Children/adolescents
In no other stage of our lives do we undergo such fundamental and above all rapid changes as we do in our childhood and adolescence. Digital media are playing an increasingly significant role in the growing-up process. And just as every child or adolescent is highly individual, the opportunities and challenges associated with using these media are equally varied. Key factors here include not just each respective child’s age, but also his or her personal preferences and interests. The FSM provides countless services and projects to help young persons in all stages of childhood and adolescence use mobile, digital and hybrid media, along with age-appropriate, interest-specific information about issues relevant to safe, creative media use.
Internet Guide für Kids
To help children get started on the Internet, the FSM, in collaboration with the Deutsches Kinderhilfswerk (German Child Welfare Organisation) and fragFINN, has developed an internet guide specially written and designed for children. In the online edition, available at www.kindersache.de/internetguide, the characters Leo and Lupe offer children a highly personalised introduction to digital media and the attendant potential benefits and challenges. The blog format is an especially engaging way of inviting them to discover the Internet as a realm for creative experience and to take an active role in shaping it. The online version of the Internet Guide is supported by the Auerbach Foundation.
There is also a brochure for children explaining how to navigate around the Internet purposefully and safely without coming across content that is not meant for them. Another key aim of the brochure is to make children aware of the dangers associated with revealing their personal data on the Internet.
The brochure can be obtained from the office of the Deutsches Kinderhilfswerk.
Positive online content
Positive online content encourages children, inspires them, gives them ideas and enables them to experience safe surfing environments - whether as an app, on a website or as an online game. Positive online content is an important issue not only for children themselves, but also for their parents and guardians, educators, teachers and educational staff.
Checklist: Criteria for positive online content for children
Online content providers can use the checklist provided (https://www.betterinternetforkids.eu/documents/2067076/4868136/Checklist...) when developing new offers and services to ensure that their websites, apps, online games etc. are designed to be age-appropriate. Here you will find essential aspects that you should consider so that children can use the offers safely with regard to their content, communication possibilities, commercial elements and data protection.
Orientation for parents, educators and teachers and specialists
Parents, educators and teachers can also benefit from the checklist, as it provides guidance and support in determining whether selected online services are suitable for their children.
Positive examples from across Europe
Here (https://www.betterinternetforkids.eu/web/positiveonlinecontent/examples) you can search for online offers in different languages, age groups on different topics.
Englisch text about Disinformation Online
Translation will be available soon.fragFINN
fragFINN is a search machine for children and will help you find information on the Internet. If you visit www.fragFINN.de, you can enter a search term or the name of a website into a search box and you will receive a list of suitable results. Then you simply pick the sites you want to visit. fragFINN also includes exciting surfing tips, cool games and great chats.
Projects/initiatives
The “klicksafe.de” project aims to function as a nationwide platform highlighting the opportunities and risks presented by the Internet – a national hub for a network of existing information offers and initiatives within Germany. Partners from the political, business, social and economic spheres work together within the “klicksafe.de” network. The project was commissioned by the European Union as part of its Safer Internet Programme, aimed at raising the level of Internet skills among EU citizens.
The Teachtoday initiative addresses current and upcoming topics, demonstrates ways of using digital media for competence-based learning and offers tips and resources for dealing responsibly and safely with new information and communication technologies.
