Challenges in social networks

Social media can be inspiring and offer many opportunities to network and exchange ideas. It often encourages people to join in and imitate others. However, this can harbor certain risks.

For example, when children and young people come across dangerous challenges online. If they try to complete these challenges too, they may endanger themselves or others. What makes some challenges so dangerous and how can you protect your child from them? The ZEBRA team (www.fragzebra.de) from the NRW Media Authority answers these and other questions.

Internet challenges are challenges or tests of courage that can differ greatly from one another. For each challenge, there is a set behavior that is then filmed and disseminated. You can either post the video on social media or send it to other people via messenger services. Challenges also usually have a fixed recognizable feature, such as a certain name, music or dance.

Other people are often explicitly asked to imitate the challenge next and nominate other people.

When challenges are imitated, however, this is not always filmed by young people and shared online. In some cases, they only serve as inspiration to reenact them with friends.

The fact that young people take part in tests of courage is nothing new. Even before social networks existed, young people tested their limits and wanted to prove themselves to their group of friends. Sometimes it's about not always listening to adults and setting yourself apart from them.

Sometimes social groups play a role. If people from their own environment have already taken part in challenges, this can put a lot of pressure on children and young people. It is not uncommon for them to be tempted to do things that they may not feel comfortable with. If this challenge is even done online and therefore in public, this can further increase the social pressure.

Not all challenges are dangerous. Many challenges are harmless and fun to do. Challenges can even have a positive influence and inspire people to do something good for themselves or others.

About 30% of internet challenges are not so harmless, however. They can tempt children and young people to harm themselves or those around them. Of these negative challenges, 96% involve challenges that can cause physical or psychological harm. Around 1% can even be potentially fatal.

This and much more can be found in the study "Challenge Accpeted" by the NRW Media Authority.

Protecting children completely from certain online content is not always easy. It is not possible to completely prevent a child from coming into contact with harmful content. As a parent, you can still take some measures to warn your child about dangerous challenges.