Children in India face more risky content on smartphones than computers: Kaspersky
Follow UsAI apps are becoming more popular among children in India, with ChatGPT ranking seventh in usage.
Android devices saw higher exposure to harmful content compared to Windows PCs.
Kaspersky and KidZania taught children about phishing, cyberbullying and other online threats.
Children in India are spending much of their time online on communication and media apps, with AI apps now entering the mix, while Android smartphones are also exposing them to more harmful content than Windows computers. To counter this, Kaspersky and KidZania India hosted a Media Family Day on October 7. The event took place at the Kaspersky Cyber Investigation Centre at KidZania Delhi NCR. During the event, children took on the role of cyber investigators alongside their parents and worked through simulated online threats. Not only that, but the event also pointed out the changing digital habits among children and the need for parents to make online safety a regular conversation at home.
SurveyChildren are using AI apps more often
According to anonymised Kaspersky Safe Kids data for India, ChatGPT ranked seventh among the top 20 apps used by children over a recent six-month period with a 2.41 per cent share. Notably, it was the only AI chatbot in the top 10, as the rest of the list was filled by apps like YouTube, WhatsApp and Instagram.
Kaspersky also found that risky content exposure was higher on Android devices. The company stated that adult content made up 5.71 per cent of children’s activity on Android in Q1 2026, which, when compared to that on Windows PC, dropped to 1.91 per cent. The cybersecurity firm said that smartphones may need more attention from parents as they are often less supervised.
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Kids become cyber investigators at KidZania
To promote awareness, Kaspersky and KidZania India hosted a Media Family Day on October 7 at the Kaspersky Cyber Investigation Centre at KidZania Delhi NCR. The children aged six and above worked through simulated cases involving phishing, identity theft and cyberbullying as an exercise to make them aware of online threats. The kids used dedicated workstations which were equipped with Kaspersky security software and learnt how to identify online threats and respond to unsafe situations.
Each session during the event lasted for 20 minutes and accommodated up to six children. Once the kids completed a mission, they were awarded a personalised Cyber Investigator card.
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Kaspersky shares online safety tips for parents
Not only that, but Kaspersky also advised parents on how to keep conversations about internet use open at home. Furthermore, they also asked them to set clear rules with children. The cybersecurity firm also advised parents to use content filters and parental controls on their kids’ smartphones.
To keep the kids safe, the firm also said that children should be taught that AI can provide wrong information. Parents should encourage them to verify chatbot answers, avoid sharing personal details with AI tools and avoid user-created bots that may carry unmoderated content.
