In 2023, Telegram emerged as the fastest growing Internet service for young users in Russia, measured by the volume of traffic generated. This development was confirmed by the MegaFon press service. The surge reflects a broader shift in how children and adolescents access and use online platforms on mobile networks, with messaging apps and video content becoming central to daily digital activity.
Telegram’s traffic among children rose by 89 percent over the year. WhatsApp saw a 45 percent increase, and VKontakte maintained a solid presence with a 41 percent rise. YouTube also showed notable growth, with traffic up 26 percent. TikTok, by contrast, stayed nearly unchanged in terms of data volume, indicating a stabilization in its share despite ongoing popularity among younger audiences.
Overall, youngsters spent 26 percent more time on mobile Internet in comparison with 2022, yet their usage patterns shifted. Video watching remains the dominant activity, accounting for 32 percent of traffic, though this share is down from the previous year by 1.3 percentage points. Messengers now command roughly the same level of attention as they did a year ago, increasing their share to around 30 percent as other categories wavered. This shift suggests that real-time messaging and quick exchanges have become more integral to daily online life for under-14 users.
The remaining top categories in mobile data consumption for this age group include music streaming at 15 percent, which fell by about five percent year over year. Gaming and social networking occupy fourth and fifth places, representing 9 percent and 7 percent of traffic, respectively, among subscribers under 14. These figures underscore a diversified digital diet where entertainment, communication, and interactive content compete for attention on smaller screens and limited data plans.
Experts note a rising need for vigilance around online safety as traffic patterns evolve. The year also brought increased concern over cyber threats, such as distributed denial-of-service attacks, particularly during peak shopping events like Black Friday. Parents and guardians are urged to monitor their children’s online activity, implement age-appropriate privacy controls, and encourage responsible sharing and screen-time habits.