ISLAMABAD: YouTube emerged as the most-used mobile application among children in Pakistan during the first eight months of 2026, while cybersecurity experts warned that growing use of social media, gaming platforms and AI-powered tools is exposing young users to new forms of online risk.
According to an analysis by Kaspersky, YouTube accounted for 31.2 per cent of children’s mobile app activity in Pakistan, making it the most popular platform among young users.
Instagram ranked second with 18.8 per cent of activity, followed by WhatsApp at 17.4 per cent. Facebook accounted for 10.8 per cent, while TikTok ranked fifth with 5.7 per cent.
The findings were based on anonymised data from Kaspersky Safe Kids covering app usage on Android devices and desktop computers during the first eight months of the year.
The cybersecurity company said multiplayer games were also among the 10 most visited online resources used by children in Pakistan.
Roblox was accessed by children on both smartphones and computers, while Discord was also among the desktop resources used by young users.
The growing popularity of gaming and communication platforms has raised concerns because many allow children to interact directly with strangers, including people they have never met offline.
Cybersecurity experts warn that such interactions can create opportunities for malicious actors to manipulate children, obtain personal information or images and, in more serious cases, attempt to arrange offline meetings.
One of the major threats highlighted by Kaspersky is online grooming, in which offenders gradually build trust with children before attempting to exploit them.
Such exploitation can involve psychological pressure, requests for private photos or videos, blackmail or attempts to involve children in harmful or illegal activity.
Phishing, fraud and cyberbullying remain other significant risks faced by young internet users.
Kaspersky also pointed to emerging concerns linked to generative artificial intelligence, particularly the growing ability to create convincing deepfake images and videos.
Images, videos and other material shared publicly by children can potentially be manipulated or repurposed into fabricated content, creating risks for their privacy, safety and digital reputation.
Andrey Sidenko, Head of Child Online Safety at Kaspersky, said parents should apply the same basic principles of safety online that they teach children in the physical world.
He said malicious actors may pose as peers or use information shared publicly on social media to gain a child’s trust.
Parents should encourage children not to communicate with strangers, share personal images or sensitive information, or keep online conversations secret, he said.
Sidenko added that children should also feel confident that they can speak to a trusted adult whenever an online interaction makes them uncomfortable or unsafe.
Seifallah Jedidi, Head of Consumer Channel in the Middle East, Turkiye and Africa at Kaspersky, said families should remain aware of both established threats such as phishing, fraud and cyberbullying and newer risks linked to generative AI.
He said publicly shared material could be used to create fake images or videos and potentially damage a child’s privacy or online reputation.
Experts recommend that parents maintain open communication with children, teach them to think carefully before sharing personal information online and use parental control tools where appropriate.
The findings underline how quickly children’s digital habits are evolving in Pakistan, with video platforms, social media, messaging apps and multiplayer games now forming a major part of their everyday online activity.
As that digital exposure grows, experts say awareness among both parents and children will become increasingly important in reducing the risks associated with online communication, gaming and AI-generated content.
