Matthew McConaughey has spoken out about his strict rules surrounding social media and his children.
In an era when kids are growing up in a digital landscape filled with TikTok dances and Instagram selfies, the Dazed and Confused star is taking a different path when it comes to parenting and social media.
McConaughey, a father of three, has won over parents everywhere by revealing that he and his wife, Camila Alves McConaughey, prohibited their eldest son, Levi, from diving into the world of social media until he turned 15.
While it might seem like an impossible task to keep kids away from social platforms like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat - especially since the minimum age for most of these platforms is only 13 - McConaughey took a measured but steadfast approach.
Discussing his parenting strategy on the Today show with Hoda Kotb and Jenna Bush, the actor said, "Oh [Levi] wanted [to be on social media] early on, probably when he was 12, definitely 13. Definitely 14. And we waited till he was 15."
McConaughey didn't make this decision on a whim. He elaborated: "We tried to look at the upfalls and the downfalls. It's not like sending your kid off to college, but it is like sending your kids off with a bunch of strangers into the world." This careful consideration has clearly resonated with other parents - many of whom are aware of the pros and cons that come with introducing children to social media.
After the clip was shared on Instagram, the Oscar winner was heavily praised for his parenting techniques in the comments section, with many other parents agreeing with his methods. One person wrote: "I love that so many celebrities are being good examples about waiting when it comes to phones and social media."
A second added: "I wish this man would come to schools and talk to parents. I taught middle school. I saw the negative impacts social media had in kids. My child had none of it until he was 16."
"I appreciate the example he’s setting delaying social media for his son, and then using discretion what you share," commented a third, "Good parenting!"
"He’s AWESOME for so many reasons, but especially how he loves his family," a fourth IG user wrote.
What set McConaughey's approach apart from an outright ban is the time the actor invested in preparing his son for the online realm. "We spent two years trying to really define what social media is to him," McConaughey said. "Let's talk about what it is.
"Let's talk about the upfalls. Let's talk about the downfalls. Let's talk about the assets. Let's talk about the traps. Let's talk about what you wanna tell."
The actor also touched upon a problem that many young people encounter today: the impact of social media on one's sense of self and purpose. "Because what happens a lot of times with young people and social media is they wake up in the morning and the first thing on their mind is, 'What will be a good post?' instead of, 'What do I want to do today?'" he noted.
Jenna Bush echoed these sentiments, emphasizing the importance of children "living rather than just scrolling."
Yes, despite being a Hollywood megastar and Academy Award winner, celebs like McConaughey face the same parenting challenges we all do!