WhatsApp, YouTube dominate SA children’s screen time as online threats mount

South African children spend the majority of their time on WhatsApp and YouTube, according to Kaspersky's data, but these popular platforms also expose young users to online dangers. WhatsApp accounted for 33.8% of the time spent on the 10 most-used apps, while YouTube followed with 26.8%. Other platforms like TikTok (7.8%) and Instagram (6.8%) also contributed significantly.

Researchers caution that these apps can facilitate grooming, cyberbullying, and emerging AI-related threats. Multiplayer gaming and communication apps like Roblox, Steam, and Discord are also used by children. Experts warn that communication with strangers on these platforms can lead to exploitation, such as blackmail or coercion into harmful activities.

Kaspersky's head of child online safety, Andrey Sidenko, advises parents to discourage children from interacting with strangers and sharing personal information online. Childline South Africa reports a rise in cyberbullying cases, with a 7.14% increase in calls during the last financial year. Complaints include the non-consensual sharing of images or videos and the spread of malicious rumors.

The organization has also received reports of an Instagram and WhatsApp account that allegedly exposed minors' private information and shared inappropriate material. Online exploitation extends beyond cyberbullying to sextortion, described by the Film and Publication Board as a form of online child sexual exploitation and abuse in South Africa.

The board has welcomed the arrest of a South African suspect linked to an international digital sextortion syndicate. They urge parents and children to report harmful online content and warn that sextortion cases may involve threats to distribute intimate material unless victims comply with demands. Kaspersky warns that online content, including photographs and videos, may be repurposed through generative AI to create deepfakes, potentially damaging children's digital reputations.

Parents should watch for behavioral changes such as withdrawal, secrecy around devices, disturbed sleep, or severe distress after using a phone, as schools also play a role in addressing online abuse.