Report reveals how children use the internet in Colombia: AI, memes, and video games

In an increasingly connected world, children and adolescents spend a significant portion of their lives online. According to Kaspersky's latest report on children's digital interests, 37% of children in Colombia spend between three and eight hours a day in front of a screen , a figure that, they suggest, can increase during vacations. What do they do during all that time? From talking to artificial intelligence to making senseless memes go viral, children's digital culture is constantly evolving.

One of the report's most revealing findings is children's growing interest in artificial intelligence. More than 7.5% of searches between May 2024 and April 2025 were related to chatbots such as ChatGPT, Gemini, and Character.AI, a platform that allows users to converse with bots that simulate fictional or real-life characters.

This represents more than double the previous year, when only 3.19% of searches were related to this topic. While this curiosity demonstrates rapid technological adoption, it also poses risks: some bots can expose minors to inappropriate content, misinformation, or emotionally intense interactions. Most of these platforms operate with community-generated content and without strict filters.

Although memes weren't the most searched for, they do reveal another side of the digital landscape of young people. This year, "brainrot" memes stood out, characterized by their absurd and chaotic humor. These short pieces of content spread quickly on TikTok, YouTube, and WhatsApp. Among the most popular are the Italian phrase "tralalero tralala" and the audio "tung tung tung sahur."

For adults, they may seem meaningless, but for children, they are a form of belonging: shared codes that connect them across platforms.

One of the most surprising emerging phenomena was Sprunki , a browser game that combines music with interactive visual elements. Players must move to the beat of an audio track, in an immersive dynamic that also involves physical movement. Its colorful design and fast-paced format have made it extremely popular among young people.

On Google and YouTube, Sprunki ranked among the top five most searched for video game topics, alongside well-known titles like Roblox and Brawl Stars.

Video platforms continue to lead searches. Nearly 18% of searches made by minors were related to streaming content. YouTube maintains its position as the most used app on Android, growing from 28.13% to 29.77% in the last year. However, the most notable change was the rise of WhatsApp, which now ranks second with 14.72%, surpassing TikTok (12.76%).

This shift reflects new communication habits: children are increasingly using messaging apps to share videos, memes, and links with their friends. Meanwhile, Snapchat and Facebook continue to lose relevance among children.

For Fabiano Tricarico, Director of Consumer Products at Kaspersky in the Americas, the holidays are the perfect opportunity for parents to get closer to their children's digital universe. "Trends show how rapidly children's digital culture is evolving. One day they're talking to AI bots, and the next they're humming a meme song you've never heard before," he said.

Among the recommendations the cybersecurity company gives parents to help children and adolescents navigate a safe digital environment are: