Conflict and media utilization provoke significant apprehension

In a recent study published by the Körber Foundation in Hamburg, titled "Parents in Focus 2025," it was revealed that many parents are concerned about the future of their children and feel that schools could do more to support and prepare them.

One of the key concerns for parents, particularly those with teenagers, is the global political security situation. A staggering 54 percent of the over 1,000 online respondents expressed feelings of burden due to wars and political crises around the world.

Another significant worry for parents is lack of motivation and poor school performance, which was cited by a substantial number of respondents.

When it comes to media consumption, 68 percent of respondents personally support their child, especially those aged 12 to 14, in promoting responsible use. Interestingly, fathers tend to worry about their teenagers' media consumption more often than mothers.

The most frequent source of conflict between parents and teenagers is the topics of media consumption. Despite this, 53 percent of respondents believe that schools should also teach media literacy, and both parents and schools should share this responsibility equally.

In an effort to address these concerns, some schools in Germany are integrating projects like "Medienscouts NRW," which promote responsible digital media use and critical thinking, often starting from grade 7. Examples include Gymnasium Barntrup, which systematically fosters these skills alongside social and team-building measures.

Additionally, specialized programs such as the FFH-Mediencamp in Hessen offer intensive hands-on media workshops for youth aged 14 to 17, covering content creation on platforms like Instagram and TikTok, podcasting, AI usage, and fake news recognition.

Universities like RWU also provide practical media workshops for school classes, combining creativity and technical media production skills, reinforcing career readiness.

Unfortunately, more than three-quarters of the surveyed parents of school-aged children reported feeling stressed due to the multitude of tasks, duties, and challenges. Half of all surveyed parents see the use of smartphones and tablets by their teenage offspring critically.

Despite these challenges, it is clear that parents are eager for schools to do more in preparing their children for the future, and schools are beginning to respond with initiatives focused on media literacy and career preparation.