Kaspersky’s Q1 2026 research indicates that Indian children spend the majority of their online time on communication and media platforms across both Windows and Android devices. However, the study, based on anonymized data from Kaspersky Safe Kids(https://www.kaspersky.com/safe-kids), also highlights a significant disparity in exposure to risk categories, with mobile devices presenting notably higher instances of potentially harmful content.
The findings underscore the increasing reliance of children on mobile technology and the persistent challenges parents face in ensuring digital safety. The report aims to inform parents about evolving online habits and areas requiring focused attention, particularly given the growing prominence of personal mobile devices among young users.
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Kaspersky : Dominant Online Activities and Device-Specific Risks
The research analyzed anonymized data from Indian users of Kaspersky Safe Kids, separating activity on Windows and Android devices. Across both platforms, “Internet, Communication & Media” and “Software, Audio, Video” together accounted for over three-quarters of all recorded online activity, indicating that children’s digital engagement is primarily centered around communication and shared media consumption.
On Windows devices, “Internet, Communication & Media” constituted 43.44% of activity, with “Software, Audio, Video” close behind at 34.99%. News media captured 8.43%, while computer games held a 2.60% share. Risk categories such as adult content were recorded at 1.91% and “Alcohol, Tobacco, Narcotics” at 0.29%. Kaspersky notes that while individually small, the consistent presence of these categories necessitates ongoing parental oversight.
The picture shifted notably on mobile devices. Android traffic showed a similar overall pattern, with “Internet, Communication, Media” (39.86%) and “Software, Audio, Video” (34.89%) accounting for roughly three-quarters of activity. However, children’s exposure to risk categories on Android demonstrated a clear difference: Adult content reached 5.71% of activity, nearly triple its 1.91% share on Windows. E-Commerce (5.70%) and News media (4.69%) were also meaningfully higher on mobile platforms, while “Alcohol, Tobacco, Narcotics” held steady at 0.26%.
“It’s encouraging to see that Indian children’s time online is still anchored in communication, shared media, and everyday self-expression rather than pure entertainment,” stated Jaydeep Singh, General Manager for India at Kaspersky (https://www.kaspersky.com/). “But the presence of adult content, narcotics-related material, and unsupervised gaming, even in small shares, is a reminder that curiosity online doesn’t stop at the categories parents expect. Mobile devices in particular are where we’re seeing that gap widen, and that’s exactly where parents need to stay closest.”
Building Cyber Awareness: The KidZania Partnership
In response to the evolving digital landscape and the need for proactive education, Kaspersky has partnered with KidZania India to open Cyber Investigation Centres in Mumbai and Delhi NCR. These centers aim to provide children with a hands-on, role-play experience as cyber investigators, teaching them to detect and respond to online threats in a simulated environment.
Purshottam Bhatia, Head of Consumer Business, South Asia, Kaspersky, emphasized the strategic importance of this initiative. “A child who has role-played spotting a phishing attempt at KidZania carries that instinct home, onto the same devices this data is flagging. That’s the outcome we’re chasing with this partnership, not just downloads, but instinct.”
The report underscores the evolving digital landscape for young users and highlights the critical role of parental controls and continuous education in mitigating online risks, a topic frequently covered in latest digital privacy trends (https://technosports.co.in/) and cybersecurity analyses. The findings reinforce the need for parents to remain vigilant and adapt their supervision strategies, especially as children increasingly use mobile devices that may operate with less direct oversight.
