A child who wants to know what a word means no longer reaches for a dictionary, or even a search engine. More and more, they type the question straight into a chatbot. A recent Kaspersky study confirms the shift: children around the world, and notably in the United Arab Emirates, are showing fast-growing interest in AI tools and digital platforms, a clear change in how they behave online.
What the study found
Kaspersky used anonymized data from its Kaspersky Safe Kids parental-control app, collected in January and February 2026, covering both global and Middle East users. In other words, the figures reflect what children actually search for on their devices, not what they report in a survey.
AI is now a quarter of children's searches
AI tools now account for about a quarter of children's searches on Google Search. ChatGPT and Gemini lead the list, and Kaspersky's press release also names Character.AI, Microsoft Copilot, Grok and DeepSeek. For many children, AI has become an everyday tool, much like the calculator or the encyclopedia was for earlier generations.
Social and video platforms still dominate
Social platforms came second in interest, led by Instagram and TikTok along with Pinterest. YouTube kept the top spot as the most used platform; in the Middle East it took close to a third of children's app time, followed by apps such as WhatsApp, TikTok and the Google Chrome browser.
Why children are drawn to AI
The answer is not complicated. A chatbot replies in simple language, never tires of repeated questions, and helps with homework, stories and word games. A child who used to spend fifteen minutes clicking through links now gets a ready answer in seconds.
That same convenience is what worries experts. A ready answer can be wrong, children may accept it without thinking, and they may share personal details, such as their school name or home address, without realizing why that matters.
The upside worth keeping
Used well, AI can also be a patient tutor. A child struggling with fractions can ask for a simpler explanation, everyday examples or extra exercises. Arab parents can use these tools to encourage reading and short-story writing in Arabic, as long as the tool stays a helper and never replaces the child's own thinking.
Digital safety challenges
With internet use in the UAE above 99%, children's online safety is a core issue, not a luxury. The picture is similar across the Gulf, Egypt and the wider Arab region, where many children get smartphones at a young age. Kaspersky therefore recommends balancing technology use with supervision rather than banning it outright, since bans often push children toward hidden use.
Key risks parents should know:
- Inaccurate answers: AI tools can be confidently wrong, and children can't always tell.
- Oversharing: names, photos and locations may be typed into a chat without a second thought.
- Age-inappropriate content: not every platform enforces strict age limits.
- Malware: especially when downloading games or add-ons from untrusted sources.
Practical advice for parents
The study stresses open conversation with children, keeping an eye on their digital activity, using parental-control tools such as Kaspersky Safe Kids, and protecting devices with trusted security software. In daily life, that can look like this:
- Try AI tools together the first time and explain what they can and cannot do.
- Agree on clear rules: no names, addresses or personal photos in chats.
- Teach them to double-check important facts with a second source, like a textbook or teacher.
- Set screen-time limits using the phone's built-in controls or a dedicated app.
- Review app activity now and then, without turning it into spying that costs you their trust.
For more tips, read our article on four tech habits to keep your children safe.
FAQ
Is ChatGPT safe for children?
It depends on age and supervision. Many of these services set a minimum age in their terms, so it is best used with a parent nearby and clear privacy rules.
Which platform do children use most, according to Kaspersky?
YouTube. It stayed on top and, in the Middle East, took close to a third of children's app time.
Is banning AI the answer?
Kaspersky does not recommend it. It advises balancing use with supervision, because bans can push children to use these tools out of sight.
This trend marks a real change in what children care about online, and it calls for a bigger role from parents. AI will remain part of our children's lives; what matters is that they learn to use it with a critical mind.
If you follow this kind of news, Arabic websites and specialized blogs cover it regularly, alongside Egypt stores, Kuwait stores, vitamin stores and international sites, plus Mashhor for social media services.
