Nearly half of UK parents unaware children can bypass controls with common tools

Nearly half of UK parents are unaware that common digital tools can completely bypass the security features on their children’s smartphones, according to new research.

A study by Uswitch found that 46% of parents with children aged 11 to 18 either did not know or actively disbelieved that Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) and private browsers could circumvent standard parental controls. The data arrives as the UK Government’s school smartphone ban approaches legal enforcement in England on June 29, 2026.

The research highlights a significant digital disconnect between tech-savvy children and their parents. Three in 10 parents who already use safety restrictions reported that their children have successfully dodged them. Furthermore, 21% reported that their children had resorted to “shoulder surfing”– watching over a shoulder to steal a passcode or a parental controls password.

The impending school ban is expected to shift the digital battleground back to the family home. Nearly a third of parents predict that phone-free school days will spark a surge in after-school screen time demands, while 49% in England expect their children to find a workaround to the school restrictions.

Screen time has now officially overtaken chores and homework as the leading cause of household arguments, cited by 46% of families.

“Parents are fighting a battle on multiple fronts, and the rules keep changing,” said Ernest Doku, a technology expert at Uswitch. “Children are savvy – VPNs and hidden browsers can undo parental controls in seconds, often without parents even realising it’s possible.”

The pressure to hand over devices early remains a massive point of vulnerability for parents. More than a quarter (27%) admitted they bought their child a smartphone simply because their peers had one, and 9% admitted they were eventually worn down by repetitive requests.

Olympic champion and father of three, Greg Rutherford, spoke out about facing the exact same household pressures while trying to delay giving his children phones.

“I’m experiencing the relentless pressure to give my eldest a smartphone,” Rutherford said. “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… There’s no manual for this, and I think we need to be more honest about how hard it is.”

While technology offers some safeguards, expert advice emphasizes proactive management. Doku recommends requiring parental approval for all app downloads to prevent unauthorized VPN installations and utilizing network-level broadband controls at home to provide a foundational layer of protection.

To support families struggling to navigate these settings, Uswitch has launched its free Uswitch Safer Screens Tool, which provides step-by-step, provider-specific instructions tailored to individual devices and home broadband networks.