Kaspersky warns of growing online risks for children

Kaspersky, a prominent cybersecurity firm, cautioned Pakistanis about the increasing online risks that young users might face while using various platforms, including multiplayer online games and AI. The company’s specialists analyzed the digital habits and interests of children across the META region, focusing on Pakistan, and discovered the most visited websites and commonly used mobile applications during the first eight months of 2026.

The study also pointed out potential cybersecurity threats that young users may encounter on these platforms, specifically in multiplayer online games and via AI. According to Kaspersky’s experts, YouTube was the most popular mobile application among Pakistani children, accounting for 31.2 percent of usage, followed by Instagram at 18.8 percent and WhatsApp at 17.4 percent.

Facebook held 10.8 percent of the market, while TikTok ranked fifth with 5.7 percent. Multiplayer games also featured among the top ten most visited online resources in Pakistan, with popular titles like Roblox and Discord being accessed both on smartphones and computers. The experts highlighted that children could potentially come across malicious actors across various online platforms, including gaming services.

Multiplayer games, in particular, pose risks as they facilitate direct communication with other players, some of whom children may not have met in person. Furthermore, the rapid advancement of generative AI poses new challenges for children’s online safety, with deepfakes emerging as a concerning issue. Deepfakes are manipulated or fabricated images and videos that can be used for cyberbullying. Content shared online can be repurposed to create deepfakes or other forms of fabricated content.