Jennifer Garner explains why her children aren't allowed on social media and it's a lesson in parenting

Many parents keep their kids away from social media. Jennifer Garner is also one of them. Appearing as a guest on the April 11 installment of "TODAY," the 50-year-old actress told hosts Hoda Kotb and Jenna Bush Hager that she asked her teenagers to show her how social media can add value to their lives.

"I just said to my kids, 'Show me the articles that prove that social media is good for teenagers, and then we'll have the conversation,'" said Garner, who shares daughters Violet, 17, and Seraphina Rose, 14, along with son Samuel, 11, with her ex-husband Ben Affleck, reports PEOPLE.

She added that she also told them, "Find scientific evidence that matches what I have, that says that it's not good for teenagers. Then we'll chat." When asked how her kids are doing without social media, she said, "My eldest is grateful. We'll see. I mean, it's a long haul. I have a couple more to go, so just knock on wood. We'll see if I really hang in there."

This is not the first time Garner has discussed her stance on her children using social media. In 2019, she shared why a then-13-year-old Violet would stay away from Instagram. "Without even having parents who are well-known, I worry about all kids having to deal with this new pressure," Garner told Katie Couric on an episode of "Next Question with Katie Couric." "My daughter's at an all-girls school, and it's such a huge problem." 

"She'll occasionally talk to me about getting Instagram, and I can see why because I'm on there and it's something kind of fun that I do, and I am modeling the opposite of what I want for her to do," she continued at the time. "How often is that in parenting? I just say, 'When you can show me studies that say that teenage girls are happier using Instagram than not, then we can have the conversation. But everything you look at, I don't see anything positive for you out there. You can look at mine when you want to, we can go over it together, but I don't see it.'"

Garner also discussed her experience with social media. "I joined Instagram because of Once Upon a Farm," she said, referencing her organic baby food company. "It was very much part of the deal and I did it kicking and screaming, but that's how much I wanted to be involved with this company. And when I did it, there are all these companies in L.A. who will come in and do your social media for you, and I just said I can't do that. I must be able to do this my way," she added. "I went out there and did what felt right for me."

Garner is doing a great job teaching her kids to look for facts and then having a reasonable discussion with them!