Kaspersky revealed its Q1 2026 data on Indian kids' online activity, revealing a noteworthy pattern on both Windows and Android devices. Communication platforms and self-directed media tools have come to anchor most of children's time online, together accounting for more than three-quarters of all recorded activity on each.
Yet categories carrying real-world risk, among them adult content, alcohol, tobacco, narcotics, and gambling, continue to hold a measurable share of that activity, with mobile devices showing meaningfully higher exposure than desktop in several of them. As the data shows entertainment giving way to communication and self-directed learning, it also shows that the categories parents worry about most haven't gone anywhere.
To better understand what Indian children are doing online and help parents navigate the risks that come with it, Kaspersky analyzed anonymized data related to Indian users of Kaspersky Safe Kids across Q1 2026, covering Windows and Android devices separately. The solution itself is regularly recognized in independent tests from top labs, including AV-Comparatives and AV-Test.
On Windows devices, Internet, Communication & Media was by far the most-visited category among Indian children (43.44%), with Software, Audio, Video close behind in second place (34.99%). Together, the two categories made up more than three-quarters of all activity, with News media a distant third at 8.43%. Computer games held a modest 2.60% share, a reminder that gaming, while no longer the dominant force it once was, remains part of children's everyday routine on desktop.
Among the categories Kaspersky is flagging for continued monitoring this quarter for Adult content held a 1.91% share of Windows activity, and Alcohol, Tobacco, Narcotics registered at 0.29%. Individually small, their consistent presence in the dataset is why Kaspersky continues to recommend active, ongoing parental controls rather than a one-time setup.
Altogether, the pattern on Windows points to children's desktop time being anchored in communication and shared media consumption, with risk categories present but contained to a small, steady share, signaling a device where parental oversight, once established, tends to hold.
However, the picture shifts on mobile. Android traffic followed a similar top-line pattern, with Internet, Communication, Media (39.86%) and Software, Audio, Video (34.89%) again accounting for roughly three-quarters of activity. But children's exposure to risk categories on Android told a different story entirely: Adult content reached 5.71% of activity, nearly three times its 1.91% share on Windows. E-Commerce (5.70%) and News media (4.69%) were also meaningfully higher on mobile than desktop, while Alcohol, Tobacco, Narcotics held steady at 0.26%, close to the Windows figure of 0.29%.
A notable gap emerged specifically around adult content, which nearly tripled on Android compared to Windows, a clear sign that mobile devices, typically the less-supervised of the two, are where Indian parents may need to focus their attention most closely this quarter. In cases where parents had already activated these category blocks for adult content, gambling, and other harmful sites within Kaspersky Safe Kids, the corresponding visits were being prevented in real time, underscoring the role active parental controls continue to play in curbing this exposure.
"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. 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," said Jaydeep Singh, General Manager for India at Kaspersky.
Building Real-World Cyber Awareness: The KidZania Partnership
Today's children are digital natives. From a very early age, they are in contact with technology and its benefits, using their devices to watch videos, play online, stay in touch with friends and family, and support themselves in school tasks. It is with this awareness in mind that Kaspersky partnered with KidZania India to open Cyber Investigation Centres in Mumbai and Delhi NCR, a first-of-its-kind role-play establishment giving children a hands-on experience as cyber investigators, learning to detect and respond to online threats well before they encounter them unsupervised.
"This is exactly why we built the Cyber Investigation Centres the way we did, inside a place children already visit to explore the world, not as an add-on to our software. 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," said Purshottam Bhatia, Head of Consumer Business, South Asia, Kaspersky.
As part of the KidZania partnership, Kaspersky is currently running a special offer of a 30-day free trial, plus up to 40% off award-winning Premium protection, plus a 1-year Safe Kids subscription worth INR 1,439.
To watch favorite shows safely, 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 childrenโs online activities in order to create a safer digital environment.
Introduce children to cybersecurity basics using educational tools like the Kaspersky Cybersecurity Alphabet โ 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.
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