Facts, figures, correlations: With various studies, the FSM addresses important questions concerning the protection of minors online and the safe use of digital media.

The findings are an important foundation when it comes to questioning and optimising protection measures on the one hand and conceptualising successful educational offers on the other. For the research design and implementation of the studies the FSM cooperates with specialised and independent scientific institutions.

Youth Media Protection Index –
online-related risks among young people, parents and educational institutions

The Youth Media Protection Index (“Jugendmedienschutzindex”) examines how the protection of children and young people from negative online experiences is reflected in the concerns, attitudes, knowledge and actions of parents, educational specialists and teachers as well as adolescents themselves.

As a result, strengths and weaknesses of the current media policy regulations for the protection of young people from harmful online media as well as the available media education support services become apparent. This empiric evidence offers a basis for further developments and optimisations. The two-part study was initiated and published by the FSM and conducted by the Leibniz Institute for Media Research | Hans Bredow Institute (HBI)  and the JFF – Institute for Media Research and Media Education.

The study in detail

The first part of the study focuses on parents and adolescents. The empirical basis of the 2017 study is a nationwide representative survey of young people between the ages of 9 and 16 who use the internet and one parent each who is responsible for online education or is most familiar with the child’s online use. A total of 805 adolescents and their parents were interviewed.

For the second part of the study in 2018 the perspectives of teachers and educational professionals were examined in an explorative study. A total of 296 educators from schools or extracurricular institutions in Bavaria, Hamburg and Schleswig-Holstein were interviewed.

Successfully implementing media education
in schools with extracurricular partners

The study “Bildungspartnerschaften” (Educational partnerships) examines the cooperation between schools and extracurricular partners in media education.

In doing so, it focuses on a field of media education that has established itself in many forms in practice, but has so far been insufficiently addressed academically. The study pays special attention to the framework and conditions of successful cooperation and analyses the different partners, their goals and expectations.

Online tool helps teachers

  • the most important results of the study presented in an online tool
  • supports teachers in facilitating cooperation between schools and extracurricular partners and in avoiding typical difficulties
  • all information on the study and the tool

The key findings

There are clear ideas about an ideal cooperation: For example, it is desired that the topic of media education is implemented in schools and there is an understanding of extracurricular partners the institution of  schools as well as a mutual complementing of professional and media pedagogical competencies. The orientation on  the needs of children and young people is also important for the respondents.

The extracurricular partners bring in relevant competences as a beneficial complement. Examples include their expertise in new media developments, an understanding of children and young people’s living realities, specific techniques in media production, technology provided or often financial resources from external grants.

Problems arise when there is a lack of or different understanding of media education or media literacy. Structural conditions also influence whether and how an exchange about the goals of a cooperation takes place.

Complete Study.

 

Frequently asked questions

Who is the FSM and what does it do? How do youth protection programmes work? How can parents guide their children in the safe use of digital media? Find answers to these and other questions.

Read more

Expert Knowledge

Legal foundations, institutions, organizations and supervisory bodies: Learn more about basics and details regarding the youth media protection.

Read more