Kaspersky released guidance on child online safety as more than 30% of Generation Alpha children aspire to become social media creators. The cybersecurity company said studies show approximately 32% of children aged 12 to 15 name YouTuber as their dream profession.

The company stated that digital creators serve as role models for many children, with aspirations to achieve online visibility emerging before adolescence. Kaspersky emphasized that parental involvement becomes essential when children pursue content creation careers.

Opening Dialogue Instead of Dismissal

When children express interest in becoming content creators, Kaspersky recommends parents initiate conversations rather than reject the idea. The company advises parents to ask children about their motivations for creating online presence and the type of content they plan to post.

This approach builds trust while allowing parents to introduce safety topics naturally, including privacy settings, content boundaries, and managing online attention. Kaspersky offers a free downloadable resource called the Cybersecurity Alphabet to help children learn digital hygiene basics through relatable language and illustrations.

Account Setup and Privacy Configuration

The company recommends parents sit with children during account creation on platforms like YouTube, TikTok, or Instagram. Parents should help children choose appropriate privacy settings, disable location tagging by default, create strong unique passwords, and enable two-factor authentication.

These steps reduce hacking risks while teaching proper digital hygiene habits from the beginning, according to Kaspersky.

Information Sharing Boundaries and Child Online Safety

Kaspersky stated that children often want to share extensive information when posting content online. The company advises parents to teach children not to share home addresses, school names or uniforms, daily schedules, vacation plans, or regularly visited locations.

These details can make children easier to track when combined with photos, location tags, or timestamps, the company said.

Monitoring Digital Footprint

Parents should regularly search their child’s username or social media handle on Google to monitor online visibility. This practice helps identify personal photos, location tags, or comments revealing excessive information, as well as content theft or impersonation attempts.

Identifying Fraudulent Collaboration Offers

As young creators gain visibility, they may receive messages offering free products, sponsorships, or collaboration opportunities. Kaspersky warns that many such offers are scams designed to steal login credentials, personal data, or financial information.

The company advises children to watch for red flags including poor grammar, urgent tone, requests for personal information or passwords, suspicious links, and unverified accounts. For younger children, Kaspersky recommends parents handle all business-related interactions.

Online Grooming Awareness

Kaspersky highlighted online grooming as a real threat for young creators. The company explained that groomers often act as supportive friends, praising content and offering help before requesting personal details or private photos.

Warning signs include frequent personal messaging from strangers, insistence on secrecy, pressure to share private information, and emotional manipulation through guilt, flattery, or threats.

“When a child wants to become an influencer, it’s their way of expressing identity and creativity. As adults, our role is to support that ambition while making sure they understand the digital risks that come with visibility,”

Anna Larkina, Privacy Expert at Kaspersky

Larkina said tools like Kaspersky Safe Kids help parents monitor children’s online activity, manage screen time, and receive alerts about potential dangers without being intrusive.

Future Outlook

The company stated that with appropriate support and open conversations, parents can help young creators develop their voice while maintaining safety. Kaspersky continues to provide cybersecurity solutions protecting over one billion devices globally from emerging threats and targeted attacks.