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Kaspersky's (www.Kaspersky.co.za) latest global research shows that mostly all people currently interact with their family members digitally: 86% of all survey participants communicate with family via messaging apps, 58% have regular video calls, and 44% have even established joint streaming service accounts. In South Africa, the statistics showed a similar trend: 91% communicate with family via messaging apps, 68% have regular video calls, and 53% have joint streaming service accounts. While digitalisation offers unprecedented convenience and flexibility in family communication, Kaspersky experts warn that this increased online connectivity demands a heightened awareness of digital safety practices and the protection of devices.

Communication in the digital sphere has become an integral part of everyday life. Thanks to video calls and instant messaging, we can maintain connections with our loved ones, no matter where we are. Digitalisation has reshaped not only how we communicate, but also how we spend our free time together. Kaspersky has conducted a survey* to reveal the common patterns of modern family life in the digital age and discover the cybersecurity challenges that lurk beneath our screen interactions.

Cyber safety during family communication

According to the survey, regular messaging via WhatsApp, Telegram, Signal, Viber and other messenger apps were top of users' choices when communicating with their families. Globally, people in the 35-54 age group were the most likely to engage this way, with 89% of respondents choosing this option. Video calls were a much less popular option among all survey respondents as a way of keeping in touch with relatives, with only 58% choosing this digital solution.

Another popular way of staying connected online for many families is exchanging posts and memes on social media and messengers (53% globally and 51% in South Africa). The 18-34 age group globally leads this trend with a 58% participation rate, showcasing how humor and shared cultural references are becoming essential family bonding mechanisms.

The older generation (above 55 years old) is in general less digitally engaged than other ages, though the share of those globally who chat with their families in messengers is on par with the average (85%). 42% of this age group even exchange memes and posts via social media. Despite the fact that older people are more active in the digital sphere, they may still not be ready to face cyber threats and scams. Users should therefore educate (https://apo-opa.co/4sZ0Crj) their older relatives on how to stay safe online and use gadgets securely. 

Even for advanced users, communication online carries potential cyber security risks. From phishing attempts disguised as legitimate messages to sophisticated social engineering attacks, the digital battlefield operates within our most personal communication channels. To ensure complex protection for your messengers, it's highly recommended to enable two-factor authentication where possible, use unique, complex passwords for each account, remain skeptical of unexpected links or attachments, use a reliable security solution (https://apo-opa.co/4rjPEv4) with anti-phishing protection for messengers, and follow security tips (https://apo-opa.co/4t5blk6) from Kaspersky experts. 

Family accounts – convenience or risk?

The survey shows that in their free time 70% of all participating families choose to watch movies together, with 44% having family streaming accounts. Online games do not have such popularity as a family pastime, with only 35% of general respondents opting for them. In South Africa, 78% of families choose to watch movies together, 53% have family streaming accounts, and 35% choose online games as a family pastime.

While sharing streaming subscriptions and gaming accounts may seem like a cost-effective solution, it opens the door to a host of digital vulnerabilities that can compromise your family's security and privacy, especially when an account is used by different family members under the same login and password. Such accounts create a perfect storm for security breaches. If one family member's device is compromised, hackers gain access to the entire account. Additionally, password reuse across multiple platforms means that a single breach could expose your financial information, email accounts, and other sensitive data. To manage all passwords securely, it's highly recommended to use a password manager (https://apo-opa.co/4qFEOQ1) for all family members.

“As our family life moves more and more online, it opens up amazing ways to stay close and create memories – but it also brings new risks, like scams and hacking. Kids and older relatives can be especially at risk, so looking out for each other online is really important. Protecting your digital privacy and using cybersecurity measures is an important way to care for your loved ones and keep your family safe”, comments Marina Titova, Vice President for Consumer Business at Kaspersky.

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Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Kaspersky.

For further information please contact:
Nicole Allman
nicole@inkandco.co.za

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About Kaspersky:
Kaspersky is a global cybersecurity and digital privacy company founded in 1997. With over a billion devices protected to date from emerging cyberthreats and targeted attacks, Kaspersky's deep threat intelligence and security expertise is constantly transforming into innovative solutions and services to protect individuals, businesses, critical infrastructure, and governments around the globe. The company's comprehensive security portfolio includes leading digital life protection for personal devices, specialized security products and services for companies, as well as Cyber Immune solutions to fight sophisticated and evolving digital threats. We help millions of individuals and nearly 200,000 corporate clients protect what matters most to them. Learn more at www.Kaspersky.co.za. 

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The global digital economy is driving an unprecedented surge in electricity demand from data centers and IT infrastructure. Worldwide, uninterruptible power supply demand for IT equipment alone is forecast to reach 249 GW by 2030, with total installed capacity, including cooling and ancillary loads, expected to climb to 374 GW. For Africa, where digitalization, cloud adoption and mobile services are accelerating, this trend presents both a challenge and an opportunity. According to the African Energy Chamber's (AEC) (https://EnergyChamber.org) State of African Energy 2026 Outlook, data centers are poised to become a transformative force within the continent's power markets, reshaping investment priorities ahead of African Energy Week (AEW) 2026.

Data Centers as Catalysts for Power Investment

Africa's digital transformation is gaining momentum, particularly in markets such as South Africa, Kenya, Nigeria and Egypt. The growing demand for cloud infrastructure is emerging as a powerful driver for electrification, positioning data centers as stable, long-term anchor customers for power systems. Unlike traditional loads, data centers require large volumes of reliable, uninterrupted electricity, creating predictable and bankable demand. This reliability strengthens the case for new generation capacity and grid expansion.

The effects extend beyond power markets. Data center development supports job creation, stimulates technology ecosystems and enhances Africa's competitiveness in the global digital economy. Hyperscale operators are increasingly prioritizing sustainability and efficiency, accelerating innovation in renewable energy procurement, storage and demand management – trends that align closely with Africa's long-term energy transition goals.

Challenges to Address

Despite the potential, Africa's data center-driven power transformation faces structural hurdles. Reliable electricity supply remains uneven, with frequent outages and limited redundancy undermining operational resilience. Sustainable cloud infrastructure also depends on coordinated policy frameworks, investment incentives, robust telecom regulation and regional collaboration.

Historically, Europe-based data centers serviced much of Africa's digital demand. Rising latency requirements and growing data sovereignty regulations, which increasingly mandate local storage, are making this model unsustainable. In response, global cloud providers are adopting pan-African strategies, establishing local presence, and accelerating demand for domestic data center capacity. Unlocking this opportunity will require governments, investors and utilities to strengthen grids, enable multiple supply points, and create an environment conducive to long-term infrastructure investment.

AEW 2026 will play a central role in facilitating these discussions, bringing together policymakers, financiers, developers and the broader energy industry to explore collaboration as a driving force behind Africa's data-driven power development.

Emerging Case Studies

Successful examples illustrate the transformative potential of data centers for power investment. South Africa is Africa's largest and most mature data center market. With cloud zones from Microsoft and AWS already live and Google expected to follow, the country is evolving from a telecom-driven colocation model to a wholesale data center hub. Current utilization exceeds 83%, projected to surpass 94% by 2030, with demand concentrated around Johannesburg and Cape Town. Strong foreign investor interest reinforces South Africa's role as a regional anchor market.

Kenya is emerging as East Africa's fastest-growing hub, with around 40 MW of IT load capacity and a projected 30% CAGR through 2028. The market is being shaped by proactive digitalization policies and flagship initiatives such as the Konza National Data Centre under Vision 2030. By 2029, total supply is expected to exceed 155 MW, positioning Kenya as a critical node in Africa's distributed cloud future.

“Data centers are no longer just a technology story – they are an energy story. If Africa gets the power framework right, digital infrastructure can unlock investment, strengthen grids and accelerate inclusive growth across the continent,” states NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman, AEC.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.