Preparation

• The following lessons should preced this one:
  • c201 - Age Appropriate Media
  • c202 - Media Usage Time
  • c203 - Psychological and Social Risks
  • c208 - Protecting Children's Privacy
  • c209 - Preventing Cyber Grooming, Sextorsion and Love Scamming

Method / Process description

• Exercise: Start by gathering on the board who uses which messenger. Make a dash for each mention.
  • What is the most frequently used messenger? (Let me guess... it's WhatsApp, followed by Facebook Messenger)
  • Are participants using other messengers?
  • What are the pros and cons participants know about the messengers? Also note these down.

• Input: Complete the information you gathered in the exercise and summarize the most important facts around choosing a chat app (see also Module 2 > Communication > Messenger services - WhatsApp & Co). A detailed overview of the advantages and disadvantages of chat apps can be found at: https://www.securemessagingapps.com. Highlight what is relevant when selecting a chat app for a child:
  • official age recommendations (never under 13, in most countries even not under 16)
  • the impact of the messenger's business model (If it's free, where does the money come from?)
  • being forced to register with a service that uses private data like e.g. Facebook or Google
  • the most appropriate chat apps for kids (and adults) are either SMS, Signal or Threema
  • special chat apps for kids suggest being secure but they often aren't + kids usually don't want to use them
  • mention that there are also chat functions in other apps, like social media or video gaming
• Exercise "But Everybody Uses it": Many people have the impression that there is no other option than to use the WhatsApp messenger. This exercise guides participants to take a first step into the world of alternative messengers. All participants who have their smartphone with them and have a mobile internet connection can try to install an alternative messenger (Signal, Threema, Matrix,...). Check if there are already people in their contacts who also use the app. Also look at how the app works. Participants who don't have a smartphone or don't want to install the app, team up with someone to try the installation on their device. Collect the results in plenum:
  • Did participants find other people using these apps?
  • How do they rate the installation and the usability of the app? 
• Input: Introduce best practice how parents can guide their children using chat apps (Module 6 > 6.2. Accompanying children in their use of digital media > Risks for children and young people online > Accompanying Chats):
  1. Start by using SMS - it gives kids the option to communicate without being exposed to the full features of a chat app.
  2. Start using chat apps in the family: parents, brothers and sisters, grand parents and create a family chat group. This is a good occasion to install an alternative messenger for the entire family and use this app for the family communication.  In this setting children can train:
     1. how to communicate well online (see also Module 2 > Communication and Collaboration > Communication > Netiquette & Social Media)
     2. learn about the rules for sharing imagery
     3. learn how to find a good measure for messaging (not checking every incoming message, limiting alerts, not answering immediately,..)
     4. learn which communication channel to use when (e.g. if it's urgent: call instead of texting)
     5. learn to also consider the recipients needs (is it a good time to send a message, is the content clear to the recipient, is the content adequate for the recipient)
  3. Add the child's closest friends. This is a good opportunity to ask other families to use an alternative messenger as well. Parents should still review the contact list with the child at the beginning, but they should not read the children's messages.
  4. Allow children to add other people. Keep on talking to your child about who he or she adds to their contacts. If you have the impression your child handles it responsibly, you can stopp checking the contacts. If you have the impression your child is not yet safe handling these contacts keep on accompanying it with going together through the contact list from time to time. Note that as long as you limit the app usage to an alternative messenger the risk of having unwanted contacts is much lower than if you use a popular messenger.
  5. Allow children to use any messenger. When you have the impression that your child is able to handle all aspects of chats responsibly you can also leave it up to your child to use other messenger app. In case you never had problems with cyberbullying, inadequate content or shady contact requests, prepare your child for these topics.    
• Exercise "More Privacy": Let participants open the chat app they use most frequently on their smartphones. Let them open the Settings section and check out which options they have to limit tracking and usage of personal data. Parents should also adjust these settings on their children's devices (Module 6 > 6.2. Accompanying children in their use of digital media > Risks for children and young people online > Accompanying Chats > Customize Chat and Messenger Settings):
  •  WhatsApp: https://www.consumerreports.org/privacy/how-to-use-whatsapp-privacy-settings/
  • Telegram: https://www.oilandfish.com/posts/telegram-privacy-settings.html
  • Signal: https://www.guidingtech.com/top-signal-messenger-privacy-settings/
  • Threema: https://www.nextpit.com/threema-tips-and-tricks

• Input: Introduce family guidelines for chat and hand out printable.
  • Re-emphasize the need to accompany children at the beginning of use.
  • Highlight privacy rights of children (parents should not read private messages only if there is a high risk of a dangerous situation)
  • Talk about parents as role-models in the way they communicate with the family.
  • Encourage participants to resist peer pressure to use mainstream messengers too early and unsupervised.

• Reflection: Discuss with participants about the content of the lesson:
  • How do they feel about using another messenger?
  • Were they aware of the issues of mainstream messengers before?
  • How do the currently handle messaging in their family?
  • How do they feel with messaging? Do they sometimes feel overwhelmed by the amount of messages?

Download material

• Printable "Family Guidelines for Chats"

References

• Secure Messaging Apps Comparison: https://www.securemessagingapps.com

• Soziale Netzwerke, Messenger & Co.: https://www.klicksafe.de/eltern/kinder-von-10-bis-16-jahren/soziale-netzwerke-messenger-co/