Data protection of children on the Internet

Bullying on the Internet is widespread

Educate your children about bullying on the Internet

Many children on the internet become victims of bullying on social networks through embarrassing or intimate content such as photos, videos or text messages. Make it clear to your child that sharing embarrassing or intimate pictures, videos and texts is not funny, but causes a lot of stress and sadness for those involved.

Ask your child how he or she would feel if they were in the other child's place. If your child is a victim of cyberbullying himself or herself, contact the school, the operator of the website or service where the bullying takes place or, if the incident is serious or ongoing, contact the police directly and ask for help.

Furthermore, photos, videos and texts posted online are virtually impossible to delete. This content may not have a negative effect on your child until years later, for example in an application process. Employers are increasingly checking applicants online.

Sharenting

But not only children, but also their parents often use the Internet carelessly. A widespread phenomenon is called Sharenting. It is an artificial word made up of share and parenting. All too often, parents take photos of their children and distribute them via Facebook & Co. This can have serious consequences for these children in the future.

Many people are likely to feel that their privacy has been violated if, at a later date, they come across pictures of them as a child half naked, taking a nap or wearing swimwear at the beach. Beach photos, pictures of embarrassing situations or extensive partying have no place on the Internet. Cute photos of naked babies or children bathing in the garden should also remain private, as such images attract paedophiles. The GDPR does not apply to the processing of personal data by natural persons for the exercise of personal or family activities (Article 2 paragraph 2c GDPR). This applies, for example, to pictures of a family celebration. However, as soon as they are uploaded to social networks, this exception no longer applies.

Surfing the Internet together helps parents and children

Encourage a conscious use of digital media.

Instead of complete bans, it is better to teach children step by step how to use digital media consciously and to strengthen it over time.

Therefore, you should talk to your child regularly about his or her Internet experiences. Surfing together gives you an insight into the child's online world. Parents should be around when their children are surfing until their twelfth birthday. Parents are responsible for downloading, installing programs and registering on platforms. It is important that they also inform themselves about the legal situation when streaming and downloading and discuss with their son or daughter what is legal on the net.

Agree on clear rules for media use

It is important that parents talk to their child about the risks of surfing and agree together which offers on the net he/she may use for how long and how often. These rules can also be written down. Fixed surfing times ensure that other interests are not neglected. As a guideline, a limit of ten minutes per year of age per day or one hour per year of age per week applies. This is limited to media use in leisure time and not when the child is learning with media.

Parents also have to take care of the welfare of their offspring in technical terms. Tools are the activation of security settings and the installation of youth protection programs.

They sort out unsuitable websites by filters or allow only checked websites. Parents are well advised to check the settings regularly, adjust them according to age and block access with a secure password. These measures complement attentive media education by parents, but do not replace it. It is also advisable to set up an account for the offspring via the operating system and to restrict functions such as the installation of programs and content according to age. Internet access can also be restricted on mobile phones.

Last but not least, parents should agree with their child to inform them if they see or hear questionable or inappropriate content. Children should know that they are not to blame if they have seen problematic websites and that they can count on support from their parents. Depending on the severity of the case, parents can also save the contribution via screenshot and send it to complaint centres such as jugendschutz.net or internet-complaints office.com report.

Parents should always follow two rules of thumb: You should respect the personal rights of your children to the best of your knowledge and belief! Since this is not your own personal data, ask yourself the control question whether you would consent to the collection of data if you yourself were affected!