Kaspersky has released its annual report on kids’ digital interests, revealing a noteworthy shift: AI tools, children’s schoolwork assistants, have joined comms platforms and video games among the most Google searched categories, while pushing aside last year’s leader — video streaming services. As online learning also entered the Top 5 search categories, the face of kids’ internet is changing, with entertainment making room for communication, self-development and education.
To better understand what kids are up to online and help parents navigate the evolving digital landscape and related risks,Kaspersky analyzed anonymized data voluntarily provided by users of Kaspersky Safe Kids between May 2025 and April 2026.* The solution itself is regularly recognized in independent tests from top labs, including AV‑Comparatives and AV‑Test.
Over the past year, communication-related searches, including social media, messengers and email clients, were most popular amongst kids (19.3%). Instagram, Pinterest and TikTok became the social networks kids searched for most frequently, while WhatsApp and Telegram were the most sought-after chat apps. Video games firmly held second place with a 16% share of Google searches, with little ones looking-up free online games on Poki, CrazyGames and Roblox.
AI‑related apps and services jumped from the sixth place to the third in children’s Google searches. Popular tools such as ChatGPT, Gemini, DeepSeek, Claude, and Microsoft Copilot dominated the searches, underscoring that AI tools have quickly won children’s trust and now can be considered their digital life assistants.
Altogether, the rise of curiosity among children around AI tools and communication platforms pushed video streaming searches sharply downward, with the category falling from 18% to 8.7% year‑over‑year in Google searches, signaling a new trend in how children are choosing to spend their time online.
However, children didn’t abandon their longstanding habits completely, with YouTube remaining the most used app (29%). On this app, they were listening to music and watching video clips (26.2%), following bloggers and influencers (18%) and streaming movies, cartoons, and TV shows (14.7%). This year, kids showed a particularly strong interest in cartoon content (53.5%), with searches most often leading to the independent animation studio GLITCH, the storytelling channel My Story Animated (MSA), and the children’s favorite globally, Cocomelon – Nursery Rhymes.
A notable change occurred with online learning that entered the Top 5 of all children’s Google queries. Alongside platforms like Google Classroom, Duolingo, and GeoGebra, kids searched for programming languages Scratch and Python, looked up the periodic table in multiple languages and even explored NASA’s Artemis II mission in real time — a clear sign that the internet is increasingly being used by kids to learn, experiment, and explore.
“It’s encouraging to see that children aren’t just having fun online. They’re also learning new tools, developing skills and even exploring space,” comments Anna Larkina, web content analysis expert at Kaspersky. “Their growing interest in AI reflects a global trend, and often kids master new technologies even faster than adults. But this rapid adoption might bring its risks, and it’s crucial for parents to stay aware and involved in what their child is doing online”.
*The full text of the report is available on KDaily.
To help ensure children’s digital safety and support healthier online habits, Kaspersky recommends the following:
● Maintain open communication with children about potential online risks and establish clear guidelines to ensure their safety.
● Secure gaming experiences by installing a trusted security solution, such as Kaspersky Premium, to prevent malicious file downloads.
● Stay informed about emerging threats and actively monitor children’s online activities in order to create a safer digital environment for them.
● Introduce children to cybersecurity basics using educational tools like the Kaspersky Cybersecurity Alphabet — a free downloadable book that explains key concepts, cyber hygiene rules, and how to avoid fraud.
● Use digital parenting apps like Kaspersky Safe Kids to protect children both online and offline, manage screen time, block inappropriate content, and track their location for greater peace of mind.
