German Safer Internet Centre

Last updated: 2024-02-06

About our SID activities

Young people today are growing up in a sexualised media landscape. All it takes is a few clicks on a smartphone and the porn universe opens up. Not only for adults, but also for children and young people. Whether voluntarily while curiously surfing porn websites or unintentionally by sending it in class chats or on social media: Most young people come into contact with pornography for the first time between the ages of 12 and 14. Understanding pornography as part of young people's lives is therefore unavoidable.

Klicksafe sees a need for action in this context: On the one hand, it is important to protect young people from content that is harmful to their development. On the other hand, it is important to talk to young people, as porn conveys stereotypes or unrealistic ideas about sexuality and body diversity. For Safer Internet Day 2024, the EU initiative with the theme "Let's talk about porn! Pornography online", the EU initiative is focusing its campaign on protecting and educating children and young people about pornographic content, sexual violence and digital boundary violations.

What are the consequences of porn consumption? Is porn addictive? How can children and young people be protected? Talking about sexuality and pornography is not easy for everyone. Many parents shy away and suppress the fact that their children have or have had potential contact with pornography. At the same time, there is great concern that children and young people will be negatively influenced by it and receive a false image of sexuality. For klicksafe, one thing is clear: sexuality education should not be left to porn websites.

Klicksafe is calling on institutions, foundations, companies, schools, youth organizations, educational institutions, associations and private individuals across Germany to take part in Safer Internet Day on 6 February 2024 with their own contributions and projects. Whether workshops, lectures, lessons, digital formats or discussion rounds - there are many ways to participate.

In order to deal with the topic confidently and critically, klicksafe will provide various offers around Safer Internet Day 2024 with current media and sex education approaches. The aim is to create a space for discussion at various levels:

  • Forsa survey: current figures from a representative survey illustrate the challenges and experiences parents and young people are confronted with in relation to pornographic content.
  • Teaching material: At the beginning of 2024, Klicksafe experts will publish a completely revised version of the Klicksafe handbook "Let's talk about porn", which was developed in cooperation with pro familia Bayern , for school lessons and extracurricular youth work. It contains background information for teachers and specialists as well as specific practical projects and worksheets on the content modules "Life in puberty", "Ideals of beauty in our society", "Pornography online" and "Sexualised violence and digital boundary violations".
  • Material for parents: Information and tips are provided for parents to support them in the dialog about sexual education and pornography in the family.
  • Quiz: The Klicksafe quiz on "Pornography online" teaches young people about porn myths.

Content and discussions can be found on social networks under the hashtags #SID24 and #SID2024.

What we are doing to create a better internet...

We bring together various stakeholders, including different age groups and different target groups, to join SID activities and actively participate in this global initiative. As a joint effort, everyone taking part in SID helps to create a better internet, together. Selected events and activities from across Germany are promoted on Klicksafe's social media channels under the slogan "Together for a better internet".
 

About us

The German Safer Internet Centre (SIC) (www.saferinternet.de) consists of the the Awareness Centre klicksafe (a mutual project of the Media Authority for Rhineland-Palatinate (coordination), and the Media Authority for North Rhine-Westphalia), the Hotlines  internet-beschwerdestelle.de (implemented by eco and FSM) and jugendschutz.net, as well as the Helpline Nummer gegen Kummer.
 
The German SIC coordinates all SID events in Germany. Find all information about national events at www.klicksafe.de/sid.

Additional links/resources

Website
https://www.klicksafe.de

Email address
sid@klicksafe.de

Social media