Children in Nigeria prefer using mobile phones over computer to search for online content, according to Kaspersky Lab’s latest Parental Control report
According to the report, the most ‘googled’ websites by children in Nigeria are the ones that have audio and video contents. It contributes around 17 per cent of the total request. The report further reveals that translation and communication websites contribute 14 per cent and 10 per cent of the total request. Gaming websites contribute the lowest with just nine per cent.
The report also reveals that there is a clear language difference for search requests. Most of the videos and music websites are searched for in English. Translation sites and communication services are mostly searched in Russian and Spanish.
Anna Lakrina, web-content analysis expert at Kaspersky Lab, said, “Kids in different countries have different interests and online behaviours, but what links them all is their need to be protected online from potentially harmful content. Children looking for animated content could accidentally open a porn video. Or, they could start searching for innocent videos and unintentionally end up on websites containing violent content, both of which could have a long-term impact on their impressionable and vulnerable minds.”
The report shows that 93 per cent of the cases in the last 12 months have been of children visiting communication sites such as social media and messenger. There has been a decline in the number as more children are using mobile phones for online. This will also lead to children preferring mobile games over computer games which will eventually decrease the popularity of computer games in the coming years.
Larkina added, “It is important for parents not to leave their children’s digital activities unattended, because there’s a big difference between care and obtrusiveness. While it is important to trust your children and educate them about how to behave safely online, even your good advice cannot protect them from something unexpectedly showing up on the screen.”
“That’s why advanced security solutions are key to ensuring children have positive online experiences, rather than harmful ones,” Larkina stressed.
