That is one of the findings in Telstra's Connected Home Index, which looks at how pervasive internet use has become in the home. It is the third time the study has been conducted since 2012 and this year found that taking away technology was being used as punishment by many parents.

According to the study, 70 per cent of respondents in regional NSW found that taking the tablet or smartphone away from a child was more effective than the old-fashioned restrictions on watching TV.

A look at other findings shows why the TV punishment isn't effective any more - with more and more devices in the household connected to the internet, they can all be used to watch that favourite show.

The study found that 44 per cent of regional respondents had between three and six connected devices but only 6 per cent had seven or more.

Of these people, at least 15 per cent would use a mobile phone or tablet to watch a TV show, especially if they didn't like what someone else watching on the television set in the lounge room.

The report also uncovered the love affair some had with their mobile phones. For one-third of people in regional NSW, their mobile phone is the last thing they look at before going to sleep. But given the choice of being without their phone or the internet for a day, 53 per cent couldn't bear to be offline for 24 hours.