As of: February 24, 2024, 6:54 a.m
By: Moritz Bletzinger
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Right-wing slogans are omnipresent on social networks such as Tiktok and Instagram: young people often use the sites every day.
© Jonathan Raa/Imago
Right-wing ideologies, harmlessly packaged in memes and music videos.
What to do if your own child gets caught up in the maelstrom?
Tips from media educator Markus Gerstmann.
Bremen – “The internet is currently full of right-wing propaganda,” warns Markus Gerstmann, board member of the Society for Media Education and Communication Culture (GMK).
At first glance, the postings often seem harmless.
Right-wing ideology hidden behind beautiful pictures, supposedly funny memes or music videos.
And that's exactly what makes the content on platforms like Tiktok and Instagram so treacherous.
Critical content on Tiktok and Instagram: “Right-wing ideas are also being flushed into people’s heads”
Young people often don't even realize what is being presented to them until it is too late.
A large number of people under 20 use Tiktok every day.
Through constant repetition, thought patterns can manifest themselves that weren't actually there before.
“At the same time, right-wing ideas are being flushed into the heads of young people,” says Gerstmann.
Right-wing narratives resonate subtly, attaching themselves to topics that young people are interested in.
For example beauty or sport, but also big, current topics.
Markus Gerstmann is on the board of the Society for Media Education and Communication Culture and gives advice on how parents can sensitize their children to critical content.
© fkn
Populist slogans can hide particularly well behind memes (images or videos with sarcastic, humorous content) and can spread rapidly with them.
“People who find it funny, even though it contains inhumane content, share the post and so it also reaches people who do not support such ways of thinking,” explains Gerstmann.
How quickly something like this can spill over into the real world is shown by the shouts of “foreigners out” at carnival to the melody of “L'amour toujours” by Gigi d'Agostino.
The “trend” arose on Tiktok.
How do I protect my child from right-wing content online?
Media educator advises: Don't judge, but listen
How do I know if my child is following right-wing content?
“It's very, very difficult for parents to notice that,” explains the media educator. “When I hear it, I can answer.
But that is a difficult challenge for the parents.”
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The problem: “Access to social networks often occurs during puberty.
“Young people are in a phase of distancing themselves from their parents,” says Gerstmann.
So what to do?
“It is important not to devalue young people,” he explains, “Parents should create a dialogue.
You can say something like: That's an interesting opinion you have, but ..." The important thing is: Don't judge, but listen.
“Young people have the feeling that they are big and grown up.
And that’s how I have to treat them, otherwise I’ll quickly be out as an adult,” says Gerstmann.
But this tolerance also has its limits.
Political education for young people: “It definitely belongs in the family”
Markus Gerstmann leads the project “#future-fabric.
“Democracy.digital.thinking” held media workshops in schools, among other things.
And that's where a large part of the educational work takes place, he says.
“Teachers should discuss current topics in politics lessons and thus link them to the lives of young people.
Political discussions also take place in the digital space.”
But parents themselves should also forestall right-wing propaganda and promote their children's media literacy.
“It definitely belongs in the family,” emphasizes the educator: “Parents should talk to their children about current topics and media.
For example, I like to discuss headlines from the newspaper and say something like: Look, that sounds strange, what do you say to that?"
Another idea is to watch their media with the children.
Of course, it's not always that easy.
“They won’t show us everything; children already know exactly what they want to show their parents,” says Gerstmann.
But: “As a parent, when I ask about it, I show my interest.
Then my child will be more likely to ask for my opinion in the future.”
My child follows right-wing content on Tikok or Instagram – parents can get help
But what if the child has already slipped into the right-wing online world?
An example was recently shared by a mother about the
star
.
Her son suddenly parroted right-wing stories and repeated AfD slogans.
And stopped listening to his mother.
The AfD is one of the most successful parties on Tiktok.
Gerstmann advises: get help!
There are mobile counseling teams and parenting advice centers that help with the question: How do I deal with such issues in the family?
Alternatively, parents can also approach schools and ask about media education projects.
It is possible to bring young people back through democratic discourse.
Gerstmann's tip: Ask important questions.
Encourage young people to think independently: “Just check out why this opinion from the internet is questionable.” In this way, parents or educators could awaken children’s research instincts and critical thinking.
The GMK can help you find local media education institutions by email (gmk@medienpaed.de) and acts as a “networker and enabler”.
Unfortunately, there is currently no helpline.
“Some democracy projects are coming to an end.
The Democracy Promotion Act is currently being blocked by the FDP – many are suffering from this,” explains Gerstmann, “but there are still projects in every region.”
(moe)