Kaspersky has issued a warning regarding growing threats, including cyberbullying, sexual blackmail, and artificial intelligence misuse, as data analysis shows that WhatsApp and YouTube are the primary applications used by children in South Africa.
According to Kaspersky's analysis, based on anonymized data from Kaspersky Safe Kids users on Android devices and desktop computers, WhatsApp accounted for about one-third of the time spent in the ten most popular mobile applications in South Africa. This figure was 33.8% during the first eight months of 2026, surpassing YouTube with a share of 26.8%. TikTok (7.8%) and Instagram (6.8%) were also listed.
Furthermore, children actively used platforms for multiplayer gaming and communication, such as Roblox, Steam, and Discord. Kaspersky emphasized that platforms allowing children to communicate directly with other users can expose them to risks from strangers who may use deception and manipulation to gain trust, obtain personal images or videos, arrange meetings, blackmail, or involve them in illegal activities.
The global cybersecurity and digital privacy company noted that online stalking, phishing, and cyberbullying remain key dangers. Andrey Sidenko, Head of Online Child Safety at Kaspersky, stated that attackers can impersonate peers or use information shared by children on social media to earn their trust.
Sidenko advised parents to encourage children to avoid communicating with strangers, not to share personal photos or confidential information, and not to keep online conversations secret.
These warnings align with data from Childline South Africa, which reports an increase in cases of cyberbullying and changes in the forms of online harm affecting children. Bhavna Lachman from Childline South Africa reported that the organization received 105 reports related to cyberbullying in the last financial year, which is 7.14% more than in the previous reporting period.
Lachman noted that the nature of bullying has changed: 'Cyberbullying is no longer limited to text messages. It has become very visual and viral.'
She added that frequent complaints concerned the recording or distribution of images or videos without consent, as well as the spread of malicious rumors online.
Childline also received reports that an Instagram and WhatsApp account allegedly disclosed minors' personal information, spread sexual rumors, and shared inappropriate material. The organization forwarded this incident to Instagram and escalated it to the South African Police Service's Serious and Electronic Crime Investigation Unit.
The risks extend beyond cyberbullying and include other forms of online exploitation. The Film and Publication Board (FPB) classified sexual blackmail as a form of online exploitation and child abuse affecting South Africa. The FPB recently welcomed the arrest of a South African suspect allegedly linked to an international digital sexual blackmail syndicate.
The FPB strongly urged parents and children to report harmful or exploitative content online, warning that cases of sexual blackmail can include threats to distribute intimate material if victims do not comply with demands.
Kaspersky also warned that photos and videos posted online are increasingly likely to be used by generative AI to create fabricated content or deepfakes. This makes children's digital reputation increasingly important, as publicly available material can subsequently be altered or reused in ways that affect their safety, privacy, or reputation.
Lachman recommended that parents pay attention to behavioral changes, such as withdrawal, secrecy regarding devices, sleep disturbances, or severe stress after using phones. She also stressed that schools play a role, as online abuses often spill over into classrooms, affecting attendance, concentration, and interpersonal relationships.