A new global study highlights how artificial intelligence is becoming a major part of children’s online activity in South Africa and around the world, raising fresh concerns about digital safety and parental awareness.
New research by Kaspersky shows that AI-powered platforms are now embedded in children’s daily digital behaviour, alongside social media, gaming and streaming services.
The study, based on anonymised data from Kaspersky Safe Kids (January–February 2026), found that AI-related apps and services account for a quarter of all Google searches by children.
Popular tools include OpenAI’s ChatGPT, Google’s Gemini, Character.AI, Microsoft Copilot, Grok and DeepSeek.
Researchers said the trend shows how quickly AI is becoming part of children’s everyday routines, used for learning, entertainment and interaction.
“Your child is almost certainly using AI tools - and may be more comfortable with them than you are. Rather than restricting access outright, the most effective approach is to explore these tools together, set boundaries around their use, and help children understand what AI can and cannot do reliably,” said Anna Larkina, web content analysis expert at Kaspersky.
She added that digital parenting tools could help parents guide children’s online activity “without relying on blunt restrictions alone”.
Communication-related searches ranked second, driven by platforms such as Instagram, TikTok and Pinterest, while streaming platforms like YouTube and Netflix remained highly popular.
In South Africa, YouTube accounted for about a third of children’s app usage time, followed by WhatsApp and TikTok.
Globally, music, K-pop, cartoons and creators dominated YouTube searches, while sport-related interest included the Premier League, Arsenal F.C., the National Basketball Association and the 2026 Winter Olympics.
The company urged parents to talk openly with children about online risks, monitor activity, and use digital safety tools to manage screen time and content exposure.