Kaspersky warns of growing online risks for children

ISLAMABAD: A leading cybersecurity company on Thursday warned Pakistanis that young users may encounter cybersecurity threats while using platforms including multiplayer online games and AI. Kaspersky’s experts have examined the digital interests and online activity of children across the META region including Pakistan, identifying the most visited web resources and popular mobile applications during the first eight months of 2026. The analysis also highlights cybersecurity threats young users may encounter on these platforms, including multiplayer online games, as well as risks driven by AI. According to Kaspersky’s experts, YouTube, with 31. 2 percent, was the most popular mobile application among children in Pakistan during the first eight months of 2026, followed by Instagram with 18. 8 percent and WhatsApp with 17. 4 percent. Facebook accounted for 10. 8 percent, while TikTok ranked fifth with 5. 7 percent. Multiplayer games featured among the top 10 most visited online resources in Pakistan, including popular titles such as Roblox, accessed by children on both smartphones and computers; and Discord, a communication and community platform, which were also among the resources used by children via desktop in Pakistan. Experts note that children may encounter malicious actors across a wide range of online platforms, including gaming services. Multiplayer games can present particular risks, as they enable direct communication with other players, including people children may have never met in real life. The development of generative AI is also creating new challenges for children’s online safety. One emerging concern is the use of deepfakes — manipulated or fabricated images and videos — in cyberbullying. Photos, videos and other content shared online can potentially be repurposed to create deepfakes or other forms of fabricated content. Copyright Business Recorder, 2026

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