Yes, the ‘D’ word is ‘discipline’. And my god it is certainly missing from the modern English vocabulary. It is a dirty word today. You can’t use it. You certainly can’t use it when criticising British parents, many of whom don’t know its meaning.
Here are a couple examples. A couple of days ago a man on the radio said he managed pubs in England and was involved in the French equivalent – perhaps wine bars or restaurants.
He said that in French establishments the kids always behave impeccably whereas English tourists with kids cause mayhem. The parents let their kids run amok. Total lack of discipline brought starkly into relief in France.
And today in The Sunday Times (29th March 2026), Mathew Syed writes another of his brilliant op-eds; this time about social media companies which are in the news because of a recent American case in which the judge found for a 20-year-old woman who claimed she has become addicted to social media due to their deliberately addictive nature via carefully constructed algorithms and continuous scrolling etc..
She was awarded $6 million; $3 million of which was punitive damages. The social media companies concerned – Google’s YouTube and Facebook- will appeal.
No doubt the appeal will turn on ‘discipline’! Self-discipline and parental discipline.
The discipline to not pick up the effing phone. Or the parents showing some tough love and preventing their kids from using these addictive platforms.
The problem is that British parent have, it seems, abdicated parental responsibility to the state. They want the government to attack Facebook et al to force them to rewrite their algos and change their policies to prevent the websites becoming addictive.
But the simple solution is for individuals to demonstrate self-discipline and forget about their phones and do something else such as read a good book if you are a child. It’s a known fact that reading is good for kids. It is good for their education and good for their mental health. Or encourage social engagement of the real kind not via a blinking screen.
Millions of words have been written about the mental health problems of British kids; social media and being glued to phones being the primary cause. Many are self-harming. Some are suicidal.
Their parents seem to be disconnected from the problem. Perhaps from their kids too. It is probable that these parents ‘taught’ their kids about social media and initially encouraged usage by being addicted to their phones.
A notable example of good parenting comes from William, the Prince of Wales and his wife who’ve decided to not allow their children to own a phone at an early age. William and wife are setting an excellent example, I’d argue because he has made it clear that mobile phones have no place in his children’s lives—for now, at least.
Speaking during an appearance on The Reluctant Traveler, he explained that George, Charlotte and Louis are not permitted to have their own devices, describing the household as “very strict” about screens. The decision reflects a deliberate parenting philosophy rather than a public stance: the Prince and Princess of Wales want their children to spend their formative years grounded in real‑world experiences rather than digital ones.
William emphasised that family time is protected, with meals and conversations treated as moments of connection rather than opportunities for distraction. Instead of phones, the children’s days are filled with sport, music and outdoor activity—everything from football and hockey to ballet and trampolining. This approach aligns with the couple’s long‑standing concern about the pressures of the online world, particularly for young people navigating identity, confidence and social dynamics.
While many families wrestle with when to introduce smartphones, the Waleses’ choice illustrates a growing trend among parents who are consciously delaying digital exposure. Their stance is less about prohibition and more about preserving childhood for as long as possible, giving their children space to grow without the constant pull of a screen.
Here is a quote from Mathew’s article:
If you think social media is bad for you, stop whining and turn if off. If it is bad for your kids, take it away from them. It’s that simple, folks. You don’t need a parliamentary debate. You don’t need legislation. You just need to press Delete.
Yes, and you need discipline. Both of the parental kind and for the kids: self-discipline. It might be hard initially but the rewards are potentially huge.
And the best fix is for parents to tackle the issue when their children are considering having a phone for the first time; when they are not addicted.
Prevent that addition creeping up on them by employing some firm parenting at the outset. Far easier to take proactive steps than reactive ones.
Gotta update this because there is an article on this in The Sunday Times of 19th April 2026. Title: “Weak-willed parents forcing schools to be more disciplinarian, says behaviour tsar.” As I said the D word has gone out of favour in this (almost) broken country (UK).
The general gist is that school teachers are being asked by bad parents who don’t provide boundaries for their kids to – yes, provide boundaries for these ill-disciplined kids. It seems the parents are passing the buck. Placing an extra and unnecessary burden on teachers who are already burdened with classrooms that are increasingly becoming violent places with students attacking teachers. Some wear bite sleeves! It is gone mad it seems to me and the Education Secretary is incompetent.
