In this week’s Plugged In by Wired Parents, the UK's Online Safety Act takes the spotlight and not everyone’s cheering. New rules demanding facial scans and ID checks to access adult content are meant to protect children, but privacy fears and a VPN boom suggest the plan might be backfiring. Are we solving one problem by creating another?

Over in Westminster, Keir Starmer says it’s time to tackle Britain’s screen addiction. His £88 million pledge is all about youth clubs, sports, and getting children back into the real world. But some argue that without serious tech reform, it’s just a digital plaster on a growing wound.

And in the US? The phone-free school revolution is heating up. Parents are leading the charge, demanding devices be locked away during the school day. Their point is blunt: we’d never hand a child a cigarette so why are we so relaxed about smartphones?

TL;DR: Age checks are fuelling a VPN surge, Starmer wants children off screens and back outside and phone bans at school are gaining ground.

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The UK government has doubled down on its commitment to the Online Safety Act, despite growing public opposition to one of its most controversial provisions: mandatory age verification. Since 25 July, anyone in the UK who wants to access adult or potentially harmful content on sites like Reddit, X, or gaming and dating apps must prove their age through facial scans, ID uploads, or financial verification.

The backlash has been swift. Over 450,000 people have signed a petition demanding a repeal. Critics cite concerns about privacy, surveillance, and security and argue the measures may do more harm than good.

At the heart of the issue is the rapid rise in VPN use.

According to Proton VPN, UK traffic spiked 1,400% following the rollout of age checks. Many users, especially teens, are now using VPNs to appear as if they're browsing from outside the UK, sidestepping the new restrictions altogether.

VPNs are not inherently bad. In fact, they’re widely recommended by cybersecurity experts and when used appropriately, a VPN can:

But in the context of the Online Safety Act, VPNs are being used for a very different reason: to avoid safety protections.

When teens install a VPN to access age-restricted platforms, they’re doing so to bypass safeguards designed to keep them away from pornography, violent content or risky communities. VPNs give them the keys to the digital world - with no filters.

It’s a sharp contradiction for parents. We’re often told to use a VPN for security yet the very same tool, in the wrong hands, can expose children to more harm.

The government argues that adding “friction” to access (like submitting an ID) can deter under-18s, much like asking for ID at a shop. But critics believe these measures are flawed: not only can VPNs easily undo them, but requiring sensitive data opens the door to potential leaks or misuse.

So where does this leave families?

For now, digital ID systems are being piloted to offer age assurance without invading privacy but rollout is still limited. Meanwhile, the public petition will now be considered for debate in Parliament.

What’s clear is that the Online Safety Act has sparked a crucial discussion not just about policy, but about how parents, children, and governments navigate digital trust.

Talk to your child about VPNs not as a "bad tool", but as a powerful tool with real-world consequences. Like a car or a bank card, it can be misused. Set digital rules together, keep an open dialogue about why they might want one, and remind them: privacy shouldn’t come at the cost of their safety.

🔗 Sources – Financial Times, TechRadar

Britain’s new Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, says it’s time to pull children back from screens and reconnect them with real life. In his first major announcement on youth policy, Starmer unveiled an £88 million investment in youth services, aiming to tackle what he calls a growing “detachment from reality” among the UK’s children and teens.

In recent interviews and speeches, Starmer has pointed to the increasing isolation, screen dependency, and online exposure experienced by young people. His concerns are backed by data:

The new plan will fund youth clubs, sport activities, and community organisations across England. The goal is to provide safe, structured environments where young people can develop friendships and life skills offline.

But critics say it’s only part of the puzzle.
Without national policy on smartphones in schools—or clearer guidance on age-appropriate social media access—many argue that parents are still left to shoulder the responsibility alone.

🔗 Source - The Times

The movement to ban smartphones in schools is picking up serious speed across the United States. From grassroots campaigns to new district-level policies, parents and educators are pushing back against the role mobile phones play in learning disruption, social anxiety, and mental health strain.

At least 30% of US public schools now restrict or ban phones during the school day, a sharp increase from just a few years ago. The shift is largely parent-driven. Campaigns like Smartphone-Free Childhood—founded by a group of mothers concerned about tech’s influence on children—are helping schools adopt strict “no phone” policies. The group encourages parents to organise locally and appeal directly to school boards.

The concerns are varied but familiar:

In response, some schools are using lockable pouches like Yondr to keep devices out of reach during lessons. Others have instituted schoolwide bans, with exceptions only for emergencies.

Meanwhile, lawmakers are watching. The proposed Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) is gaining traction in the US Senate, aiming to regulate platform design and data use. But many parents argue that school policy is the place to start.

🔗 Source – Time

For more articles from the week, head over to Wired-Parents.com

Skechers has just launched a new range of children’s sneakers with built-in compartments specifically designed to hold an Apple AirTag. On the surface, it sounds smart: if your child goes missing or wanders off, you can track them instantly using Apple’s Find My app.

But beneath the convenience lies a more complicated question - where’s the line between safety and surveillance?

This is far from a one-off. In the last year alone:

It’s easy to see the appeal. Public spaces can be chaotic. For younger children especially during school excursions, crowded events, or airport travel knowing where they are can bring huge peace of mind.

Critics worry that normalising tracking blurs boundaries. When children grow up used to being monitored, whether via Life360, AirTags, or camera-enabled smartwatches, it becomes harder for them to develop independence and self-trust. Even teens have started pushing back, with stories of digital “leashes” causing family friction.

There are also technical annoyances. AirTags are designed for finding lost items, not people. If your child wanders too far from your device, the tracking lags. And the devices beep when separated from their owner—which can be a problem if your child’s teacher hears it mid-lesson.

Maybe it depends on the age of the child and how the tech is used. A toddler at a crowded zoo is different from a 13-year-old at the mall. And there’s a difference between using location tools occasionally and making them a default part of parenting.

The real challenge for us as digital parents isn’t just managing devices—it’s managing trust. How do we prepare children to be safe without being watched 24/7?

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💭 Would you put an AirTag in your child’s shoes? Do you already use tracking tools at home? Or does it feel like too much?

Let us know what you think.

Word Your Child Probably Knows: “Sus”
Short for suspicious or shady behaviour. If your child says someone is “sus,” they mean they don’t trust them or think something’s off.

🔧 Tech Tip for Tired Parents: Use Guided Access
On iPhones, enable Guided Access limits your phone to a single act when you let your child use your device or when accidental gestures might distract you.

📴 Offline Challenge of the Week: Play a board game
Pick any board game—old or new—and play together as a family.

What your children are using, saying, or obsessed with—decoded in plain English.

🎧 Spotify Blend is a feature on Spotify that lets two (or more) users merge their musical tastes into a single, shared playlist. It updates daily based on each person’s listening habits, and includes a mix of songs you both enjoy—as well as tracks unique to each listener.

Spotify Blend can be a fun and harmless way for teens to connect, but it’s worth knowing that:

🧤 ​Why cartoon characters wear gloves

🕹️ Why millions of seniors are playing video games

🧠 Unrot your brain

📚 Read a book and been inspired to visit the country? Consider Literary Tourism for your next break

🐶 Students invent vibrating vest for blind pup

Which tyre doesn't move when a car turns right?

A spare tyre

What can't be put in a saucepan?

It’s lid

Congrats to Mike D, Florida for the correct answers!

What is cut on a table but is never eaten?

What building has the most stories?

Answers next week!

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Our mission at Wired Parents is to help you critically evaluate your children’s digital access with insight, inquiry and options from news and opinions along with tools, tips and strategies. Because they’ll either thank you later, or wish you’d fought harder.