Digital Seatbelts: Why ISPs Must Make Parental Controls Mandatory for Online Safety

Foreword

Today, Mashood Ahmad, CEO of Gigabit IQ presented at the UK’s Internet Service Providers (ISP) Association annual summit, on the topic of Managed Wi-Fi: solving the home Wi-Fi challenge from frustration to loyalty through faster, smarter and safer internet. As part of this address to the delegates, Mashood emphasised the need of the Online Safety Act Online Safety Act: explainer – GOV.UK to go further with the codes of practice, to make it incumbent on all ISP’s to support the requirement of mandatory parental controls for online safety as part of their internet service. Mashood explained, that as ISP’s, we have a responsibility to support the provision and access of the Internet service with controls likened to “Digital Seatbelts” , as ISP’s were at the forefront of providing access to the internet superhighway through which consumers, families and children access content to the content providers, apps, and websites.

Introduction

In this blog, we explore why the concept of “digital seatbelts” must become the new standard in broadband. We examine the parallels between seatbelt adoption and digital safety, the growing risks children face online, and why ISPs must take responsibility for embedding safety tools at the network level. Drawing on UK statistics, we reveal how many parents still lack the tools or knowledge to protect their children online and why regulation must go further.

A Look Back: Roads Without Rules

The history of road safety shows us what happens when innovation outpaces protection. In the early 20th century, cars gave people freedom but left them dangerously unprotected. Seatbelts were introduced in UK cars by 1965, yet it took until 1983 before wearing them became mandatory in the front seats and 1991 for back seats.

Despite overwhelming evidence of effectiveness, seatbelt adoption was delayed due to:

• Public resistance to change

• Industry reluctance to incur costs

• Lack of regulatory pressure

• Misinformation about safety

Only after sustained campaigns and legislation did seatbelts become standard. Today, they are estimated to save thousands of lives each year in the UK.

The Digital World Carries Similar Risks

In today’s connected homes, the new danger is not on the roads but online. Children are exposed to an array of risks, from harmful content to online grooming. The difference? Most children today are navigating this space without any kind of protection.

Major threats include:

• Inappropriate or explicit content

• Online predators and grooming

• Cyberbullying and harassment

• Overuse and screen addiction

• Mental health issues and anxiety

• Exposure to unfiltered social media algorithms

The Parental Control Gap in the UK

Despite growing concern, parental control adoption across the UK remains inconsistent and low. Key research shows:

• While 91 percent of UK parents are aware of technical controls, only 70 percent have used any form of them (Ofcom, 2022)

• Just 31 percent use device-level controls built into phones or tablets

• Only 22 percent use parental tools within apps like TikTok or YouTube

• 58 percent of parents do not use controls on video-sharing platforms at all

• Half of these parents believe controls are unnecessary, while others say they lack the knowledge to set them up

These figures highlight a dangerous gap between awareness and action. This gap cannot be solved by relying on content providers alone. In the presentation at the ISPA summit today., Mashood stated that some ISP’s have historically adopted ineffective parental control solutions by virtue of “one size fits all” policies to safeguard families. He further explained that families choose not to adopt these controls because of their rigidity, meaning that parents themselves cannot access content meant for them, if applying the “one size fits all” parental controls. As such, this may explain the apathy in the market of parental controls historically, and why 31% use them. Mashood further went to explain that modern parental controls through innovation like FamilyGuard+ Family Guard+ Internet Parental Controls – Gigabit IQ gives parents the ability to tailor the controls to each member of the family through 20+ content filters, and precept age-based filters, like those that are applied to movies and film ratings, and thereby allows parents much more flexibility, control, and trust to protect children at different ages based upon the parent’s needs.

Why Parental Controls Must Be Built Into the Network

To close the gap between awareness and action, parental controls for online safety must evolve — and they must be embedded directly into the broadband network. Just as seatbelts became standard in every car to protect passengers of all ages, safety must now be a built-in feature of internet access, not a bolt-on.

Modern, network-level parental controls offer the flexibility and customisation that today’s families expect.

When designed correctly, these controls can:

• Automatically filter harmful content based on specific age profiles

• Apply intelligent, age-appropriate filters similar to film ratings (e.g. PG, 12, 15, 18)

• Enforce safe search settings across Google, YouTube and other platforms

• Monitor screen time and internet usage across all devices

• Block or restrict access to apps, games, or websites

• Prevent circumvention attempts such as VPNs or proxy use

• Provide parents with real-time alerts and custom reporting tools

Gigabit IQ’s FamilyGuard+ is built with these capabilities at its core. It protects the entire home network and all connected devices, without needing complex installations or separate app-level settings. Whether children use a tablet, smartphone, gaming console, or smart TV, FamilyGuard+ ensures that controls remain in place — even if they change devices.

Discover Safer Internet | Internet Parental Controls – Gigabit IQ

By providing tailored, family-first safety tools that are easy to use and genuinely adaptable, ISPs can finally earn the trust of modern parents — and help close the gap between awareness and action.

ISPs Are the Gatekeepers of Online Safety

Internet Service Providers do more than deliver access. They serve as the first point of entry to the digital world. ISPs install routers, manage connectivity, and see which devices are active in the home. This role gives providers a unique position of influence and responsibility.

Unfortunately, some ISPs have avoided involvement in online safety. Others have offered rigid solutions that families could not tailor to their needs. Meanwhile, content platforms like YouTube or Meta are expected to self-regulate. However, their business models reward engagement rather than safety.

Therefore, expecting platforms to manage online harm is risky. ISPs have the power to intervene earlier, before risks ever reach a device. They can embed intelligent, adaptable safety tools within the network itself. These tools function like digital seatbelts, offering proactive protection at the access point.

ISPs must act. They should not wait for content providers to act on their behalf. By taking ownership of network-level protections, they can directly safeguard families from digital threats.

Regulatory Support Must Go Further

We call on:

• ISPA UK to set clearer safety standards and promote best practice across the sector. The UK’s Trade Association for providers of internet Services | ISPA

• Ofcom to require public reporting on parental control adoption and ISP safety efforts. Home – Ofcom

• DCMS & DSIT to include mandatory parental controls in its interpretation of the Online Safety Act. Department for Culture, Media and Sport – GOV.UK, Department for Science, Innovation and Technology – GOV.UK

• Parliament to ensure that ISPs are not allowed to treat online safety as optional or premium-only features

Children should not be placed at risk based on how technically savvy their parents are. Controls should be available, accessible, and always on by default.

Gigabit IQ’s Commitment

At Gigabit IQ, we believe in an internet that is not only fast and reliable but also safe by design. That is why our broadband services include FamilyGuard+ as a built-in feature, not a bolt-on. It is part of our wider vision to make intelligent, family-friendly internet accessible to every household in the UK.

We are proud to lead, but we cannot do it alone. Industry standards, public expectations, and regulatory frameworks must evolve.

Conclusion

No parent today would drive a car without wearing a seatbelt. In fact, most families now expect cars to include advanced safety features as standard. These include airbags, child car seats, lane assist, and collision warnings.

We use these tools because they work. They save lives. They are not optional, and they are not negotiable. Governments mandate their use, and society supports this because the evidence is clear.

Similarly, no one would argue that removing a child’s car seat makes driving safer. So why do we allow children to navigate the internet without comparable protections?

Digital seatbelts are no longer a metaphor. They represent a class of smart, built-in online safety features that are ready to be deployed by ISPs. These include real-time alerts, intelligent filters, and flexible access controls.

History has already taught us what happens when innovation moves faster than safety. Seatbelts, child car restraints, and crash-avoidance systems have saved thousands of lives. These protections evolved because they were needed — not just because the market demanded them.

In the same way, parental controls for online safety must become a legal and moral standard across broadband services. These digital protections will not only prevent harm; they will restore trust in how families experience the internet.

It is time for our industry to take responsibility. It is time to treat digital safety the way we treat road safety — as mandatory.