Erin Napier, known for her role as a home renovator and author, co-hosts the popular HGTV show “Home Town” alongside her husband, Ben Napier. The couple is proud parents to two young daughters: Helen, who is 4 years old, and Mae, who is just 1.
Erin has always maintained a close connection with her fans by sharing glimpses of her personal life on social media. Recently, the 37-year-old mother took to Instagram to voice her concerns about children using smartphones. In a candid post that featured a throwback photo from her high school days, Erin reflected on how fortunate she feels to have grown up without the pressures of social media.
In the post, Erin reminisced about being an artistic teenager with a passion for photography. She recounted how she saved up money from singing at local coffee shops to buy herself a Canon SLR camera. With this camera in hand, she would capture images of things that inspired her and compile them into photo albums—a hobby that earned praise from both friends and family.
The television host expressed gratitude for having grown up in an era before social media became ubiquitous. She believes that if she had been exposed to today’s online environment during those formative years, it might have stifled or even crushed her love for photography due to the overwhelming pressure and criticism often found on these platforms.
Erin went on to share some strong opinions about social media’s impact on teenagers today. She described it as one of the harshest forms of critique—one that can lead vulnerable young minds astray before they’ve fully developed emotionally. In Erin’s view, social media should be reserved for adults who are mature enough to navigate its complexities and distinguish between right and wrong.
Because of these beliefs, Erin revealed that she and Ben have made a conscious decision not to allow their daughters access to smartphones until they reach adulthood—a choice supported by their close circle of friends as well. By doing so, they hope their children won’t feel left out or pressured when comparing themselves with peers who may already own such devices.
Addressing potential criticism head-on in her post’s conclusion, Erin stated unapologetically that she doesn’t mind if others see this decision as selfish; what matters most is protecting Helen and Mae from harmful influences like distorted self-images or exposure to inappropriate content online.
She wrapped up by emphasizing how fleeting childhood truly is—and how important it is for parents like herself and Ben not only cherish but also safeguard every moment while preserving their daughters’ innocence during these precious early years.
As expected with any public stance on parenting choices involving technology use among kids—especially one shared via Instagram—the response was mixed: Some followers applauded Erin’s approach while sharing stories about managing similar challenges within their own families; others warned against overly restrictive measures which could potentially backfire by encouraging secretive behavior among children told “no.”