Mayoral elections, village festivals and digital dangers in Oberhavel!

Mayoral elections, village festivals and digital dangers in Oberhavel!

There are several mayoral elections coming up in Oberhavel this year. The election committee announced the end of nominations for the municipalities of Hennigsdorf, Velten and Glienicke/Nordbahn on July 17, 2025. Now it is up to the voters' votes to decide who will lead the region's fortunes. At the same time, Glambeck is preparing for its traditional village and church festival, while Borgsdorf is proudly celebrating its 650th anniversary.

Another focus in the region is the development of residential areas. The MAZ has started a series about Oranienburg's residential areas and begins in Lindenring, where the OWG cooperative manages almost 300 apartments. This residential area was built after the Second World War. A look at history shows that the foundation stone for the first apartment block was laid in September 1958. Residents like the quiet location and affordable rents, but there are also concerns about radioactive contamination and bombs in the ground.

Parent work and digital awareness

The city of Oranienburg is initiating a monthly get-together for parents called “Parent Cloud” to educate them about the dangers of social media. The next event will take place on September 3rd in the Oranienburg parent-child meeting and has the theme “The invisible dangers in digital space”. Admission is free and offers a good opportunity to talk about current challenges.

A study commissioned by the North Rhine-Westphalia Media Authority shows that more than 60% of underage TikTok users in Germany regularly feel uncomfortable through content. Many young people report videos that provoked disgust or extremist ideas they encountered. Critics are calling for more youth protection from platforms like TikTok, while parents and teachers should also take responsibility for their children's media use. The study also showed that over 30% of TikTok challenges are considered potentially harmful or even fatal.

Adolescent health and well-being

WHO has highlighted in its recent reports that 11% of young people show signs of problematic behavior when it comes to social media. Girls are particularly affected; the rate is 13%. Constantly being online and in contact with peers, especially for 15-year-old girls, creates pressure that can result in lack of sleep and problematic behavior. There is a clear gender split, with boys more likely to develop problematic gaming habits.

Dr. Hans Henri P. Kluge from the WHO calls for more media literacy and has formulated the goal that young people should be able to make informed decisions about their online activities and protect their well-being. Interventions should not only be age-appropriate, but also gender-sensitive and culturally adapted in order to best support young people.

In another initiative, the District Kita Parents' Advisory Board (KKEB) Oberhavel called on parents to vote on the best daycare centers. The “Villa of the Little Frogs” daycare center in Schwante received the most votes, followed by the “Beaver Castle” in Hennigsdorf and the Kinderland after-school care center in Schildow. The ten daycare centers with the most votes can look forward to an exercise box with games and activity materials, which will benefit the children's active play and movement.

Whether in the elections, celebrating old traditions or dealing with digital dangers - Oberhavel is a region that offers many facets and is constantly developing. You can find more information about developments on site in the articles from MAZ, The time and WHO.