Why Erin Napier Made This Bold Decision For Her Daughters' Online Safety — And It's Making Headlines

Erin Napier, 37, is taking deliberate steps to prevent her daughters from using social media following her encounter with online critics. She opened up about this parental choice in an essay released on Today.com on August 1st, where she discussed her family life with husband Ben Napier and their two daughters, Helen (5) and Mae (2).

“When my daughter Helen, now 5, was a baby, I posted a photo of her and received a hurtful comment about her appearance. It angered me to my core. What was particularly disheartening was that it seemed like these critiques always came from other women. It felt like a betrayal when a fellow mother dared to criticize my child or my parenting.

Erin also revealed that when Helen was born, she and Ben, who is 39 and cohost of HGTV's Home Town, made a casual agreement with three other families. This agreement was aimed at supporting each other in keeping our kids away from social media and smartphones."

The mother of two stressed her desire for her daughters to stay connected and intends to provide them with phones that can play music once they reach the legal driving age. Erin and Ben, who got married in 2008, have taken their commitment to their values a step further by founding the non-profit organization Osprey in July, alongside friends Catherine Sledge and Taylor Sledge. According to the organization's website, Osprey is dedicated to helping children experience a childhood free from social media until they finish high school.

Erin, writing via Today.com, revealed that the motivation behind establishing the nonprofit stemmed from her friend's daughter experiencing feelings of being excluded due to not having social media like her peers. This incident prompted Erin to reflect on the concept and contemplate giving it a name, as well as creating a platform where individuals can find support in preventing their children from accessing social media and smartphones, regardless of their location.

Erin Napier, featured in a photo courtesy of Ben Napier on Instagram, has previously denounced online harassers. In January 2021, she expressed her bewilderment to We, stating her lack of comprehension regarding why individuals feel emboldened to make disparaging comments on social media that they would never dare utter face-to-face.

The HGTV personality then shared how she responds to “rude” comments from mom shamers.

Ben and Erin Napier, as shared by Erin Napier on Instagram, have a specific approach to dealing with disrespectful individuals on social media. Erin chooses to address them directly, making it clear that their behavior would not be tolerated in person. She asserts her ownership over her online space and informs them that they are no longer welcome. Additionally, Erin explains that she takes the necessary step to block these individuals from her accounts.

Erin and Ben sometimes share pictures of their daughters on Instagram but they make sure to hide their faces. According to Erin, determining what is appropriate to share is a personal decision for the couple and varies for each individual.