Social media

“Another child has just died”

Dangers lurk in social media every day.(Bild: EXPA Pictures. Alle Rechte vorbehalten. // EXPA Pictures. All rigths reserved.)

The "shark tank" of social media harbors many dangers. Every third child suffers from media addiction. Bans are useless. It is more important to educate teachers and parents.

Children go to bed with Bibi Blocksberg and wake up with the hardest pornography." Principal Silke Müller has found drastic words to draw attention to the dangers of social media. The bestselling author will be a guest speaker at the "Violence-School-Media" networking meeting at the Schlossmuseum Linz on Friday. "Digital media and how to deal with it is a concern for teachers, parents and us," says education officer Christine Haberlander, who knows how important it is for teachers to be "equipped" with the appropriate skills.

A place where dangers are constantly lurking
"The digital world doesn't stand still. This is precisely why education and training is extremely important. The integration of digital ethics and media education into lessons is crucial," says Haberlander. After all, young people spend an average of 130 minutes a day on the internet. A place where dangers are constantly lurking.

Nude photos, racism, cyberbullying
"Every third child suffers from media addiction. Nude photos are sent, there is racism, cyberbullying. Another child has just died after taking part in a TikTok challenge. We can't pull the plug, but it's about a reflective approach to social media," says Müller. The German expert speaks of a kind of media driver's license for parents; the children's most important caregivers in particular need to be educated. Because even if 40,000 employees at TikTok take care of critical content, this is only a drop in the ocean.