Digital Parenting: How Many Parents Are Actually Monitoring Their Kids' Devices?

Rosa Matthews
May 6
4 min read

These days, parenting doesn’t stop at school pickups or weekend plans—it stretches into Wi-Fi settings, app permissions, and the question of whether your kid’s screen time is edging into something more concerning. If you’ve ever second-guessed whether to keep a closer eye on their phone, you're not the only one.

Depending on how old your child is, and what kind of tools you’re using, you’re likely among the 48% to 86% of U.S. parents who are already monitoring their child’s digital life in one form or another.

The Current State of Digital Parenting

The numbers make one thing clear—keeping tabs on your child’s screen habits isn’t unusual anymore. If anything, it’s becoming the default.

According to Internet Matters, 86% of parents with kids between 5 and 11 are putting some sort of limit on screen time. About 81% say they’ve turned on at least one parental control setting. And over at All About Cookies, 80% of parents reported tracking their kids’ location through digital tools.

Seventy-five percent are reviewing what websites their kids visit or which apps they download. About 72% are using controls to manage screen time directly. For some, the phone’s built-in features are enough (58%), while others prefer a separate family monitoring app (53%) with more detail.

How Parents Are Monitoring (And What They’re Using)

Not every parent is taking the same approach. Some check messages. Others use apps. Some do both. Around 49% say they’ve looked at their child’s call logs or texts. Nearly the same amount—48%—have purchased monitoring software.

That demand is showing up in the market. According to Fortune Business Insights, the U.S. parental control software industry was valued at $227.5 million in 2024. By 2032, it could hit $474.8 million. Globally, it’s expected to grow from $3.5 billion in 2022 to $9.5 billion by 2030.

The Big Players in Parental Monitoring

A few platforms come up often when parents talk about tools they use.

Norton Family lets you manage up to 15 child profiles across unlimited devices, all for about $15 a year. For families juggling multiple kids (and multiple devices), it’s practical and affordable.

Bark takes a more proactive approach. It uses artificial intelligence to scan social media, messages, and search history for warning signs. In 2024, Bark flagged more than 4 million potential self-harm cases and 6.5 million incidents related to bullying. It also sent out an average of 12,000 high-severity suicide alerts per week. The platform currently monitors over 7.5 million kids in the U.S., and last year, it pulled in $2.37 million in revenue.

Then there’s Google Family Link, which ranks #228 overall and #29 in the Tools category. During tests of new features, about 12% of users invited to try them were either new or returning to the app.

Why Parents Are Monitoring More Than Ever

Ask most parents why they’re keeping an eye on things, and it’s not paranoia—it’s concern.

Sixty-three percent worry about their children being approached by strangers online. Sixty percent say they’re concerned about exposure to explicit content. That’s not just gut instinct—it’s backed by data.

According to Exploding Topics, 16% of U.S. students were cyberbullied in 2024, up slightly from 2021. More urgently, 26.5% of teens reported some form of online bullying in the last 30 days alone.

And it goes beyond bullying. The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children received nearly 100 reports of financial sextortion involving minors—every single day—in 2024.

The Age Factor: When Monitoring Drops Off

Monitoring tends to taper off as kids get older—not always because parents feel less worried, but because the dynamic changes.

Data from Internet Matters shows that 86% of parents with kids under 11 use some kind of parental control. That drops to 79% for ages 11–14, and again to 72% for teens aged 15–16.

In some families, that’s a conscious decision—giving older kids more space. In others, it’s a result of fatigue, friction, or simply not knowing which tool to use next.

Does Monitoring Actually Work?

For many families, yes—at least to a degree.

About 76% of parents said their child made better decisions as a result of being monitored. Sixty-four percent said they discovered behavior they wouldn’t have otherwise noticed.

It also seems to encourage communication. Pew Research reports that 65% of children with parental controls in place had a conversation about internet safety with a parent within the past month.

Still, not everything works as intended. Around 15% of parents needed help just installing the software. And in those households, researchers found little difference in online behavior between monitored and unmonitored days.

The Challenges Parents Face

Even when the tools are available, implementation isn’t always smooth.

Fifty-two percent of parents say they worry that too much monitoring could backfire—prompting kids to hide things or rebel. And while 84% say they’re concerned about their child’s digital safety, Statista found most parents spend less than 46 minutes total talking about online safety over the course of their child’s life.

That disconnect is worth noting. In some cases, it’s discomfort. In others, it’s overwhelm. And sometimes, it’s just not knowing where to begin.

The Road Ahead

The tech isn’t slowing down. In fact, it’s getting more advanced.

Artificial intelligence and machine learning are allowing monitoring tools to detect more than just websites—they’re identifying behavioral shifts and emotional distress. During the pandemic, as screen time surged and online learning became the norm, these tools quickly moved from optional to essential.

Even now, a lot of families are still adjusting.

Finding the Right Balance

At this point, digital monitoring is part of parenting for many households. But no tool replaces trust. The most effective approaches seem to combine clear boundaries, regular check-ins, and some level of technological support.

Whether you’re using detailed tracking apps or sticking to simple screen-time rules, the goal is the same: helping kids navigate the internet with awareness and some guidance—not fear.