UK parents favour tech restrictions over grounding as discipline

New research indicates that British parents are increasingly using technology-related restrictions as a primary form of discipline in the digital age.

The study, conducted with 2,000 UK parents of children aged over five, found that traditional methods like sending children to their rooms or grounding have been overtaken by the withdrawal of digital privileges. According to the findings, 35% of parents now confiscate mobile phones as a disciplinary measure, 32% remove access to games consoles or computers, and 31% go so far as to switch off the WiFi at home.

While classic forms of discipline remain, with 32% of parents still sending their children to bed early and 28% opting for grounding, the survey suggests that technology restrictions are more effective with today's generation. The preference for digital punishments reflects how central devices and internet access have become in children's daily lives.

The research estimates that 72% of children are online for more than two hours each day. The internet is commonly used for gaming (61%), streaming entertainment (60%), and completing schoolwork (55%). Only 25% of the children surveyed spend less than an hour online per day, while 31% spend over four hours online - a duration amounting to more than half the typical school day. Additionally, 41% of parents say their children use the internet for two to three hours daily.

To manage this, 55% of parents enforce limits on the amount of time their children can spend online, while 32% believe their child is addicted to online services.

The shift in discipline coincides with the implementation of new regulations stemming from the UK's Online Safety Act, which aims to make the internet safer for children by introducing mandatory age verification on adult websites and enhancing Ofcom's oversight of platforms popular with young people. Early indications suggest traffic to adult sites has fallen following these changes, but the study notes that some children have already adapted by using virtual private networks (VPNs) to bypass restrictions.

"Technology has become both the cornerstone of modern childhood and the ultimate bargaining chip for parents," said Stephen Warburton, Managing Director for Zen Internet's consumer division, the company that commissioned the study. "The Online Safety Act is an important step, but no piece of legislation can replace guidance at home as well.

Warburton emphasised the importance of parental engagement, remarking, "For families, it's about setting boundaries, whether that's limiting screen time, using filters, or simply having open conversations. For this generation, taking away tech is the twenty-first century equivalent of the naughty step."

The five most frequently used parental control measures, according to the survey, are taking away phones (35%), sending children to their rooms (35%), threatening to confiscate games consoles or computers (32%), sending to bed early (32%), and threatening to turn off WiFi (31%). This contrasts with less frequent strategies such as grounding (28%), enforcing time out (25%), assigning extra chores (19%), cancelling activities (18%), and withholding pocket money (13%).

As the academic term resumes, parents are faced with the dual challenge of utilising digital tools for education while managing potential online distractions. The research suggests that maintaining a balance between online learning and setting screen time boundaries has become a key part of family management.

The study's results also highlight the broader societal debate around children's internet usage and digital wellbeing. With rapid changes in online safety regulations and increasing screen time among young people, the role that families play in guiding responsible digital use is under renewed focus.