"Cookies? I don't even know what that is. " - Online focus groups on adolescents' experience and behavior in the digital space: "Cookies? Ich weiß nicht mal, was das ist." - Online-Fokusgruppen zum Erleben und Verhalten von Adoleszenten im digitalen Raum.

Adolescents and young adults spend a lot of time on the Internet, yet they are not always aware of their associated rights and obligations. Topics such as data security often get neglected, thereby making them vulnerable to data misuse. This situation necessitates an investigation into the influencing factors of digitally competent behavior in this age group, with the aim to derive targeted measures. Six focus group discussions with 43 participants aged 17 to 25 uncovered a broad spectrum of awareness, understanding, and concerns regarding digital media and digital innovations. Despite their daily exposure to digital tools, many young adults struggle with complex concepts such as cookies and express a variety of ideas for enhancing transparency and education. These findings contribute to the tailor-made promotion of digital literacy within the target group.