Survey identifies online risks for children in Pakistan — Dawn

A Kaspersky survey on the digital interests and online activity of children in Pakistan has identified risks associated with social platforms, multiplayer games and the development of generative artificial intelligence. As Dawn reports, the study covered countries in the Middle East, Turkey and Africa region, including Pakistan.

Most popular apps

During the first eight months of 2026, YouTube was the most popular mobile app among children in Pakistan, at 31.2%. It was followed by Instagram at 18.8% and WhatsApp at 17.4%. Facebook accounted for 10.8%, while TikTok ranked fifth with 5.7%.

Multiplayer games were also among the country’s ten most visited online resources by children. In particular, Roblox was used on smartphones and computers, while Discord, a platform for communication and community building, was used on desktop computers.

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Communication risks and deepfakes

Kaspersky experts noted that on gaming services, children can communicate directly with people they do not know in real life. According to the survey, perpetrators may use deception, manipulation and psychological pressure to gain a child’s trust, obtain their personal photos or videos, arrange an offline meeting, or use the materials for blackmail. This type of exploitation is called online grooming; phishing was also named among the key threats.

The report separately highlighted the risks of generative AI. Deepfakes — fabricated or altered images and videos — can be used for cyberbullying. Experts advise parents to encourage children not to communicate with strangers, not to share personal photos or confidential information, and to turn to adults if online communication causes discomfort or a sense of danger.