Ever since Netflix’s The Social Dilemma went viral, people have been looking at the use of social media through a much more critical lens— especially parents of teenagers.
And it seems Nicole Kidman has also been re-thinking the platform, admitting that she won’t be letting her kids join Instagram anytime soon.
During an interview on the British show Loose Women to promote her new thriller, The Undoing, the actress opened up about being hesitant to allow her two youngest daughters, Faith, 9, and Sunday, 12, to set up social media accounts.
“It’s very hard for me to monitor it and stay on it. I won’t let them be on Instagram,” she began.
And she revealed that her eldest child has some qualms about her decision.
“I have a 12-year-old right now who is chomping at the bit and wants to get into all of that. It’s just a constant push and pull. I’d say a lot of parents would say the same thing”
But rather than trying to monitor what exactly they’re doing, the 53-year-old affirms that it’s more about protecting them from critics.
“I think it’s keeping their confidence and their self-esteem intact,” she said.
Explaining that her and husband Keith Urban are still trying to navigate parenting, she says that she’s cautious but “trying not to ‘helicopter’ parent.” And that one of the more difficult parts is stepping back and “allowing them to make mistakes and fall down and not trying to sort of absorb that pain [ourselves]. There are so many things.”
But despite the pitfalls and hurdles, she is always grateful for the experience.
“It’s a joy, it’s a joy having these beautiful little women that are growing up and I’m discovering them day by day. I love it.”