Children’s Interest in AI Tools Doubles, YouTube Remains Most Popular App
Children’s Interest in AI Tools Doubles, YouTube Remains Most Popular App
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Children’s fascination with artificial intelligence (AI) tools has doubled over the past year, Dawn E-Paper revealed citing a new report by cybersecurity firm Kaspersky. The study, covering May 2024 to April 2025, reveals that AI-powered applications like Character.AI have entered the top 20 most-used apps among children globally, highlighting a significant rise in AI integration into young users’ digital lives.
The report shows that children aged 8 to 10 spend an average of six hours daily on screens, while preteens (ages 11–14) spend about nine hours. YouTube remains the most popular app, accounting for nearly 30% of time spent on Android devices. WhatsApp has overtaken TikTok as the second most popular app, reflecting changing communication habits among children, who increasingly use chat apps to share links, memes, and short videos.
Gaming platforms such as Roblox, Minecraft, and the browser-based Poki continue to attract young users, while streaming services like Netflix, Twitch, and Disney+ maintain strong engagement. AI-related search queries more than doubled compared to the previous year, rising from 3.19% to over 7.5% of all searches, with interest centered on chatbots like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Character.AI.
Kaspersky privacy expert Anna Larkina emphasized the importance of parental involvement, stating that understanding children’s digital interests can foster safer and more trusting online habits. Digital parenting tools are recommended to help parents stay engaged and protect their children in a rapidly evolving digital environment.
