Safer Internet Day: 36% of parents use parental control tools to monitor their kids online, but is that enough?

By Pablo Durañona, Head of Marketing & PR at Kids Corp

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This February 11th marks Safer Internet Day, a key moment to reflect on the challenges of digital safety for U18s. In Latin America, *84% of kids and teens have access to a smartphone and spend much of their free time online. Their favorite activities? Watching YouTube videos (75%) and playing video games (65%). From entertainment to education, the digital world is a central part of their lives. But as their online interactions increase, we have to ask: Are we truly protecting their experience, or just implementing surface-level measures?

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Families have adopted different strategies to balance tech access with online safety. The numbers are clear: *36% use parental controls to monitor their children's activity and restrict access to certain content, while 32% review browsing history to identify potential risks. While these efforts show a real concern, they also highlight an uncomfortable truth—kids are becoming more independent online, making supervision increasingly difficult. Despite parents’ best efforts, the digital ecosystem is evolving faster than traditional control methods can keep up.

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The solution isn’t just about restricting or monitoring access—it’s about rethinking how platforms, brands, and content creators design digital experiences for young audiences. Regulations like COPPA in the U.S., LGPD in Brazil, and GDPR in Europe have set clear standards for child data protection, but the real question is: Are these regulations actually being enforced in the digital spaces kids engage with?

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Globally, the tech and advertising industries are shifting toward a proactive approach—integrating safety and privacy into digital experiences from the start, rather than as an afterthought. Digital advertising, social media content, and entertainment platforms are moving toward more responsible models that truly protect under-18 audiences. It’s not just about compliance—it’s about building digital environments that are safe, accessible, and aligned with the needs of new generations.

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At Kids Corp, we are committed to making the internet a safer place by promoting entertainment, ensuring universal access to knowledge, and fostering human development for future generations.

Creating a responsible and transparent digital ecosystem isn’t just a necessity—it’s an undeniable responsibility. Every player in the industry must take an active role in building an environment where innovation and protection go hand in hand, ensuring that kids and teens can navigate the digital world with freedom and confidence. It’s time to stop acting out of obligation and start acting out of conviction.

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*Source: Kids Corp’s Insight Portal, based on surveys of 85,000 households across the Americas.

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