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 YouTube, WhatsApp and TikTok emerged as the most popular mobile apps among children in Egypt during the first eight months of 2026, as the rapid spread of social platforms and generative AI creates a more complex online safety environment for younger users. An analysis by Kaspersky found that YouTube accounted for 29.2% of children’s app usage measured in the study, followed by WhatsApp at 20.5% and TikTok at 18.4%. Instagram ranked fourth with 7.2%. The findings, based on anonymized Kaspersky Safe Kids data from Android devices and desktop computers, provide a snapshot of where Egyptian children are spending their digital time — and where parents may increasingly need to understand risks ranging from phishing and online grooming to cyberbullying and AI-generated deepfakes.

YouTube Leads Children’s Most Popular Apps in Egypt

Kaspersky’s analysis identified a clear concentration of activity around video, messaging and social media platforms.

• YouTube: 29.2%
• WhatsApp: 20.5%
• TikTok: 18.4%
• Instagram: 7.2%

Discord was also among the 10 most popular online resources accessed by children in Egypt, highlighting the role of communication and community platforms alongside mainstream social networks. The figures cover the first eight months of 2026 and reflect the amount of time spent using apps within the anonymized dataset rather than the percentage of all Egyptian children using each service.

Direct Messaging Creates Risks Beyond Traditional Phishing

The popularity of platforms built around communication creates a different security challenge from conventional malware or phishing attacks. Children can interact with people they know offline but also with strangers who may conceal their identities or intentions. Kaspersky warned that malicious actors can use deception and psychological manipulation to build trust before attempting to obtain personal information, photos or videos.

In more serious cases, attackers may try to arrange offline meetings, use private material for blackmail or manipulate children into harmful or illegal activities.

The process, commonly known as online grooming, has become an important part of the wider child online safety challenge. “The same basic safety rules that protect children offline apply online,” said Andrey Sidenko, Head of Child Online Safety at Kaspersky.

Sidenko said children should be encouraged not to share sensitive information or personal images with strangers and should understand that they can approach a trusted adult whenever an online interaction makes them uncomfortable.

Generative AI Gives Cyberbullying a New Tool

Generative AI is adding another dimension to the problem. Images and videos that children post online can potentially be repurposed to produce convincing fabricated material, including deepfakes, creating new possibilities for harassment and cyberbullying. Kaspersky said AI-generated material currently accounts for fewer incidents than more traditional forms of cyberbullying, but the accelerating capabilities of generative technology could make protection of children’s digital identities and reputations increasingly important. The shift changes the meaning of sharing a photograph online. The risk is no longer limited to who can view or redistribute the original image; generative tools can potentially manipulate it into entirely new content. Digital Reputation Becomes Part of Child Online Safety Seifallah Jedidi, Head of Consumer Channel in the Middle East, Turkiye and Africa at Kaspersky, said families need to understand both established threats and those emerging alongside AI. “Parents and children should understand the most common threats, from fraud, phishing and cyberbullying to online grooming, while also staying alert to emerging risks associated with generative AI,” Jedidi said. He added that publicly shared content could potentially be reused to create fabricated images or videos, affecting children’s privacy and digital reputation. Kaspersky recommends combining parental controls with conversations about what children share, who they communicate with and how to respond when an interaction appears suspicious. As children increasingly move between messaging apps, social networks, gaming communities and AI-powered services, online safety is shifting beyond simply controlling screen time toward understanding who children interact with, what information they disclose and how their digital content can be reused. Source Kaspersky analysis of anonymized Kaspersky Safe Kids data covering Android devices and desktop computers during the first eight months of 2026, released September 29, 2026.