Chip and Joanna Gaines have shared the strict social media rule that they have for their children to keep them off the platform.
The HGTV stars – who tied the knot in 2003 – revealed on Today With Hoda And Jenna that they have banned their five kids from social media until they’re 18 while plugging their new show, Fixer Upper: The Lakehouse, which has faced backlash.
Chip, 49, and wife Joanna, 46, have built a loyal following after the first season of their home improvement series, Fixer Upper, in 2013 launched the Texas couple into stardom.
Recently, the pair took a break from tearing down walls to dish out parenting advice as they shared why they didn’t let their five kids – Drake, 19; Ella, 17; Duke, 16; Emmie, 14; and Crew, five – post about their lives online until they finished high school.
While speaking with Today cohosts Hoda Kotb and Jenna Bush Hager, the couple revealed they didn’t allow their kids to have social media until the summer before college.
Home experts Chip and Joanna Gaines have shared the rule they make all of their children follow regarding social media and why they decided to keep their kids off the platform
The Fixer Upper stars – who tied the knot in 2003 – most recently revealed that they denied their five children access to any social media
Jenna began the conversation surrounding social media and said: ‘One of the things we all agree with is that we’re careful when it comes to cellphones and social media with our kids. What is y’all’s stance? Just help us raise our children.’
Joanna replied: ‘Our house rule is you get social media the summer before you go to college. So we have that time, so 18. We have that time to kind of work through that.’
However, her husband noted that it wasn’t easy to keep their children offline.
He added: ‘But it’s a challenge! I mean, you can tell these kids want it before that. It’s not like it’s this agreed place to where we’ve all decided at roughly 18 and they’re like, “Oh thank goodness. I didn’t want it to begin with.” They want it at 12, 13, 14.’
Agreeing with Chip, the 46-year-old mom said that while her children wanted to be on social media, they understood why the rule was in place.
She added that their kids were questioning it less as well.
‘They’ve kind of been quiet about it. Like I’d say, I haven’t said anything to them but I’d say for the last year, no one’s asked for it.
While speaking with Today cohosts Jenna Bush Hager and Hoda Kotb, the couple revealed they didn’t allow their kids to have social media until the summer before college
However, her husband noted that it wasn’t easy to keep their children offline
Agreeing with Chip, the 46-year-old said that while her children wanted to be on social media, they understood why the rule was in place
‘I think they just know the heart behind it, which is hard, I think because all their other friends have it. But I’m like, you have some other things.
‘I think for us, it’s kind of one of those things where we can say, “You have these other things that are really great. Our life is a little different and we care about this specific thing.”
‘Especially for my girls, as they’re 14 and almost 17. Just that’s the age where a lot of things mentally, you’re influenced by…,’ the mom-of-five said.
Over the weekend, Joanna celebrated her son’s 16th birthday and shared a slew of images with her family.
Duke also got his driver’s license, according to the Instagram post his mom uploaded over the weekend.
The Fixer Upper star could be seen decorating ahead of a birthday bash for her third eldest child.
She captioned the reel to her 13.7 million fans and followers, ‘Third time doing this and it still makes mama cry. #16.’
At the beginning of the video, Joanna filmed some of her children as well as herself as they set up blue, green and white balloons near the kitchen and living room area of their home.
Last year, Joanna and husband Chip reached a big milestone of their own when they celebrated their 20th wedding anniversary.
The TV personality shares Drake, 19, Ella, 17, Duke, 16, Emmie, 14 and Crew, five, with husband Chip – whom she tied the knot with in 2003
Joanna became emotional as her son, Duke, turned 16 and also got his driver’s license in a new Instagram post uploaded on last weekend
She shared a special montage taken by husband Chip Gaines as their son officially passed his test to acquire his driving license
While also talking to People at the time, she told the outlet, ‘I would say, as we’re getting older, I’m shifting and I’m more like Chip, and Chip is more like me.’
Chip – who also joined in on the interview – added, ‘Jo and I are in this beautiful moment. We’re evolving into each other. It’s the second part of our marriage.’
During the interview with the publication, the couple also talked about raising their five children, with four of them already in their teenage years.
‘Chip is really good at saying, “You need your own identity. When you’re finished with college, go do some stuff on your own. Learn some stuff. And then if you want to come back years later and teach us, we’re here,”‘ Joanna explained.
This week the couple appeared to brush off the furious backlash sparked by the recent release of the trailer for their latest show, Fixer Upper: The Lakehouse.
Fans accused Joanna and Chip of flaunting their wealth in the newest installment of their hit show.
After watching the sneak peek of their latest fixer upper project, uploaded to Magnolia Network’s Instagram, a number of fans began commenting that the couple seemed to be ‘showing off.’
One explained: ‘I don’t like watching HGTV personalities renovating their own luxury 2nd or 3rd homes. It looks like they’re showing off.’
‘That show is no longer enjoyable,’ another wrote as numerous others admitted they stopped watching their show altogether after they decided to charge ‘for their network.’
In response to the comment accusing the pair, who share five children, of being ostentatious, multiple Instagram users defended Chip, 49, and Joanna, 46.
‘Don’t be jealous they’ve earned it,’ one fired back.
Another asked: What’s wrong with other’s success?’
