Have online experiences together instead of banning them - help for parents

A study commissioned by Rat auf Draht and SOS Children's Villages shows that 27% of all children and young people between the ages of 11 and 18 have experienced sexual harassment or violence on the Internet.

“Those affected often think that they have to deal with these experiences on their own and do not seek help from parents or other trusted people,”

says Elke Prochazka, psychologist at Rat auf Draht.

“We have to convey to children and young people that attacks of this kind are never okay and that it always makes sense to get help. However, more restrictions and filter programs for protection would not be effective,”

explains Prochazka.

The most important thing is that parents accompany their children in online activities, educate them and encourage them to be critical and self-confident. In practice, this could mean having kids explain apps and games to you and occasionally playing games together.

“It is also important to understand that filter programs are not useful primarily because cyber grooming and other sexual assaults are not limited to certain sites or apps,”

said Prochazka.

Detect fake profiles

The respondents consider exposing “fake profiles” to be important. Advice on Wire recommends that children and young people be suspicious if someone pays a lot of compliments, asks questions about sexual experiences, wants to video chat very quickly or asks if they are alone at the moment. Even if someone entices you with gifts or offers such as a modeling career, or someone claims to be young but speaks in a completely different way than young people, caution is advised.

“A good trick is to ask a person to send an unusual photo of themselves that he or she did not prepare, such as with a cucumber over their head. If the person sends the photo quickly, there is a high probability that the photo is real and there is no fake profile behind the contact,”

explains Prochazka.

Meeting online friends

Meeting online acquaintances is normal for many people. There is definitely awareness that you should take precautionary measures to protect yourself - and yet many young people also have bad experiences.

“We advise parents to allow online friendships and meetings. In this way, parents become a contact person for their child and also have the opportunity to accompany and protect them,”

said Prochazka.

Parents should give their children information about possible dangers and insist on checking the other person's identity. When it comes to personal meetings, it is important that they take place in a public place where young people can turn to people who work there.

SERVICE – Rat auf Draht has created an information folder for children and young people on the topic of protection against sexual harassment. Order: 147@ratauf Draht.at. Download: www.ratauf Draht.at

Download study results in detail

Part 1


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