Simon Cowell's partner Lauren Silverman reveals she bans their son Eric, 12, and his friends from having phones when socialising at their home
Lauren Silverman has revealed that she bans her 12-year-old son Eric and his friends from having phones when socialising at their home.The beauty, 48, shares Eric with music mogul Simon Cowell, 66, and recently was vocal in supporting the government's ban on social media access for under 16s.Now in a new Instagram post she has revealed her family's smartphone rule saying her stance 'might make her an unpopular mum'.She penned: 'This has the potential to make me the least popular mum in my son's friendship group...'No phones during playdates. No devices in bedrooms at sleepovers. Just kids being kids. What if we made this the new normal? The age limit may be changing but culture changes at home. Imagine the playdates once again meant riding bikes, playing football, swimming, baking, exploring outdoors, hanging out and talking.'The surprising part, children don't need a smartphone to have fun. In fact when the phones disappear they start talking, creating, imagining, connecting. And somehow the hours seem to slow down. Nobody sits alone scrolling. They're busy making memories together.' Laying out her rules she said: 'When friends come over phones stay away. And for sleepovers no devices in bedrooms overnight. Not as a punishment. Just creating space for real life. A few hours without notifications can make all the difference.' Lauren Silverman has revealed that she bans her 12-year-old son Eric and his friends from having phones when socialising at their home The beauty, 48, shares Eric with music mogul Simon Cowell, 66, and recently was vocal in supporting the government's ban on social media access for under 16s Lauren went on to say that she wanted to bring back 'play, adventure, friendship and conversation.' She explained: 'This isn't about perfection. Children will still use technology, game and go online. This is about balance. Creating regular opportunities for friendship, fun and connection away from screens.' She added that parents are told in advance about her family's smartphone-free approach and that she respects that every family has different rules.Children can always access their phones if they need to contact home and nobody is forced to do anything she also clarified in her post.It was filled with positive feedback from her followers in the comments. She penned in the caption of her post: 'This has the potential to make me the least popular mum in my son's friendship group…'Every family has different boundaries around technology and this is one that has made a real difference in ours.'When friends come for play dates or sleepovers we ask that smartphones stay away. Not because we are completely anti tech but because we have seen what happens when children are given the space to simply be children. More laughter, more conversation, better sleep and more genuine connection.'I'd love to know would you try this in your family?' Now in a new Instagram post she has revealed her family's smartphone rule saying her stance 'might make her an unpopular mum' She said: 'No phones during playdates. No devices in bedrooms at sleepovers. Just kids being kinds. What if we made this the new normal?' Laying out her rules she said: 'When friends come over phones stay away. And for sleepovers no devices in bedrooms overnight. Not as a punishment' Lauren went on to say that she wanted to bring back 'play, adventure, friendship and conversationBack in April Lauren revealed the 'nagging fear' of her son Eric being on social media after discovering he had downloaded Snapchat on her phone.She had been fiercely against Eric having a phone, but they had to rethink their stance after discovering he had downloaded Snapchat - a multimedia messaging app - on Lauren's phone. Simon hasn't owned a phone for eight years and previously said the change had 'absolutely made me happier'. In an interview, Lauren explained the boundaries she has put in place for Eric as she joined the campaign for the government to raise the minimum age of children accessing social media to 16 years old. Talking about her own experience, Lauren told The Mirror: 'He would always take my phone to put music on in the car, and obviously, I'm driving so I can't look at what he's doing. I knew nothing about it, and how it actually worked.'Lauren said she became 'really freaked out' as she learnt Eric had been using Snapchat secretly.She continued: 'Social media has been something that has been a nagging fear for both me and Simon for a long time. It's why we held off before giving Eric a phone.'Eventually the couple decided to give Eric a phone but lay out strict ground rules. Lauren said: 'We've got Eric a phone, but there is no social media on it. He's not allowed on any apps, on any social media. He doesn't have Snapchat. I've now removed everything, so he literally can text and WhatsApp his friends.'The socialite said she is part of Eric's group chats so she can oversee them but doesn't participate in the conversation.Lauren added Eric isn't bothered about being on social media but when confronted about secretly using Snapchat told her he just wanted to talk to his friends. Lauren joined the Raise The Age campaign this year and invited Ellen Roome over to talk about the petition to have safer laws for children using social media. Ellen blames social media for the death of her teenage son. The heartbroken mother had warned the UK was at risk of falling behind in legislating against social media harms, calling on the government to act now rather than wait for more children to be harmed. Her post was filled with positive feedback from her followers in the comments She explained: 'This isn't about perfection. Children will still use technology, game and go online. This is about balance' She added that parents are told in advance about her family's smartphone-free approach and that she respects that every family has different rules This month departing PM Keir Starmer announced a ban for social media for under 16s will be put in place next yearThis month departing PM Keir Starmer announced a ban for social media for under 16s will be put in place next year.Lauren previously spoke about her dilemma about giving a phone with Eric on Instagram. She wrote at the time: 'For a long time Simon and I were very firm about one thing, no phone for Eric. (Simon himself hasn't had a phone for nearly 8 years!).'But recently Eric had a very honest conversation with us about it that made us rethink our position slightly.'He now has a phone with some very clear boundaries. The main one being, no social media. Just texting and calling friends and family.'In a slideshow of pictures, Lauren explained further: 'I changed my mind about my 12-year-old son having a phone...'But I still said no to social media. Whether we like it or not, texting has become a part of childhood.'Plans are made there. Jokes are shared there. Friendships often happen there and at some point kids start feeling like they are the only one not in the conversation.'For a long time I was very clear, no phone.'Lauren said she believed the longer herself and Simon could delay giving a smartphone to Eric, the better.But everything changed when she discovered her son had been secretly messaging his friends on Snapchat off her phone. She said: 'That moment really made me stop and think about what the right approach should be. 'Instead of turning it into a battle, we talked. What he told me was actually very simple. He didn't care about social media. He just wanted to be able to text and call his friends.' Lauren said they came to a compromise where Eric could have a phone for texting and calling but isn't allowed Snapchat or social media. She added: 'The reason I am holding that boundary is because social media is a completely different world.'The pressure. The comparison. The toxicity. For our family, this is something we are waiting for for now.'Lauren went on to tell the strict rules she has in place - no phones in Eric's bedroom, at the dinner table or during family time.She concluded: 'Technology should never replace real life.'Simon gave up having a phone back in 2018. At the time, the television mogul revealed he had become so distracted and irritated by his phone that he made himself uncontactable for the sake of his mental health and happiness. He told The Mail on Sunday: 'I literally have not been on my phone.'The difference it made was that I became more aware of the people around me and way more focused.'The thing I get irritated with is when you have a meeting everyone's on their phone – and I was probably in that place too. You can't concentrate.'It has been so good for my mental health. It's a very strange experience but it really is good for you and it has absolutely made me happier.'
