NAIROBI, Kenya- As children spend more time online, parents face growing concerns over screen time, harmful content, and cybersecurity risks.
Parents today are in a constant tug-of-war: How much screen time is too much? What are their kids watching or clicking on?
According to a recent Kaspersky survey in the Middle East, Turkiye, and Africa (META) region, 79pc of parents strive to closely monitor their children’s online activities. While 15pc step in only when necessary, 6pc admit they avoid getting involved altogether.
The concerns are far from misplaced. Kaspersky data reveals that 54pc of children in the META region have been exposed to violent online content.
Even more alarming, 18pc of parents reported cases where strangers attempted to connect with their children digitally, while 25pc lost money due to accidental downloads, unauthorized purchases, or online scams.
So, what’s the solution? Experts recommend a mix of communication, digital literacy, and reliable parental control tools to keep kids safe in the digital world.
The internet is both a playground and a minefield, so teaching kids how to navigate it safely is non-negotiable.
Kaspersky emphasizes the importance of digital literacy—not just for children, but for parents, too. Understanding cyber hygiene, spotting online threats, and using tools like VPNs or encryption shouldn’t sound like sci-fi concepts.
To make this learning curve fun and accessible, Kaspersky introduced the Kaspersky Cybersecurity Alphabet, a guidebook that teaches kids about digital safety essentials.
From phishing websites to QR codes, this interactive tool empowers families to explore cybersecurity together.
“When it comes to children’s online safety, protection from inappropriate content plays a significant role,” said Seifallah Jedidi, Head of Consumer Channel at Kaspersky for the META region. “Our goal is to empower parents with confidence that their children are safeguarded.”
While conversations and awareness are critical, pairing them with technical safeguards adds an extra layer of protection.
Tools like Kaspersky Safe Kids help parents monitor screen time, track geolocation, and block age-inappropriate content, even on platforms like YouTube.
These apps allow parents to maintain oversight without resorting to constant micromanagement. They also prevent accidental downloads of malicious files—a growing risk during gaming or unsupervised browsing.
For parents new to digital parenting tools, solutions like Safe Kids serve as an easy entry point into effective online supervision.
Parents should set clear rules and boundaries on screen time, app usage, and online interactions. Being proactive about emerging threats and checking in on kids’ digital habits can make a big difference in creating a safer online environment.
