Peter Andre has candidly discussed a significant parenting disagreement with his wife Emily, revealing how his perspective on children's social media use has undergone a complete transformation. The singer and television personality now strongly advocates for banning social media access for under-16s, following Australia's pioneering legislation.
From Initial Resistance to Wholehearted Support
During an appearance on ITV's Lorraine programme on Thursday, 22nd January, Andre opened up about the family debate. "At first Emily was like, 'I'm not letting them on social media', and I thought she was being a bit harsh," the 52-year-old admitted. "I'm like, 'Come on'. Everyone wants to show their kids, like, 'Oh, look what my kid ate last night.' It's what we used to do as parents or what our parents used to do."
The AI Factor That Changed Everything
Andre explained that his viewpoint shifted dramatically as he witnessed the evolving digital landscape. "But then, when I started seeing as time went on and AI started to get introduced, I was like, 'Thank god you have stopped them from being on social media.'" He emphasised the particular dangers of artificial intelligence combined with social platforms: "They can take an image of your child and create all sorts of things."
The father-of-five, who shares three younger children with Emily - Amelia, 11, Theo, 9, and Arabella, 21 months - now fully supports his wife's protective stance. "Actually, I thank her. I can't take the credit for that, but I agree with it now very much, very much."
Championing Australia's Groundbreaking Approach
Andre expressed strong admiration for Australia's legislative move to ban social media for under-16s, suggesting the UK should follow suit. "Australia, they were just like, 'We're banning it for under 16s.' I think it's brilliant. No under-16-year-olds are gonna like you for saying it, but once the rules are in place, it will just be the norm. We need that for these kids."
He acknowledged the complexity of discussing social media dangers while having older children who use platforms, including his eldest children Junior and Princess who are pursuing careers in the spotlight. "There is nothing worse than somebody who is on social media, whose kids have been on social media, sitting there trying to say that social media is bad," Andre reflected.
Broader Reflections on Public Family Matters
The conversation also touched on the highly publicised Beckham family situation, with Andre offering measured thoughts about public scrutiny of private family matters. "It's sad, isn't it? They're nice people, I met them many times and they're really lovely people," he said of the Beckhams.
Andre continued with thoughtful caution: "I find it hard when people are giving their opinion on it because you just don't know. If I were to give an opinion, who's going to listen anyway? It doesn't matter... I would never, in something like that, get involved because I know that there will be so much going on behind that you just don't know."
A Parental Journey of Digital Awareness
Andre's journey from initial resistance to becoming a vocal advocate for children's digital protection highlights how parental perspectives are evolving in response to technological advances. His experience underscores the growing concern among parents about the intersection of social media and emerging AI technologies.
The interview occurred as Andre discussed his first album release in eleven years, but it was his parenting insights that resonated particularly strongly. His transformation from questioning his wife's protective measures to thanking her for them represents a significant shift in understanding about digital childhood in the modern age.
As legislation similar to Australia's progresses through the UK's parliamentary process, having public figures like Andre share their personal journeys adds substantial weight to the conversation about protecting younger generations from potential online harms.
