Penélope Cruz won’t give her kids phones, fears they’ll be ‘manipulated’: ‘A cruel experiment on children’
Spanish actress Penélope Cruz is standing firm on her decision to shield her children from social media. In a recent interview, Cruz revealed that her 10-year-old and 12-year-old children still do not have phones. She expressed concern about the ease with which children can be manipulated, particularly while their brains are still developing.
It’s a cruel experiment on children, on teenagers, Cruz told Elle Magazine. Who pays the price? Not us, not our generation, who learned how a BlackBerry worked at 25. I really see that as protecting mental health.
This is not the first time Cruz has spoken out about her tough stance on technology. In a 2021 interview with CBS Sunday Morning, she shared her decision to let her children watch movies but restrict their access to phones and social media until they are older.
I’m very tough with technology, for example with my kids… no social media until at least 16. I really see that as protecting mental health, Cruz explained.
Cruz’s concern for the younger generation’s relationship with technology is evident. She feels that exposing children to excessive technology at a young age is akin to subjecting them to an experiment.
I feel really bad for the ones that are teenagers now. It’s almost [as] if the world was doing some kind of experiment on them. ‘Oh, let’s see what happens if you expose a 12-year-old to that much technology,’ Cruz said.
The actress is fiercely protective of her children’s interests and privacy. When asked if her children would follow in her footsteps and pursue careers in the entertainment industry, Cruz was hesitant to provide a definitive answer.
It’s for them to decide if they are going to have a job that is more exposed to the public or not. They can talk about that when they’re ready, Cruz told Elle Magazine.
Cruz’s love for motherhood is apparent. She knew from a young age that she wanted children, but she wanted to wait until she felt ready. Becoming a mother has been one of the most important things in her life, and she cherishes the role.
At my age, 80 percent of the characters that I play will be about motherhood or divorce or abandonment or characters who didn’t want to have children or couldn’t or who lost children. I’ve played mothers since I was very young, Cruz said.
Known for her collaboration with Spanish director Pedro Almodóvar, Cruz believes that Almodóvar recognized her nurturing instincts even before she had children of her own.
Pedro always saw me as a mother… He always saw that strong, inevitable instinct in me, and I saw him see it, she shared.
Penélope Cruz’s decision to shield her children from technology reflects her concern for their well-being and mental health. As she continues to highlight her stance, she hopes to protect them from the potential pitfalls of early exposure to social media and excessive technology use.
In a world where smartphones and social media dominate, Cruz’s decision serves as a reminder to prioritize the mental well-being of children in the face of technological advancements.
