Lauren Silverman reveals why she backtracked on her strict phone rules with son Eric, 12, as she confesses Simon Cowell hasn’t owned a mobile for EIGHT years: ‘Parenting in the current world is overwhelming’

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Lauren Silverman recently shared that she’s become more flexible with her son Eric’s phone use, explaining that Simon Cowell hasn’t used a mobile phone in eight years.

The couple, a 48-year-old mother and her 66-year-old husband, were strongly opposed to their son, Eric, having a phone. However, they changed their minds after finding out he’d downloaded the app Snapchat onto his sister Lauren’s phone.

Lauren shared on Instagram on Monday that she and her husband, Simon, had always agreed Eric wouldn’t have a phone – a rule Simon himself follows, having gone nearly eight years without one!

Recently, Eric had a frank discussion with us that caused us to reconsider our stance a bit.

He’s got a new phone, but with limits. He’s only using it for calls and texts to stay connected with friends and family – no social media allowed.

Using a photo presentation, Lauren elaborated on her decision regarding her 12-year-old son getting a phone…

However, I still decided against letting my child use social media. It’s undeniable that texting is now a common part of growing up.

That’s where plans get made, and people share laughs. Friendships blossom, but eventually, some kids start to feel left out of the group.

‘For a long time I was very clear, no phone.’

Lauren thought it would be best to wait as long as possible before giving Eric a smartphone, and she and Simon agreed.

Everything shifted when she found out her son had been secretly texting his friends on Snapchat using her phone.

She said: ‘That moment really made me stop and think about what the right approach should be. 

We didn’t argue; we had a conversation. It turned out his concerns were straightforward. He wasn’t interested in social media – he simply wanted to be able to text and call his friends.

Lauren explained that they reached an agreement: Eric can have a phone for calls and texts, but he’s not permitted to use Snapchat or other social media apps.

She explained that she was setting a boundary because social media feels like a completely separate reality.

We’re currently dealing with a lot of stress, feeling compared to others, and navigating a difficult environment. We’re hoping things will improve, and we’re waiting to see what happens.

Lauren explained her firm household rules: no phones are allowed in Eric’s bedroom, during meals, or when the family is spending time together.

She concluded: ‘Technology should never replace real life.’

They wrote: ‘Smart mum. You are such a role model’ and ‘bravo’. 

Simon gave up having a phone back in 2018. 

The media executive explained that his phone had become such a source of distraction and frustration that he intentionally disconnected to protect his well-being and find some peace of mind.

He told The Mail on Sunday at the time: ‘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.

It really bothers me when people are on their phones during meetings – I’ve definitely been guilty of it myself. It makes it impossible to focus.

This has really helped my mental wellbeing. It’s a bit unusual, but it’s genuinely made me feel happier and more positive.

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2026-03-17 05:08