The subject of young people using social media is definitely a fraught one, with studies showing that sites like Instagram have been directly detrimental to youth mental health and self image—but singer Kelly Clarkson's stance on her kids using social media platforms has been called a bit extreme by some.
While every parent has to make their own decisions about how they allow their children to use the internet, Clarkson stated that her kids are not allowed to use any social media platforms whatsoever as long as they live with her and are under 18.
Clarkson, who has two kids—9-year-old daughter River Rose and 7-year-old son Remington Alexander—told People that she's really figuring out the whole parenting thing as she goes, like many parents.
She said of social media:
"That can be really hard on kids in general but especially kids with parents in the public eye."
"So I have informed them they’re not allowed to, under my roof, ever have [it]."
Clarkson isn't keeping her children offline completely, though, and she shared an adorable photo of them backstage last summer to her own Instagram account.
Clarkson, who co-parents her children with ex-husband Brandon Blackstock, mentioned a conversation with River Rose about using social media at her dad's house.
"'What if Dad lets me?’ I’m like, ‘Well, you’re there four days a month. Enjoy that.' And right now, he’s not letting them do it either."
Some thought Clarkson was being too harsh, but a whole lot of people agreed with her stance.
@iHeartRadio @KCPhilippines If I were a well known celebrity like Kelly Clarkson, I definitely wouldn\xe2\x80\x99t want my kids on social media until their brains were fully developed as adults. Given how cruel the media can be to celebrities, it\xe2\x80\x99s best to wait until they\xe2\x80\x99re grown up & fully capable of understanding!!— (@)
Clarkson said that she has firmly made up her mind on the matter for now, but she is open to hearing her kids out if they want to make accounts when they are older, noting:
"I’ll listen when they’re older, but until they have a solid argument, it’s a no."
Social media does a lot of good things like bringing people together and making it easier to keep track of what is going on in the world, but it's hard to deny the harm it does as well—especially to young people.
@kirstendunst/Instagram