In the midst of a war with Iran, as daily routines are once again disrupted, anxiety is rising—not only among adults but also, and especially, among children and teens. While parents sink into news screens, children are dealing with a flood of information—sometimes frightening and sometimes false—mainly on TikTok and social media.
We spoke with Nirit Tzuk, a researcher of youth and children’s culture, about what the younger generation is going through these days, and how we can help them cope.
How are children experiencing the war?
“Children are confused. They hear talk about war with Iran, see planes in the sky, hear sirens, and receive bits and pieces of information from all directions—news, parents, and mostly from the internet. One boy asked me this week: ‘So now there will be a world war? Also chemical missiles? What about the reactor in Dimona?’ We sometimes don’t understand how real their fear is. And the problem is that precisely in these moments—we remain silent, instead of talking to them.”
Do you think children are exposed to this information in the right way?
“Absolutely not. Precisely because the discourse around them is so loud—they’re not really able to understand what’s happening. It’s a jumble of fears, rumors, fake news, photos, and videos circulating on TikTok. Some of them joke, saying ‘we wanted them to cancel our final exams, but not like this,’ others upload videos with sirens and scary music. Some actually cry or talk about how scared they are. It’s an environment that feeds anxiety and helplessness.”
And in schools—is there an organized conversation about the topic?
“It varies. In a survey I conducted among parents and teachers, it emerged that in some settings, Zoom conversations are held, but there is no uniform policy. Some staff choose to ‘protect’ the children and don’t talk to them about it at all—and unfortunately, that creates the opposite effect. When you don’t talk—the child is left alone with their imagination, disturbing images, and rumors. The result: more fear.”
So what do you suggest parents do during times like these?
“First of all—talk. Don’t panic at their questions, don’t dodge. Sit with them, ask what they saw, what they heard, what they understand—and correct what needs correcting. Children pick up on everything, but they don’t always understand it correctly. That’s why it’s important to talk to them eye to eye, and in age-appropriate language.”
And what about social media? That’s their main source of information
“True. Teens today barely consume structured news. They see headlines on apps, videos on TikTok, and are influenced by whoever seems ‘credible’ to them. But these are not always real sources. I recommend teaching them how to fact-check—is this information also appearing on well-known news sites? Who is the person speaking? What’s their motive? It’s also worth teaching them to identify videos that were AI-generated or edited with bias.”
Are there signs parents should look out for?
“Of course. If a child begins to withdraw, doesn’t sleep at night, watches screens for hours, is constantly tense—these are red flags. That’s the time to get closer, check what they’re watching, talk with them, and reassure. You can also teach them simple techniques for coping with stress—breathing, guided imagery. There’s also the option of using TikTok’s parental control app, which allows content filtering and screen time limits.”
And personally—what do you think is most important right now?
“To remember that children see us as their anchor. Even if we’re under pressure ourselves, it’s important to be mindful of the message we’re conveying. How much news we consume, whether we only talk about fears and worst-case scenarios—or also offer hope and optimism. A hug, a conversation, and a sense of calm—sometimes those are the most important things we can give them.”