UK kids bypass online controls, widening family digital divide
A new report by Norton has revealed that over half of UK parents say their children are able to bypass the online controls and screen time limits they set at home.
The 2025 Norton Cyber Safety Insights Report: Connected Kids, based on a survey of 1,000 UK adults, highlights a widening digital divide in families where children are increasingly adept at navigating digital boundaries set by their parents. While 85% of surveyed parents report actively managing their children's screen time, 53% admit that their children have managed to bypass at least some of these rules.
The digital divide
Once children circumvent parental controls, concerns about their exposure to inappropriate content increase. According to the report, 18% of UK parents have caught their child accessing online material they believed was blocked. Explicit content was specifically mentioned by 12% of parents, while 11% reported incidents where their child had shared personal information with a stranger online.
The report notes a significant gap between the online environment parents are comfortable with and the reality of their children's digital experiences. This discrepancy is attributed to the fact that children today have grown up with technology and are often more familiar with digital platforms than their parents.
"Kids today are spending more time online than ever before, whether it's for school, gaming, shopping, or connecting with friends. As parents, we want to make the world a better place for our kids – and that includes the digital world. Over 80% of cybercrime relies on emotional manipulation – and attackers don't care what age you are. But the digital world doesn't need to be a scary place. We are here to help empower parents with the knowledge and tools they need to help their children navigate the digital world safely," said Leyla Bilge, Global Head of Scam Research for Norton and mother of two.
Cyberbullying experiences
Coping with cyberbullying remains a concern for many families. While 91% of UK parents feel comfortable discussing cyberbullying with their children and 64% have had repeated conversations about online safety, 13% say their child has already been a victim of cyberbullying. Within these cases, 53% reported that the perpetrator was a stranger online, and 36% said it was a classmate or peer.
Social media platforms play a significant role. The report found that 45% of UK parents identified Facebook as the most common site where cyberbullying occurred.
AI's growing presence
The emergence of artificial intelligence in children's online lives is evident in the findings. More than one in three (38%) UK parents have noticed their children using AI for companionship or emotional support. A larger group, 45%, had not observed this behaviour but stated they would be concerned if they did. Some parents also recognise potential positives, with 39% considering AI beneficial for their children's learning and creativity. This positive outlook is more prevalent among younger parents, with 55% of Gen Z and 51% of Millennials holding this view.
Increased exposure to AI-related risks, such as deepfakes and misinformation, is also prompting conversations at home. The report shows that 59% of parents have discussed these risks with their children, underlining the importance of digital education as technology develops rapidly.
"As students grow up in a digital world, school systems need to equip them with the skills to become tech-savvy and cyber resilient. By fostering digital literacy, we empower students to not only use technology effectively, but to excel in their academic, personal, and professional lives," said Catherine Dunlop, Senior Vice President of Corporate Partnerships at Discovery Education.
Parental strategies
To address these challenges, Norton recommends starting open conversations about online behaviour with children from the outset of their digital experiences, using parental controls thoughtfully, teaching children how to recognise online red flags, modelling healthy technology use, and staying involved in their children's online lives by remaining informed and engaged in the latest trends and platforms.
The survey, conducted by Dynata on behalf of Gen, gathered responses from parents with children under 18 years old living in the UK. The responses reflect a need for ongoing adaptation by parents and educators alike as children's relationships with digital technology become more complex and intertwined with daily life.
