Jennifer Garner may have a growing fanbase on social media, but she refuses to allow her kids Violet, Seraphina and Samuel to have their own accounts.
The Last Thing He Told Me star recently appeared on the Today show to talk about her latest project for Apple TV+. As she opened up to Hoda Kotb and Savannah Guthrie about the need to protect her children (whom she shares with ex-husband Ben Affleck)'s privacy, she disclosed an unconventional rule she created for them: her teenagers are not allowed to have social media accounts. But when asked how she managed to convince her kids to follow this rule, she offered a simple explanation.
"I just said to my kids, 'Show me the articles that prove that social media is good for teenagers, and then we'll have the conversation,'" she explained to the NBC hosts. "Find scientific evidence that matches what I have that says that it’s not good for teenagers, then we’ll chat."
But that wasn't all Jennifer had to say about the subject. She elaborated on how Violet, Seraphina and Samuel feel about her stance on social media, saying they've been appreciative of the 13 Going on 30 alum's efforts to keep them safe. She did make it clear that as they get older, though, this policy could start to change.
"My eldest is grateful," she clarified about Violet's take on the rule. "We'll see. I mean, it's a long haul. I have a couple more to go, so just knock on wood. We’ll see if I really hang in there."
When a clip from Jennifer's interview got uploaded to YouTube, folks immediately resonated with her words. What's more, they backed her up with their own thoughts in the comments section.
"Good for her! As their mom, she's protecting them ... I admire her, she's a fine person," one user wrote. "Love Jen. My kids don't have social media either. My eldest got it at 18. I just made it a rule and never had any issues and no, they don't have it secretly either," another person replied. "I've always thought Jennifer Garner was a beautiful woman. She continues to demonstrate how wonderful she is as a mom. A real positive role model," a different follower added.
While the Alias actress' latest comments about social media are gaining attention, it isn't the first time she's voiced her concerns over its negative effects. Folks may remember her speaking out on the subject in 2019, telling Katie Couric how she worries "about all kids having to deal with this new pressure."
As the entertainment and news associate editor for Good Housekeeping, Adrianna (she/her) writes about everything TV, movies, music and pop culture. She graduated from Yeshiva University with a B.A. in journalism and a minor in business management. She covers shows like The Rookie, 9-1-1 and Grey's Anatomy, though when she’s not watching the latest show on Netflix, she’s taking martial arts or drinking way too much coffee.
