Digital platforms: Kaspersky warns of rising global threat to child safety

ISLAMABAD: A global cybersecurity company Thursday warned that digital safety has become a key concern for families after growing internet penetration in Pakistan and children accessing digital platforms at increasingly younger ages. In this regard, the company released a study on Thursday. Research from Kaspersky highlights a shift in children’s online behaviour, with growing interest in artificial intelligence tools alongside social media, streaming, sports and gaming platforms, underscoring the importance for parents to understand what captures their attention online, including what they search for, the platforms they use, and the trends shaping their interests and behaviour. The Kaspersky study, using anonymized global and Pakistan data from Kaspersky Safe Kids, analysing trends from January and February 2026, highlights a strong curiosity among children around AI tools. AI-related apps and services account for a quarter of all Google searches, reflecting a clear rise in engagement with AI-driven platforms. Tools such as ChatGPT, Gemini, Character. AI, Microsoft Copilot, Grok, and DeepSeek rank among the most popular, underscoring how deeply AI is becoming integrated into children’s everyday digital experiences in Pakistan. Communication-related searches rank second overall, driven largely by social platforms such as Instagram, TikTok, and Pinterest, followed by video streaming services led by YouTube and Netflix. YouTube remains the primary content platform for children, accounting for nearly a third of all app time among children in Pakistan-a pattern consistent with global trends. Instagram and WhatsApp were the second and third most popular apps in the country. Copyright Business Recorder, 2026

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