa & Co.: Chancen und Risiken von Sprachassistenten" (Siri, Alexa Co.: Opportunities and Risks of Voice Assistants), which can be used nationwide for peer-to-peer projects and was created with the support of the Media Scouts NRW.