If we had a following of half-a-million people, we, too, would be doing like Stacey Solomon and turning to Instagram for parenting tips.
The 28-year-old took to the social media site this week to pose an important question in this tech-obsessed age: how do mums cope with their kids’ demands for a smartphone?
“Is anyone else having serious trouble with smartphone envy?” she inquired.
“Lots of my eldest son’s [Zachary, nine] friends have phones, and I’m so against it!
“I feel like I’m in a constant battle where I look like the annoying mum who’s trying to crumple any existence of a social life outside school!”
For Stacey, it comes down to wanting Zachary to just ‘be a child’ and not have to worry about the influence and impact of social media on his day-to-day life.
This is particularly relevant for her, as she revealed only this week that she doesn’t let Zachary or his younger brother, five-year-old Leighton, use social media. In fact, she said ‘there is absolutely not an age when she will let them’ use it.
As we all know, however, that mum guilt can become too much sometimes – especially when there’s an upset child afraid of feeling left out.
This is why Stacey has decided to compromise – by getting both of her sons a smartwatch, instead. With these watches, they can do almost everything they could with a phone – playing music and games, taking selfies, and messaging family members; it just means that Stacey has ‘a few months of peace’.
Stacey’s candid post garnered plenty of reaction from her fans, many of whom admitted to sharing the same fears regarding smartphones and social media – and letting their ‘babies’ grow up too fast!
“Yes, absolutely the same,” wrote one. “The compromise is an iPod with no social media. He can FaceTime grandparents and family but no one else. At eight, I think he is just too young.”
“My daughter is seven and is already asking for an iPhone! All her friends have them, apparently – they don’t! She isn’t getting one, or any other phone,” another added.
“Great idea! Stand our ground, parents – the more of us who say ‘no’, the more children can be children!” another wrote, applauding Stacey’s move.
What are your thoughts, mums?
