Nearly half (46%) of parents are unaware that children can use hidden browsers and VPNs to get around parental controls on their phones, according to new research.
The survey found that many children are already finding ways to sidestep the digital safety measures their parents have put in place. Three in 10 parents who use parental controls said their child has successfully bypassed them, while one in five said their child has tried to steal their passcode by watching them type it in.
The findings come as smartphone restrictions in schools continue to be debated. Nearly a third (32%) of parents whose children own a phone believe that limiting smartphone use during the school day will lead to increased pressure for screen time once children get home. Around half (49%) of parents in England also expect their child to find ways around any school phone restrictions.
The research suggests that managing screen time has become one of the biggest sources of tension in family life. Almost half (46%) of parents said screen time causes more arguments at home than chores or homework.
Parents also face difficult decisions before handing over a first smartphone. Around a third (34%) said one of their biggest challenges was balancing what they believed was appropriate with what their child wanted, while 33% struggled to find the right balance between safety features and affordability.
Social pressure also plays a major role. More than a quarter (27%) of parents admitted they gave their child a smartphone because most of their peers already had one, while almost one in 10 (9%) said they eventually gave in after repeated requests.
Former Olympic champion and father of three Greg Rutherford said he is experiencing the same dilemma.
“I’m experiencing the relentless pressure to give my eldest a smartphone. Despite wanting to protect them, the fear of them feeling left out is strong. Every parent I speak to feels the same push and pull, but you also don’t want them to feel like the odd one out. There’s no manual for this, and I think we need to be more honest about how hard it is, particularly when rules are changing all the time and guidance isn’t always clearly available.”
The research also highlights the growing challenge parents face in keeping up with children’s digital skills. Experts warn that apps such as VPNs and hidden browsers can allow children to bypass device-level parental controls if safeguards are not configured correctly.
To help families better manage online safety, Uswitch has launched a free “Safer Screens” tool that provides step-by-step guidance on setting up parental controls across smartphones, tablets and home broadband routers.