ON THE TABLET
Use its own controls
The UK Safer Internet Centre says tablets have their own parental controls, for example to limit spending or restrict apps by age rating.
How to set upFor younger children, the tablet is the way online.
Ofcom's 2025/6 research found it is the most common device younger children use to go online, until phones take over at secondary school. A few minutes of setting up makes sharing one simpler and safer.
Updated
Check by ageTHE SHORT ANSWER
Set it up once,
then stay close.
Three layers do most of the work.
None of them replaces talking.
ON THE WI-FI
Turn on the home filter
The four big UK internet providers offer free parental controls that filter content on every device connected at home.
Why filters are not enough
SIDE BY SIDE
Sit together sometimes
Ofcom found 46% of parents use real-time supervision, such as sitting with their child or being nearby.
See the numbersTABLETS BY AGE
How many children
go online on a tablet?
Pick an age group to see how many use a tablet to go online, as reported by their parents. The bar shows how common it is.
Parent-reported figures for the UK, 2025/6. Ofcom notes that trends are indicative because its methods changed.
TWO NUMBERS WORTH KNOWING
Lots of tools,
less sitting together.
How many parents use device tools,
and how many supervise in real time.
77%
Parents using device management tools
77% of parents describe using device management tools, such as parental controls and screen-time limits on certain apps.
DEVICE TOOLS · OFCOM
46%
Parents supervising in real time
Sitting with the child, being nearby and checking their device is less common, at 46% of parents: 49% for 8 to 12s and 34% for 13 to 17s.
REAL-TIME · OFCOM
Ofcom also found that 16% of 13 to 17s say they know how to get around parental controls and age checks, although only 5% of all 13 to 17s said they had done so in the past 12 months.
FOUR STEPS FOR A SHARED TABLET
Ten minutes now,
fewer surprises later.
These steps use features most tablets and home broadband already have. They are about layers: the device, the Wi-Fi, the software and the people.
Switch on the tablet's controls
Use the built-in parental controls to limit spending and restrict apps by age rating, such as PEGI labels in app stores.
Turn on the broadband filter
Activate your internet provider's free parental controls so filtering also covers the tablet at home.
Keep automatic updates on
The NCSC says updates fix known flaws. Check they are still enabled, and restart the tablet now and then so they install.
Talk, and sit nearby
No filter is 100% effective. Make sure your child knows they can come to you if something online upsets them.
WHY FILTERS ARE NOT ENOUGH
Tools help,
talking matters more.
The UK Safer Internet Centre says no filter or parental controls tool is 100% effective, and that many risks young people face online come from their own and others' behaviour. It advises talking to children about staying safe and making sure they know they can turn to you.
Out of the house, a tablet may join public Wi-Fi in a shop or cafe. The Centre suggests looking for the Friendly WiFi symbol, which shows the Wi-Fi has filters to limit access to pornographic content.
Questions
Questions people ask
How common are tablets for children?
Very. Ofcom's 2025/6 research says the tablet is the most common device for going online for all younger age groups, with parents reporting that 77% of 8 to 9-year-olds use one.
Do tablets have parental controls?
Yes. The UK Safer Internet Centre says devices such as tablets, smartphones and games consoles have their own parental controls, for example to limit spending or restrict apps based on age rating.
Are broadband parental controls free?
The UK Safer Internet Centre says the four big UK internet providers give customers free parental controls that can be activated at any time.
Why do updates matter on a family tablet?
The NCSC says updates often contain security patches that fix known flaws attackers can use. Automatic updates may only run on Wi-Fi, on power or after a restart, so it is worth checking they are working.
What happens when a tablet stops getting updates?
The NCSC says devices are supported for a limited time before they become obsolete, and advises replacing unsupported devices and software as soon as you are able.
Sources
Where the facts come from
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