Children also face the threat of criminal law

What many parents and young people don't realise: If children under the age of 16 send pornographic content to their peers via mobile phone, they are liable to prosecution.

Last year, three times as many teenagers were charged with pornography offences in the canton of Zurich than in the previous year. Many children do not realise that even if they are under 16 themselves, they are still liable to prosecution under the Swiss Criminal Code if they make pornographic or violent content accessible to their peers. The medium of choice is usually WhatsApp. According to the operator, its use is only permitted from the age of 16. However, this is more of a rule that the operator is hiding behind, as nine out of ten young people under the age of 16 use Whatsapp regularly.
What can parents do to avoid suddenly receiving a visit from the police and having their child involved in criminal proceedings? Banning Whatsapp on the grounds that it is only permitted from the age of 16 is unrealistic. The app is part of youth culture and is not used by the overwhelming majority to send illegal content.

Bringing the topic into the classroom

I recommend that parents of under-16s make an agreement with their children: Until a certain maturity is recognisable, parents should have the right to look into the chats. Not to take part in it, that would simply be embarrassing, especially for adolescents. If the parents come across content that is relevant under criminal law, they must discuss this with the children and their peers. The school and social services may be able to help without having to involve the police straight away. While we're at it: Parents should encourage the school to include the topic in lessons. If children know that a visit from the police and criminal proceedings are imminent, they are more reluctant to share such content.
Is that prudish? Yes and no. Adolescent children find pornographic content exciting, it's part of the world they are now discovering. Parents therefore have to tolerate even «hot» eroticism and keep the ball as flat as possible. However, we must intervene when it comes to content that makes us adults uncomfortable and gives us an uneasy or alarming feeling. This is part of our educational task.

On Medienstark you will find tips and interactive learning modules for the competent use of digital media in everyday family life. swisscom.ch/medienstark