News Overview 2022

Why is the protection of personal data on the Internet so important? What is fake news, cyberbullying and hate speech? And how can we make healthy use of digital media? These are the questions answered by the magazine Genial Digital published by the German Children's Fund. It is aimed at children between the ages of 8 and 11 and covers various topics relating to their first smartphone and the Internet.

When it comes to everyday media education, parents are often confronted with the question of which apps, games and online offerings are recommendable for adolescents from an educational perspective. The Pedagogical Media Award has been providing an answer since 1998: Every year, outstanding products are awarded prizes, selected by a jury in which children and young people can participate in the decision-making process alongside educational professionals.

Can I show students a movie from a streaming service? Is background music allowed in the classroom? And who owns the copyright to creative works created in class? Teachers are confronted with questions like these again and again in their daily work. A website of the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) can help. It answers 15 of the most frequently asked questions about copyright in everyday school life.

klicksafe is calling for nationwide participation in Safer Internet Day 2023. The theme for 2023 is #OnlineAmLimit. Up to what point is media use still okay and at what point do we fall into the digital stress trap? What skills do adults, children and young people need for a healthy balance? And how can binding rules be established for media consumption at work, school and in our free time?

Sexting - the term is made up of "sex" and "texting". It refers to the exchange of erotic messages, photos and videos. For many young people who are in the process of discovering their sexuality, sexting plays an important role. However, if those involved are still minors, they must abide by some rules of the game to protect themselves and others from sometimes dramatic consequences.

Every year, the German Children's Software Prize TOMMI is awarded for outstanding games and digital learning opportunities for children. After the preselection by a jury of experts, the final verdict then rests with the target group. Around 4,200 girls and boys tested the nominated games in 56 libraries. Find out from us which games the children were enthusiastic about.

Children's sites are something special on the Internet. They cater to the needs of young online users, providing age-appropriate information, safe exchanges and carefree fun. Children are in good hands here. This special offer will be celebrated and honored again this year on October 21: Children's Website Day.

A hype has arisen around the social media service BeReal in recent months. There are supposed to be no posed and edited photos there. In the meantime, the competition has also reacted. TikTok Now is an app that copies BeReal. Whether TikTok can convince users not to switch to BeReal remains to be seen. In our article, you can read about the relevant security aspects of TikTok Now.

77 percent of parents in Germany are concerned about their children's online safety. Parents of 11- to 14-year-olds are particularly concerned. The focus here is on interaction risks, frightening content and usage times. Children and young people are particularly concerned about becoming victims of bullying, insults or hate messages. This is shown by the current study "Youth Media Protection Index 2022" of the Freiwillige Selbstkontrolle Multimedia-Diensteanbieter (FSM e.V.).

In recent days, we have received more and more reports that a new trend is spreading among children and young people on the Internet. This is the so-called "ass drill". You can find out what this is all about and how educators and parents can react to it at klicksafe.

Whether in lifestyle articles or beauty tips - the appearance of the body is often the focus of social media posts by creators. These often have a reach in the millions and set trends. For children and young people, they serve as role models they can follow and emulate. jugendschutz.net conducted a brief search on the platforms TikTok, Instagram and YouTube using relevant hashtags to look for posts on cosmetic procedures and found posts on a wide range of treatments.

Every year, the month of October is dedicated to cyber security throughout Europe. The occasion is European Cyber Security Month (ECSM). Over the next four weeks, there will be many webinars, activities and educational campaigns on the topic of cyber security. klicksafe presents materials for educators and parents on the topic of data protection.

Now that the new school year has started in all federal states, parents' evenings are on the agenda again. In order to support educational institutions and teachers as best as possible in their work with parents, klicksafe has developed handouts and concepts. On our website on the topic of parental work, we have compiled all materials on this topic for you.

It starts seemingly harmless with a contact request. Later, inappropriate compliments, requests to send nude pictures or to meet in real life follow. Cybergrooming is the term used to describe the targeted approach of children on the Internet in order to involve them in sexualized conversations or even abusive acts. And cybergrooming is frighteningly widespread. With the parent campaign #EveryFourthChild, klicksafe therefore sensitizes parents to the dangers posed by cybergrooming. With practical tips and assistance, parents learn how they can make their child strong against sexual harassment online.

Today is World Children's Day! Under the motto "Together for 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. On this occasion, we show what makes a good children's offer on the Internet.