Shock in Hamburg: White Tiger” tortured children and is in jail!

Shock in Hamburg: White Tiger” tortured children and is in jail!

A few days ago a case made headlines in Hamburg that was both alarming and shocking. 20-year-old Shahriar J. is in the Hahnöfersand correctional facility and faces serious allegations. He is accused of brutally torturing mentally unstable children over the Internet. Under the pseudonym “White Tiger” he is said to have encouraged children to self-harm between 2021 and 2023. It is tragic that a 13-year-old boy from the USA is said to have been driven to suicide in 2022 by his actions. In total, the young man is accused of 123 crimes, including murder and sexual abuse, which gives the whole case a particularly dark note. After his arrest, after three days in custody, he was transferred to the Hahnöfersand JVA, which offers 176 places, including departments for open and closed juvenile detention as well as a social therapy department.

Such incidents shed light on the dangers that the Internet can pose to young people. This is also underlined by the WHO's current research on media use among young people. According to a report, one in 11 teenagers shows signs of problematic behavior related to social media, which is particularly pronounced among girls (13%), while only 9% of boys are affected. Over half of all young people are constantly in contact with friends online, with 15-year-old girls being particularly popular here at 44%. At the same time, young people spend a lot of time playing digital games, with 34% playing every day and 22% spending at least four hours on game days.

The downside of digital media

But it's not just young people who are at risk, but also their well-being: problematic media use is associated with psychological stress, lower social well-being and even higher substance use. The WHO sees a clear need for action here. Like Dr. Hans Henri P. Kluge emphasizes that it is important to promote media literacy and possibly introduce age restrictions for social media. Young people should be empowered to make informed decisions about their online activities and protect their well-being.

In addition, studies like JIM 2022 make it clear that almost all young people in Germany own a smartphone and use the Internet every day. Here it is particularly important to emphasize the positive sides of social media. Many teens report peer support and social connections that help them feel less lonely. Social exchange can also play an important role in the lives of young people.

The role of parents and schools

What can parents and schools do to better support their children in this digital world? It is crucial that parents actively participate in media education and show an understanding of the challenges that social media brings. Schools have a responsibility to provide comprehensive information about the risks and opportunities of the digital world. They should ensure that they pursue gender-sensitive approaches and also take different cultural backgrounds into account.

Social media operators are also challenged. Age verification and appropriate filters are necessary to protect children from harmful content. The spread of dangerous tests of courage, such as those that often occur on social media, shows how urgently there is a need for action. Examples like the Blackout Challenge have already had tragic consequences, which is why responsible design of digital tools is essential.

Overall, we as a society must work together on a solution that focuses on the digital well-being of young people, so that risky use also creates an opportunity for positive growth for the young generation.