How Many Harmful Ads Do Children Actually See Daily? The shocking truth!
February 14, 2026 • Fortt Team
We all know the internet is full of ads. But when you actually look at the numbers for our children, "full" is an understatement.
Recent research using wearable cameras tracked exactly what children see in their daily lives. The result was startling. The average child is exposed to 638 advertisements every single day [source].
That is roughly 233,000 ads a year.
But it gets more intense when they pick up a phone. On social media feeds like TikTok or Instagram, the density of advertising skyrockets. Teenagers scrolling through these feeds see about one ad every 10 seconds. That adds up to 420 ads per hour just while they are on their phones [source].
Don't believe us? Have a look with your child when it's using their apps and see for yourself how many ads there are and how their behaviour is with every ad.
As parents, we need to ask what this constant noise is doing to them. And more importantly, we need to know what we can do about it.
It Is Not Just About Selling Toys
The volume of ads is annoying, but the content is the real problem. A lot of this advertising is not well-regulated, and it reaches children in places we think are safe.
Inappropriate Content
You might expect ads to be safe on websites made for kids. Unfortunately, that is often not true. About 27% of child-directed websites contain targeted advertising [source].
Researchers have found ads for dating apps, weight loss products, and even age-restricted content appearing on sites specifically meant for children. Because the ad space is sold automatically in milliseconds, inappropriate content slips through the cracks constantly.
Apps Are Packed with Ads
If your child plays games on a tablet, they are almost certainly seeing ads. A study found that 95% of apps designed for preschoolers contain at least one type of advertising [source].
These aren't just banner ads. They are often videos that pop up and force the child to watch them before they can keep playing. For a young child who can't tell the difference between the game and the commercial, this is incredibly manipulative.
The Hidden Cost: Your Child's Data
The most dangerous part of modern advertising is what you don't see.
To serve those 638 ads a day, companies need data. They track what your child watches, where they click, and even where they are located.
By the time a child reaches age 13, advertising companies have collected around 72 million data points on them [source].
This data is used to build a profile of your child. It helps advertisers target them at their most vulnerable moments. It is a massive invasion of privacy that happens silently in the background of apps and websites.
How It Affects Their Minds
This constant bombardment has real effects.
Comparison and Anxiety: Ads often sell a perfect, curated version of reality. Constant exposure to this can hurt a child's self-esteem and contribute to anxiety [source].
Loss of Focus: The "420 ads per hour" rate on social media creates a hyper-stimulated environment. It trains the brain to expect constant distraction. This makes it much harder for kids to focus on slower tasks like homework or reading.
There Is a Simple Way to Stop This
The statistics are heavy, but the solution does not have to be complicated. You don't need to ban the internet to keep your children safe. You just need to clean it up.
This is why we built Fortt Safety.
We Block the Noise
Fortt Safety filters your internet connection to block ads and trackers before they even reach your device.
When you install Fortt, those 420 ads per hour disappear. Your child can watch YouTube or play games without being interrupted by pop-ups or inappropriate commercials.
We Protect Their Privacy
More importantly, we block the invisible trackers. Fortt stops the data collection at the source. It prevents companies from building those massive data profiles on your children.
Peace of Mind in One Click
We know parents are busy. You don't have time to configure complex settings. That is why Fortt Safety is designed to work with one click.
You simply choose the Child Protection (Maximum) profile, and we handle the rest. It blocks ads, trackers, and harmful content automatically across your whole device.
Take Control Today
You can't stop advertisers from trying to reach your kids. But you can stop them from succeeding.
Give your family a break from the 638 daily ads. Install Fortt Safety today. It is completely free, and it takes less than a minute to set up.