According to cybersecurity firm Kaspersky’s annual report on digital habits, children’s interest in artificial intelligence (AI) more than doubled in the past year. Covering May 2024 to April 2025, the analysis reveals a spike in searches and usage of AI-powered chatbots, rising meme culture, and new rhythm-based games.
AI-related search queries comprised 7.5% of all child-led searches, up from 3.19% the previous year. Popular platforms include ChatGPT, Gemini, and Character.AI, which lets users chat with bots modelled on fictional or real characters. While these tools offer creativity and interaction, experts warn that due to limited moderation, they can expose children to emotionally intense or age-inappropriate content.
“Young users are integrating AI into their digital lives,” says Anna Larkina, Privacy Expert at Kaspersky. “But unmoderated platforms can carry risks.”
In Kenya, the top Android apps for children were YouTube (35%), WhatsApp (12%), YouTube Kids (8%), Roblox (8%), and Instagram (7%). Character.AI ranked 20th with 0.71% usage time. Globally, YouTube remained dominant, with WhatsApp overtaking TikTok for second place.
Beyond AI, meme culture and online games shaped digital habits.
Children gravitated toward “brain rot” humour—absurd, viral memes like tralalero tralala and tung tung tung sahur. Meanwhile, the browser-based rhythm game Sprunki emerged as a top-five gaming search on YouTube, praised for its audiovisual gameplay.
Streaming remains central, with 18% of searches tied to video content. Google, YouTube, Netflix, Twitch, and Disney+ remain popular platforms. Roblox, Minecraft, and the instant-play platform Poki continue to lead gaming.
To ensure safer online experiences for children, Kaspersky recommends that parents maintain open communication about digital behaviour, use reliable security tools to protect against threats, teach children the basics of cybersecurity, and actively monitor their online activity using digital parenting apps.
The takeaway? Children’s digital lives are evolving fast—and staying informed is key to keeping them safe.
