Alarming facts: young people and the dangers of social media!

Alarming facts: young people and the dangers of social media!

In today's digital era, dealing with media plays a central role in the life of young people. The conference "Disinformation in the Age of Social Media" in Mechernich has recently presented alarming statistics that show how deep social media are rooted in the reality of the young people. According to Melanie Houf from the Euskirchen police, enormous amounts of data are processed in social networks worldwide in just 60 seconds. Over 2.4 million Google searches, 700,000 hours of YouTube videos and 11.4 million views on Instagram are just a few of the numbers that illustrate how omnipresent these platforms are.

The effects of this use are serious. Houf reports that every second child and every second young person has already come across extremist content. Girls in particular suffer from a negative self -image, since 66 percent of them are negatively compared to others. In this environment, direct interaction has changed fundamentally with influencers. Influencers, such as the regional Star Noel Dederichs with over 150,000 subscribers on WhatsApp, have a strong influence on the life of young people.

media literacy and the challenges

Although the number of smartphone owners rises among young people-94 percent of 12 to 13 year olds have one device-often lack of real media literacy. Many only learn to use their devices, but fail to deal with content critically. A study shows that 95 percent of 12 to 19-year-olds use the Internet every day, but only 84 percent follow influencers in the field of beauty and beauty. More than half of these young people have already bought products from social media stars.

The need for media literacy is becoming increasingly urgent to curb fake news and misleading information. According to the Federal Center for Political Education, fake news is less common, but more intensively consumed in certain circles. Low trust in political and media institutions increases the susceptibility to false reports. In order to meet these challenges, educational offers and education are essential.

schools and innovative approaches

Initiatives such as the media scouts at the Hermann-Josef-Kolleg in Steinfeld show how schools in the region can become active. These scouts help classmates with questions about copyright and cyberbullying. In addition, the district of Euskirchen is investing 100,000 euros in the "Digital Making Place" (DMP) to create modern classrooms that integrate digital media. Mariusz Kopania, who will work in the DMP, will bring teachers closer to the application of digital media in class.

But media literacy is not just a task of schools; Parents also have to play a role. An open conversation and an understanding of the digital world are crucial so that young people learn to deal with group groups and pressure appropriately. Experts recommend that schools should be developed into educational locations for media literacy while platform operators are held responsible to ensure the safety and protection of users.

The challenges that social media and the associated disinformation have with them require a holistic approach. This includes promoting media literacy, critical use of content and increased awareness of the risks of the digital world. This is the only way to effectively counter the harmful spread of fake news and extremist content.

Through targeted educational measures, which take place in both schools and families, the resilience of young people can be strengthened compared to misleading information, while constructive paths are shown in the use of social media.