Islamabad (GNP): Kaspersky’s security experts have analyzed the digital habits and online activity of children across the META region, including Pakistan, identifying the most frequently visited websites and popular mobile apps during the first eight months of 2026. The study also highlights cybersecurity risks young users may face on these platforms, including multiplayer online games, along with emerging threats linked to AI.
According to the findings, YouTube was the most popular mobile app among children in Pakistan during this period, used by 31.2 percent of young users, followed by Instagram at 18.8 percent and WhatsApp at 17.4 percent. Facebook accounted for 10.8 percent, while TikTok ranked fifth at 5.7 percent.
Multiplayer games also featured prominently among the top 10 most visited online platforms in Pakistan, including titles like Roblox — accessed by children on both smartphones and computers — and Discord, a communication and community platform also popular among children using desktop devices.
Kaspersky’s experts noted that children can encounter malicious actors across a wide range of online spaces, including gaming platforms. Multiplayer games pose particular risks since they allow direct communication with other players, including strangers children have never met in person.
In some cases, these interactions can endanger children and their families. Bad actors may use deception, manipulation, and psychological pressure to earn a child’s trust, obtain personal photos or videos, arrange in-person meetings, or later use that material for blackmail. They may also attempt to draw children into harmful or illegal activities — a form of exploitation known as online grooming, which remains one of the most serious digital threats to children alongside phishing.
The rise of generative AI is introducing new challenges to children’s online safety as well. One growing concern is the use of deepfakes — manipulated or fabricated images and videos — in cyberbullying, as content children share online can potentially be repurposed to create fake or altered media.
Andrey Sidenko, Head of Child Online Safety at Kaspersky, said the same basic safety principles that protect children offline apply online as well, noting that bad actors may pose as peers or exploit information shared on social media to build trust with a child. He advised parents to encourage children not to engage with strangers online, share personal photos or sensitive details, or keep online conversations hidden, stressing that children should always feel able to turn to a trusted adult if something makes them feel unsafe or uncomfortable — adding that open communication at home remains one of the most effective tools for helping children navigate online risks.
Seifallah Jedidi, Head of Consumer Channel for Kaspersky in the Middle East, Turkey, and Africa, said parents and children alike should understand common threats such as fraud, phishing, and cyberbullying, as well as online grooming, while also staying aware of emerging risks tied to generative AI. He noted that publicly shared content can be repurposed to create fake images or videos, potentially compromising a child’s privacy and online reputation. He added that helping children build good digital habits, think carefully before sharing content online, and use tools like parental controls — such as Kaspersky Safe Kids — can significantly improve their safety.
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These findings are based on anonymized data from Kaspersky Safe Kids, tracking the amount of time children spent using apps on Android devices and desktop computers during the first eight months of 2026.
Sohail Majeed is a Special Correspondent at The Diplomatic Insight. He has twelve plus years of experience in journalism & reporting. He covers International Affairs, Diplomacy, UN, Sports, Climate Change, Economy, Technology, and Health.
