Solenn Heussaff says kids Thylane, Maëlys won't get phones until they turn 18

Solenn Heussaff has an important rule for her kids: no cellphones until they turn 18 years old. 

During her guesting on “Fast Talk with Boy Abunda” on Thursday, the actress shared her firm stance on limiting her children’s exposure to gadgets.

“Di ako nag-g-gadget sa kanila. Their first phone will be maybe at 18 or 19. Sana. iPad, I don’t want,” Solenn said.

According to Solenn, as a mother, she gets frustrated when she sees families dining together but are busy with their phones and gadgets. 

“I get so frustrated because it is so sad, like this is what we’ve become,” she explained.

She also expressed frustration over what she sees as society’s growing dependence on constant stimulation, driven by digital platforms and tech companies.

“We just want the fast, short-term dopamine and it’s really horrible that these multimillion dollar companies, that’s what they’re selling,” the mom of two said.

“They are trying to make us overstimulated. If we don’t get stimulated, then we get bored. If we get bored, then we want to do something else. The attention span of the people nowadays, I feel like it’s really sad.” 

The “Encantadia Chronicles: Sang’gre” star also reflected on what she calls the “transition generation” — those who grew up without smartphones but now live in a world where technology and artificial intelligence are easily accessible. 

“We’re the transition generation. We went from no phones to having everything at the tip of your fingers with AI pa lalo ngayon. I don’t know,” Solenn explained.

While acknowledging that technology can be beneficial when used correctly, she admitted she sometimes longs for a simpler time. 

“I really feel like I just wanna go back to the past.”

Solenn has been married to Argentine businessman Nico Bolzico since 2016. 

They welcomed their first daughter, Thylane, in 2020 and their second daughter, Maëlys, in December 2022.

—Jade Veronique Yap/CDC, GMA Integrated News