The latest data from cybersecurity solutions firm Kaspersky show that Filipino children, like their adult counterparts, are extremely interested in video content right now. YouTube (26.46%), TikTok (16.75%) Messenger (16.07%), the popular game Roblox (13.67%), and Facebook (9.11%) are the top 5 applications where the kids spend their time on.

Kaspersky reviewed anonymized (removing identifying information) data such as search queries, the most popular Android applications and website categories provided voluntarily by Kaspersky Safe Kids users to explore the most popular children’s interests between January and March 2022. Every year, data gathered from Kaspersky Safe Kids is analyzed to find out the interests of the children and how they are adapting to the digital world.

“As one of the world’s most active digital citizens, it is no surprise that the Filipino children are enthusiastic explorers of the digital world themselves,” said Sandra Lee, managing director for the Asia Pacific at Kaspersky. “Although, having not gone back physically to school since the pandemic, I understand that the majority of these kids are relying on the Internet not just for study but also for play and entertainment, most likely because of remote learning blues.”

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Kaspersky Safe Kids is a module in select Kaspersky products and is also a standalone multi-platform solution that is used by parents to protect children from undesirable content.

The other apps Filipino kids used often include the Chrome browser (6.39%), YouTube Kids (3.54%), Netflix (3.08%), the first-person shooter game Call of Duty (2.56%), and the mobile online battle arena (MOBA) game Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (2.37%).

Roblox

Even if TikTok has become a formidable platform for young adults and adults in recent years, the Kaspersky report saw that YouTube still lords it over for kids posting 31.6% usage followed by TikTok at 19%, WhatsApp at 18%, Roblox (7.5%) and Chrome completes the top five (7.3%).

Roblox’s closest competitor, Brawl Stars, lost a little in popularity and took only 4.8%. Interestingly, YouTube Kids, a special app for children, is not very popular, with a share of only 2.1%.

The Kaspersky Safe Kids data show an interesting mix of searches from Filipino kids. Based on Kaspersky Safe Kids, children’s requests include those of bloggers, which many children watch and imitate; arts and crafts and do-it-yourself videos, games, and memes.

There are children who also sent requests for educational videos like Kurzgesagt – In a Nutshell, a YouTube channel explaining science and the world we live in with the fun and interesting graphics. They also searched for Geometry Dash, a popular 2D computer game that consists of passing a level with many obstacles to rhythmic music. Apart from the built-in levels, players can create their own and upload them for other players to complete.

“We encourage parents to stay informed and commit to sitting down with their kids extensively as it’s an effective way to keep their children responsible and safe digital citizens,” Lee said.