Chip and Joanna Gaines Defend Their Rule about No Social Media for Their Kids Until Age 18

Michie · Jun 9, 2024

You Get Social Media The Summer Before College

Jenna asks the couple about their stance regarding social media and their children. “Our house rule is you get social media the summer before you go to college,” Joanna says.

Chip comments about how the kids aren’t exactly in agreement with no social media until they are 18. “But you can tell these kids want it before that…they wanted it at 12, 13, 14,” he says. Joanna tells TODAY that the kids do understand the heart of the rule.

The famous couple discusses the fact that all the kids’ friends seem to have social media and that having a no social media rule in that environment can be hard. However, as Joanna comments, “We can say you have these other things that are really great. Our life is a little different.”

It’s Better to Wait

Taking the focus off of social media, even if everyone else around you is on it, and focusing on what you do have is a great idea. There is so much more to life than having your face in a phone. Making memories and having experiences outside of your phone makes for an ideal childhood.

Chip and Joanna then discuss how social media isn’t good for kids at an earlier age and that it is better to wait. Chip asks, “What benefits have we personally experienced…?” referring to his and Joanna’s use of it.

While they can admit that social media has helped their careers, Jenna comments that they are, in fact, adults, not kids, which makes a big difference.

Parents Need to Decide What to Do

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