[Untapped potential-health apps for children and adolescents].

Health apps are increasingly getting attention and gaining support from policymakers. The market is currently characterized by a very high level of vibrancy and confusion. On the one hand, it is impossible to define the range of health apps quantitatively or qualitatively. On the other hand, it is difficult or impossible for users to identify "good" health apps in the sense of serious and reliable products and services.Due to the lack of common definitions and obligatory quality standards, numerous health apps promise short-term health-related success, are not scientifically (sufficiently) sound, or are questionable concerning data protection. At the same time, there is a lack of current studies with target-group-specific findings on the significance and use of health apps that go beyond pure application studies. Existing studies show that an affinity for smartphones and interest in (health) apps does not automatically mean that digital services are also used after downloading.Given the poor research available, it can be assumed that both providers and users will not fully exploit the potential of health apps. The creation of transparency (e.g., about data collection, processing, protection, and scientific foundation), (further) development of quality standards, as well as the promotion of digital health literacy, including the provision of tools appropriate to target groups for the assessment and selection of health apps, are seen as central starting points for making the potential of health apps more usable, especially with regard to children and adolescents.