Robbie Williams Discusses Parenting and Digital Devices

Robbie Williams, the British pop sensation, has spoken highly of the 2024 film Better Man, suggesting it might become one of the decade’s standout movies. He also expressed concerns about the influence of technology on children, describing it as a form of abuse.

In an interview with ITV London before his performance in Camden, Williams shared his thoughts on his kids’ exposure to phones and the internet. “They don’t have phones. They don’t use them as much as they possibly can,” he explained. He noted that while his children are at school and others have phones, he feels overwhelmed by the internet’s negative effects. “I’m 51—I can’t handle the corrosive nature of it. It ruins my day.” He questioned, “How can I give this drug to a 7-year-old? That’s abuse,” he added, emphasizing his concern.

Earlier this year, Breitbart News reported that actor Jason Momoa imposed a ban on phones and TV for his children. “We don’t have a TV,” Momoa mentioned prior to the premiere of the Minecraft Movie. He shared that his 16-year-old son doesn’t have a phone, although he’s now 18 and can venture out into the world with one.

Momoa expressed a desire for his kids to channel their creativity in different ways. “We do a lot of other things because I want them to use their creativity differently,” he remarked. He reflected on how people thrived before the era of phones, stating, “You and I didn’t grow up with one, so no one told me what to do; I had to figure it out myself.”

In a broader context, recently the Los Angeles Unified School District decided to ban phone use during class hours, which sparked protests among educators. A board member highlighted the issue, saying, “Our students are glued to mobile phones—not the adults. They’re secretly scrolling at school during class, and they’re not interacting with each other.” This concern echoes Williams and Momoa’s sentiments about the impact of digital devices on youth.