Children in the UK are one step ahead of their parents online, dodging controls and accessing age-inappropriate content, according to a study. Families now face a growing digital divide, where tech-savvy children are often navigating online spaces faster than the adults guiding them, says the 2025 Norton Cyber Safety Report.
Norton found that while 85pc of parents in the UK actively manage screen time, the reality is many children are digitally skilled enough to sidestep the online rules set by their parents. Over half (53pc) of parents say their child found a way to bypass screen time or online rules. Once past those boundaries, children are venturing into potentially risky territory, with 18pc of UK parents reporting that they have caught their children accessing online content they thought they had blocked. Meanwhile, 12pc caught their children watching explicit content and 11pc reported incidents of their child sharing personal information with a stranger. As children continue to explore more of the online world on their own terms, the gap between what parents are comfortable with their children doing online and what they’re actually doing is wide, the firm suggests.
Leyla Bilge, Global Head of Scam Research for Norton and mother of two, said: “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 80pc 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.”
Connected
Many UK parents are navigating the topic of cyber-bullying with their children. The majority (91pc) of parents in the UK say they feel comfortable discussing the topic with their children and 64pc have had repeated conversations about online safety. Still, about one in eight parents (13pc) report that their child has already been a victim of cyberbullying. Among those cases, more than half (53pc) say the perpetrator was a stranger online, while over a third (36pc) identified the bully as a classmate or peer. Worryingly, social media is a dominant platform for cyberbullying with 45pc of UK parents identifying Facebook as the most common site for it.
Parenting and AI
Alongside social challenges like cyber-bullying, the rise of AI is reshaping how parents support their children who are online. Many UK parents recognise the upside of AI, with 39pc believing AI is beneficial for their children’s learning and creativity. Optimism is particularly strong among younger parents, with 55pc of Gen Z and 51pc of Millennials respectively seeing the benefits.Nevertheless, many UK parents remain concerned about their children’s interaction with AI. Over one in three (38pc) of UK parents have noticed their child using AI for companionship or emotional support. Almost half (45pc) say they have not seen it happen but would be worried if they did. In addition, 59pc of parents have initiated conversations with their children about AI-related risks such as deepfakes and misinformation. As children engage with these tools independently, it underscores the need for conversations, guidance and digital education to help families navigate the evolving online landscape together, the firm suggests.
About the study
The online survey was online in the UK by Dynata on behalf of Gen from April 24 to May 8, 2025 among 1,000 adults ages 18 and older.
