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Hanover police are breaking new ground: gamers against internet dangers!
LKA Lower Saxony educates young people about internet dangers and uses Twitch to counteract cybergrooming.
Hanover police are breaking new ground: gamers against internet dangers!
The LKA Lower Saxony takes the safety of children and young people seriously and attaches particular importance to the Internet. Under the leadership of the new President Thorsten Massinger, the police are using innovative ways to familiarize young users on the Internet with the challenges and dangers. The LKA is planning a comprehensive educational offensive that will be carried out with a particular focus on the gaming platform Twitch. Loud NDR Hanover is the first police authority in Germany to take this step.
LKA President Massinger emphasizes the need for the police to not only be present online, but also accessible to young users. The Hanover Police Department has been active on Twitch since the end of 2024, where so-called “Twitch Officers” play with young people and communicate directly with them. The aim of this initiative is to provide information on an equal level and to answer questions about topics such as insults, psychological violence and sexual abuse. The focus here is particularly on raising awareness about cybergrooming. It is a worrying form of manipulation in which perpetrators pose as teenagers or trustworthy adults online in order to gain the trust of young people.
The alarming numbers
The situation is serious: in 2023 there was an alarming 45 percent increase in child pornography. Surveys show that more than a quarter of minors have already experienced cybergrooming. According to a survey by the North Rhine-Westphalia State Media Authority, almost seven percent of minors were asked to undress in front of a camera. In addition, 15 percent of those surveyed said they had been contacted by adults to meet in person. These high numbers show that educational work is urgently needed.
Help for those affected
There are also rays of hope for the children and young people affected. What they can rely on is support from trusted adults, such as parents or school counselors. In addition, there are organizations such as the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC), which offers a contact point for those seeking help via the CyberTipline. Those affected can report themselves here and receive support. NCMEC's HOPE team brings families with similar crisis experiences together and provides emotional support.
In keeping with the comparatively innovative approach to prevention, it is important to emphasize that many young people would like more information about cybergrooming. More than two thirds of those surveyed expressed this wish, with a particularly high demand for information in schools. It is a clear call to action, not only to police, but also to families, schools and society at large.
The internet landscape offers many opportunities, but at the same time it also poses great dangers for the young generation. With the right educational opportunities and support offers, it can be possible to protect children and young people and give them a safe online experience. The responsibility to take action here lies in the hands of all of us.