48% of Teens Hide Online Activity, 25% Conceal Adult Content Visits: Kaspersky Survey Reveals

Islamabad — A recent survey conducted by cybersecurity firm Kaspersky has revealed that 48% of children aged 11 to 17 in the Middle East, Turkey, and Africa (META) region hide their online activities from parents and guardians, raising concerns about the digital safety and awareness among teenagers.

The study highlights a range of tactics employed by young users to keep their digital behavior private. According to the survey:

• 28% of teens secure all their devices with passwords,

• 20% routinely clear their browsing history after using the internet,

• 16% prefer to go online only when their parents are not around.

The findings also shed light on the motivations behind this secrecy. Over 57% of teenagers said they don’t want their parents to know how much time they actually spend online. Meanwhile, 37% are reluctant to reveal the websites they visit. More concerning is that 25% admitted to hiding their visits to websites containing aggressive or adult content, while 33% reported watching age-inappropriate content without parental knowledge.

Seifallah Jedidi, Head of Consumer Channel for the META region at Kaspersky, emphasized the importance of open communication between parents and children.

“It’s understandable that parents cannot monitor every aspect of their children’s online lives,” he said. “But that’s not the goal. What’s essential is maintaining a strong relationship built on trust, and having regular conversations about their digital experiences.”

Jedidi explained that using parental control tools should not be viewed as an act of mistrust, but as a precautionary measure to protect children from online threats. Tools like Kaspersky Safe Kids enable parents to manage screen time, control app usage, block access to harmful content, and prevent the sharing of confidential data.

Read more: Kaspersky detects over 1 million daily web tracking attempts to collect user data in 2024

Kaspersky further recommends that parents stay informed about emerging digital threats and adopt trusted security solutions to help safeguard their children’s online experiences. By combining smart technology with open dialogue, families can create a safe and supportive digital environment for young users.

As the digital world continues to expand, ensuring children’s safety online is becoming as important as protecting them in the physical world.