The advent of social media platforms has practically offered a new way for parents to keep an eye on their children’s recent activities and whereabouts, regardless of how old they are. But former first lady Michelle Obama belongs to the likely smaller fraction of parents who choose not to make use of these avenues.
Michelle Obama explains why she’s not following her daughters online
Michelle and Barack Obama have always fondly shared stories about their daughters in countless interviews. But the former first couple has also maintained the importance of their daughters’ privacy, which might also explain why the ladies do not have publicly accessible social media accounts.
In Mrs. Obama’s appearance at the “Oprah’s 2020 Vision: Your Life on Focus” tour on Feb. 8, she seemingly implied that they are on social media, too, just like most young adults. But she deliberately decided not to use it as a way to monitor them even now that they have gone off to college. Malia is attending Harvard University while Sasha is enrolled at the University of Michigan.
Much of the reason for her parenting decision has something to do with the fact that Malia, 21, and Sasha, 18, are no longer kids. Mrs. Obama explained to the audience (via PEOPLE) that she wants to give her daughters the chance to live and make decisions of their own as young adults.
It does not necessarily mean she is not entirely checking how her daughters are doing in college. Mrs. Obama stated that there are family friends who were mentored by her and her husband, who can keep an eye on Malia and Sasha’s online presence for them. “It’s better for them to be checked by somebody younger than me,” the author of “Becoming,” said.
Malia Obama, Sasha Obama: Do they have social media accounts?
Malia and Sasha practically grew up in the White House, but the Obamas have so far done a good job in keeping their online presence on the down-low. However, Mrs. Obama’s statements seemingly confirm that her daughters do have social media pages that are likely only known to close friends and family.
It can also be recalled that Pres. Obama previously dropped a hint that his children are on social media. In a 2016 interview at Jimmy Kimmel’s talk show, Obama shared a funny story of when Sasha taught him how to use Snapchat.