Culture

What 17% of kids are searching for online will surprise you

Published

5 years ago

June 21, 2018

A recent investigation has turned up an interesting finding on what kids are searching for online. Africa, with South Africa as focus, was part of the survey conducted by Kaspersky Lab.

The latest report on the online activities of children also highlights the importance of protecting them when online.

For example, video content globally, comprised 17 percent of searches over the last months. Although many videos watched as a result of these searches may be harmless, it is still possible for children to accidentally end up watching videos that contain inappropriate content.

The report shows anonymised statistics from Kaspersky Lab’s flagship consumer solutions for Windows PCs and Macs that have the Parental Control module switched on and from Kaspersky Safe Kids, a standalone service for Windows, Mac, iOS and Android devices.

For example, the report presents search results on the ten most-popular languages* for the last 6 months. The data shows that the video & audio category – including requests related to any video content, streaming services, video bloggers, series and movies – are the most regularly ‘googled’ by children (17 percent of the total requests).

The second and third places go to translation (14 percent) and communication (10 percent) websites respectively. Interestingly, games websites sit in fourth place, generating only nine percent of the total search requests.

We can also see a clear language difference for search requests: for example, video and music websites are typically searched for in English, which can be explained by the fact that the majority of movies, TV series and musical groups have English names.

Spanish-speaking kids carry out more requests for translation sites, while communication services are mostly searched for in Russian.

More than any other nationality, Chinese-speaking children look for education services, while French-speaking kids are more interested in sport and games websites.

In turn, German-speaking requests dominate in the “shopping” category. The leading number of search requests for porn are in Arabic, and for anime are in Japanese.

“Kids in different countries have different interests and online behaviors, 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,” says Anna Larkina, Web-content Analysis Expert at Kaspersky Lab.

The second most popular category of websites visited in South Africa by these users is software, audio, and video. In South Africa, this category accounted for 17 percent.

Websites with this content have become significantly more popular since last year, when it was only the fifth most popular category globally at six percent. The top four is rounded off with electronic commerce (4.2 percent) and alcohol, tobacco, and websites about narcotics (3.9 percent), which is a new addition compared to this time last year.

The mobile trend is again highlighted in the figures for computer games, which are now in fifth place locally on the list at three percent. As kids continue to show a preference for mobile games rather than computer games, this category will only continue to decrease in popularity on computers over the coming months and years.

Click to comment

Culture

Netflix documentary sheds light on 30-year-old Zimbabwe school mystery

Published

13 hours ago

October 3, 2023

Akanimoh Etim

A recently released Netflix documentary titled “Encounters” has shed new light on a 30-year-old school mystery that occurred in Zimbabwe in 1994.

The extraordinary event happened in a school in the southern African country where over 60 children claimed to have seen strange beings and a Unidentified Flying Object (UFO) that landed near their playground.

The schoolchildren had described the beings as having large heads, big eyes, and wearing tight black suits, adding that they felt a telepathic communication from them, warning them about the dangers of technology and the future of the planet.

According to reports, the accounts of the students were met with scepticism and disbelief at the time, but the Netflix documentary has more or less corroborated the astonishing encounter, just as the witnesses who are all adults now have continued to maintain their stories.

The new documentary has now given them a chance to share their memories and feelings about what they saw and how it affected their lives.

The documentary, according to movie aficionados, is a groundbreaking move for Zimbabwe as the world is now set to witness the “mysterious and awe-inspiring encounters that unfolded in 1994 through the lens of a captivating Netflix documentary titled ‘Encounters.’”

“This unique film not only delves into the unexplained phenomenon that occurred at a Zimbabwean school but also showcases the nation’s rich cultural tapestry and the resilience of its people,” a media platform in the country wrote in a review of the documentary.

“Now, almost 30 years later, the Netflix documentary titled ‘Encounters’ revisits this remarkable event and tracks down the witnesses, who are now adults living in different parts of the world,” the platform wrote.

“The documentary gives them a chance to share their memories and feelings about what they saw and how it affected their lives. The film also explores the broader context of the phenomenon, featuring other cases of close encounters from around the world and interviews with experts and researchers.

“The documentary is a groundbreaking achievement for Zimbabwe, as it is the first of its kind to focus on such an event in the country. It is also a rare opportunity for the world to hear the voices of Zimbabweans who have a unique and compelling story to tell.

“The film challenges the stereotypes and prejudices that often surround Zimbabwe and its people, and invites viewers to see them in a new light. The documentary is not just a mere exploration of the paranormal but also a testament to the resilience and spirit of Zimbabwe.

“It paints a vivid picture of a nation that embraces its past, no matter how unconventional, and allows its citizens to tell their stories without fear of ridicule.

“Thanks to ‘Encounters,’ the witnesses have been tracked down and given the opportunity to revisit those perplexing moments. Their stories are now being shared with a global audience, shedding light on an event that left an indelible mark on their lives,” it added.

Culture

Spotify celebrates Nigeria’s Independence with the unveiling of three playlists

Published

2 days ago

October 2, 2023

Akanimoh Etim

Global streaming platform, Spotify celebrated Nigeria’s 63rd Independence anniversary with the unveiling of three new playlists that highlight the country’s musical diversity, ranging from Fuji to the golden eras of Afrobeats.

The platform, in a post on its social media, said the playlists “provide a home for music that millions of Nigerians of all ages and persuasions have loved and listened to for decades.”

It said apart from the global growth of Afrobeats, “Nigeria is also home to a diverse musical culture, with genres of unique origins, and artists who have created iconic music across eras.”

“To highlight this, Spotify is giving a voice to some of Nigerian music’s unsung genres, its most essential decades, as well as the creators and hit songs that laid foundations for Afrobeats’ success,” it said.

According to the streaming platform, the playlists include:

The Fuji Sound

“Building on its most recent success, this playlist charts the evolution of the Fuji genre, and its most essential artists, from Kollington Ayinla to Wasiu Alabi Pasuma.”

I love my 2000s Afrobeats

“Fans of the early days of Afrobeats, and everyone else, will find nostalgia and great memories calling in the “I Love My 2000s Afrobeats” playlist”.

I love my 2010s Afrobeats

“Featuring some of the songs that kicked off the ‘Afrobeats To The World’ movement, this playlist is a mix of hits that you’ll definitely come back to.”