• News
  • Film and TV
  • Music
  • Tech
  • Features
  • Celebrity
  • Politics
  • Weird
  • Community
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • LADbible
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
TikTok
YouTube
Submit Your Content
Parents praise Matthew McConaughey for banning his son from getting social media until he turned 15

Home> Celebrity> News

Published 00:03 18 Sep 2023 GMT+1

Parents praise Matthew McConaughey for banning his son from getting social media until he turned 15

The actor and his wife Camila wanted to make sure Levi knew who he was before he opened himself to the apps.

Stewart Perrie

Stewart Perrie

Matthew McConaughey has been praised by parents after revealing he and his wife Camila banned their eldest son from having social media until he was 15.

It sounds almost impossible to prevent your kids from signing up to TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter or whatever else these days.

Children can usually get an account if they're over the age of 13 and plenty of them will have it way before that.

However, several big-name celebrities have spoken out about why it is important to stay off the apps for as long as possible.

Advert

McConaughey said he wanted to make sure his son, Levi, knew how to use it before jumping on board.

"Oh he wanted it early on, probably when he was 12, definitely 13. Definitely 14," he explained to Hoda Kotb and Jenna Bush on the Today show.

"And we waited till he was 15.

Advert

"We tried to look at the up falls 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."

He added: "[We spent] two years trying to really define what social media is to him.

"Let's talk about what it is. Let's talk about the up falls. 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.

"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?'"

Advert

Rick Kern/WireImage

Jenna backed his decision and added that she wants to make sure kids are living rather than just scrolling.

They all agreed that it's important for children to understand who they are before being bombarded with posts from friends, celebrities, companies, brands and influencers.

Parents hopped into the comments section and were so happy to hear an A-lister talk about a measured approach to the issue.

Advert

One person said: "Literal tears in my ears…just SO incredibly nice to hear other parents who GET this!"

Another added: "Wish all parents had the same mentality. Children are not learning to communicate."

A third wrote: "We were 'those parents' who would not give our children a phone until Christmas break of their freshman year of high school. It was a tough road, but if I had to do it all over again, I wouldn’t give it to them until their senior year."

Featured Image Credit: Today/NBC. Gary Miller/WireImage

Topics: Matthew McConaughey, Social Media, Parenting

Stewart Perrie
Stewart Perrie

Stewart Perrie is a Senior Journalist at LADbible. Stewart has covered the conflict in Syria for LADbible, interviewing a doctor on the front line, and has contributed to the hugely successful UOKM8 campaign. He is in charge of the LADbible Australia editorial content and social presence.

X

@stewartperrie

Advert

Advert

Advert

Choose your content:

a day ago
2 days ago
  • a day ago

    Fantastic Four star Julian McMahon dies aged 56 as wife releases heartbreaking statement

    The star has died after battling cancer, his family have confirmed

    Celebrity
  • 2 days ago

    Brad Pitt admits his ‘diabolical’ behavior on movie set caused production to pause

    The actor said that 'something hit him' suddenly

    Celebrity
  • 2 days ago

    Lizzo breaks down exactly what caused dramatic weight loss as she reveals ‘truth’ behind Ozempic use

    The music icon claimed people often attribute her new look as the result of being on weight-loss dugs

    Celebrity
  • 2 days ago

    Caitlyn Jenner's manager Sophia Hutchins dies aged 29 after crash threw her 350 feet down a ravine

    The pair struck up a friendship in 2015, with Jenner calling Hutchins her 'best friend'

    Celebrity
  • Matthew McConaughey explains the real reasons why he left Hollywood
  • Matthew McConaughey and wife Camila Alves allow 15-year-old son Levi to join social media for birthday
  • Matthew McConaughey Explains Why He Turned Down $14.5 Million Offer To Star In Movie
  • Kelly Clarkson reveals why she won't let her children use social media until they turn 18