{
  "id": 11116947,
  "title": "Kaspersky warns of grooming, AI risks as WhatsApp, YouTube lead children’s app use in SA",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/01/kaspersky-warns-of-grooming-ai-risks-as-whatsapp-youtube-lead-11116947",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-10-01T05:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "IOL",
    "slug": "iol",
    "url": "https://iol.co.za/the-star/2026-10-01-kaspersky-warns-of-grooming-ai-risks-as-whatsapp-youtube-lead-childrens-app-use-in-sa/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "WhatsApp and YouTube are the top mobile apps in South Africa where children spend the most time online, according to Kaspersky's analysis. The cybersecurity firm warns of grooming, cyberbullying, and emerging risks related to artificial intelligence on online platforms. Kaspersky analyzed data from children who use Kaspersky Safe Kids on Android devices and desktop computers, stating that WhatsApp accounted for 33.8% of the time spent, followed by YouTube at 26.8%, TikTok at 7.8%, and Instagram at 6.8%. Multiplayer gaming and communication platforms, including Roblox, Steam, and Discord, were also among the commonly used online resources by children. Online platforms can expose children to strangers who might use deception, manipulate, blackmail, or coerce them into harmful or illegal activities. Kaspersky's head of child online safety, Andrey Sidenko, advises parents to prevent children from interacting with strangers and sharing personal information online. Childline South Africa reported a 7.14% increase in cyberbullying cases compared to the previous financial year, with common complaints involving shared images or videos without consent and spread of malicious rumors. The Film and Publication Board has described sextortion as a form of online child sexual exploitation, urging parents and children to report harmful or exploitative online content.",
  "summary": "WhatsApp and YouTube accounted for most of the time spent on the 10 most popular mobile apps in Kaspersky’s South African dataset, while experts warned of grooming, cyberbullying, sextortion and AI-enabled abuse.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "IOL",
        "title": "Kaspersky warns of grooming, AI risks as WhatsApp, YouTube lead children’s app use in SA",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/01/kaspersky-warns-of-grooming-ai-risks-as-whatsapp-youtube-lead",
        "published": "2026-10-01T05:00:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}