Kaspersky analyzed children’s digital activity in Pakistan, including Pakistan, during the first eight months of 2026
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* Kaspersky analyzed children’s digital activity in Pakistan, including Pakistan, during the first eight months of 2026
YouTube was the most popular mobile application among children in Pakistan, accounting for 31.2% of their activity_ .
• Instagram ranked second, accounting for 18.8% of children’s mobile app activity in Pakistan .
• WhatsApp ranked third, representing 17.4% of children’s mobile app activity in Pakistan.
• Facebook accounted for 10.8% of children’s mobile app activity in Pakistan.
• TikTok ranked fifth, accounting for 5.7% of children’s mobile app activity in Pakistan.
• Multiplayer games were among the 10 most visited online resources used by children in Pakistan.
* _ Roblox was accessed by children in Pakistan on both smartphones and computers._
Islamabad : 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.
In some cases, these interactions can put children and their families at risk. Malicious actors use deception, manipulation and psychological pressure to gain a child’s trust, obtain personal photos or videos, arrange offline meetings, or subsequently use the material for blackmail. They may also attempt to involve children in harmful or illegal activities. This form of exploitation, known as online grooming, remains one of the key digital threats to children, alongside phishing.
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.
“The same basic safety rules that protect children offline apply online. Malicious actors may pose as peers or use information shared on social media to gain a child’s trust. Parents should encourage children not to interact with strangers, share personal photos or sensitive information, or keep online conversations secret. Just as importantly, children should know they can always turn to a trusted adult if something makes them feel uncomfortable or unsafe. Open communication at home is one of the most effective ways to help children navigate online risks,” said Andrey Sidenko, Head of Child Online Safety at Kaspersky.
“Parents and children should understand the most common threats, from fraud, phishing and cyberbullying to online grooming, while also staying alert to emerging risks associated with generative AI. Content shared publicly can be repurposed to create fake images or videos, potentially affecting a child’s privacy and digital reputation. Helping children develop good digital habits, think carefully about what they share online and use tools such as parental controls, for example Kaspersky Safe Kids, can go a long way toward improving their protection,” said Seifallah Jedidi, Head of Consumer Channel in the Middle East, Turkiye and Africa at Kaspersky.
*These findings are based on an analysis of anonymized Kaspersky Safe Kids data on the amount of time children spent using apps on Android devices and desktop computers during the first eight months of 2026.
