Media skills for children and young people

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Media skills for children and young people
Chatting is very popular with children and young people. However, this form of online communication is not only fun for children and young people, but can also lead to unpleasant situations in chat and in real life.
LKA NRW

Paedophile adults try to make contact with children and young people via chats and messenger services. Initially, they contact their victims while concealing their true intentions and identity in order to obtain personal data such as email address, mobile or telephone number, name and address.

Sexual harassment with questions of a sexual nature or descriptions of sexual acts by paedophile adults are just as possible as the live transmission of sexual acts via webcams. There is also a risk of sexual abuse following the disclosure of personal data in the event of subsequent personal contact.

This targeted approaching of children and young people with the aim of initiating sexual contact is also referred to as cyber grooming (in German: Internet-Anbahnung).

These dangers can be effectively countered by observing a few basic rules.

Do not let children of primary school age chat alone, if at all

Children in this age group should only have access to selected websites. You can still do this effectively with appropriate filter programs for this age. Go online with your child and choose a chat site together that your child can visit. Experience has shown that children and young people stick with a chosen chat for a long time.

Only use moderated chats

A chat should meet certain criteria that protect children and young people from danger and offer them support in the event of unpleasant incidents.
Children and young people should therefore only use moderated chats in which an adult monitors the chat and is available as a contact person. The moderator should be able to be called into the respective chat room at any time via a button or link.

No disclosure of personal data or photos

Name, address, e-mail availability, name of the school attended, etc. are data that children and young people should not disclose via chats and messengers. Similarly, no photos should be passed on to strangers. As parents, make it clear to your children in this context that the photos sent do not have to match the real person and that their own photos can be misused.

No real meetings, and if so, only in the company of a trusted person in busy places

Real meetings should only take place in crowded places accompanied by an adult if possible. Even meetings between people of the same age can become quite unpleasant and lead to threatening situations.

Train confidence in action

Children and younger teenagers in particular often do not react appropriately to unpleasant situations in chats. Parents should practise with them breaking off such conversations immediately and informing a moderator. A certain mistrust that chat partners do not always have to be who they say they are should also be practiced with this age group.

Are you available as a contact person

Children and young people often do not talk to their parents about negative experiences on the internet as they fear reactions such as accusations or internet bans. Respond appropriately and offer understanding help.

The transmission of texts and images with pornographic content to minors is just as punishable as making sexual advances to minors, e.g. by making concrete arrangements for such a meeting. In such cases, contact the local police immediately

You can find an overview of the police authorities in North Rhine-Westphalia under "On site" - "Addresses / contact details".

Further information

For parents and other educational professionals

Police crime prevention of the federal states and the federal government

  • Clicks moments. Information for parents and those responsible for education (brochure)
  • http://www.polizei-beratung.de/medienangebot/
  • Chatting and surfing. But safely! (DVD with movie spots) http://www.polizei-beratung.de/medienangebot/

For children and young people

Police crime prevention of the federal states and the federal government:

  • www.polizeifürdich.de (website for children and young people aged between 12 and 15)
  • Clicked! Safety in everyday media life (media package)
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In urgent cases: Police emergency number 110