Peter Andre has opened up about the strict parenting rule he now follows when raising his youngest children, explaining that his approach has changed significantly over the years as he has become more aware of the risks facing children online. The singer, now 52, said his perspective on social media and public exposure has evolved with experience, leading him and his wife, Emily, to make firm decisions about privacy and safety within their family.

Peter shares three young children with his wife Emily, who is an NHS doctor. Their children include Amelia, who is 11, Theodore, nine, and Arabella, who is just eight months old. He is also father to Junior, 20, and Princess, 18, from his previous marriage to Katie Price. While Junior and Princess grew up largely in the public eye, Peter and Emily have chosen a very different path for their younger children, deliberately keeping them out of the spotlight as much as possible.

One of the most noticeable differences in their parenting approach is their decision not to show the faces of their youngest children in photographs shared publicly. Peter has been clear that this is a conscious choice rooted in what he now understands about the long-term impact of online exposure. Reflecting on the early days of social media, he admitted that he and many other parents simply did not know what the consequences might be.

In his latest column for new! magazine, Peter explained that when Junior and Princess were younger, social media was still relatively new territory. Parents, celebrities included, were navigating an unfamiliar digital landscape without fully understanding the potential pitfalls. At the time, sharing family moments online felt harmless, and few people could have predicted how powerful and far-reaching social platforms would eventually become.

Peter said that now, with advancements in technology and artificial intelligence, the risks are far clearer. He believes parents today are in a very different position, armed with more knowledge about how images can be used, altered, and distributed. This awareness has been central to his decision to keep his youngest children off social media entirely.

His comments came as Australia implemented a landmark social media ban for children under the age of 16. The law, which is the first of its kind, has drawn international attention and sparked debate across the globe. Peter, who is English with Cypriot roots but spent much of his childhood growing up in Australia, was quick to voice his support for the government’s move.

He described the ban as a positive and necessary step, saying it was reassuring to see a country take such decisive action to protect young people. While he acknowledged that the restriction is not what children under 16 want to hear, he firmly believes it will ultimately benefit them. According to Peter, the long-term wellbeing of children should always come before short-term gratification or online popularity.

In his column, he addressed critics who accuse him of hypocrisy for previously sharing his older children on social media. Peter countered this by stressing the importance of context, reminding readers that social media was a completely different environment when it first emerged. Parents were learning in real time, and the dangers were not yet fully understood.

He went on to explain that today’s digital world, particularly with the rapid development of AI, poses risks that simply did not exist years ago. This, he said, is precisely why he and Emily have drawn firm boundaries around their youngest children’s online presence. He concluded by expressing hope that other countries will follow Australia’s lead, emphasizing that the dangers facing children online are very real and should not be underestimated.

While Peter is now fiercely protective of his younger children’s privacy, the experience of raising Junior and Princess was markedly different. Both grew up with media attention surrounding their famous parents, and Princess in particular has continued to build a public profile of her own. Recently, Peter shared updates about Princess’s life, including her career ambitions and personal experiences, which have been playing out in the public domain.

Princess has been open about her love life and her professional goals, particularly through her ITV2 reality show The Princess Diaries. The show, which offers a candid look into her life, has been renewed for two additional series, a sign of its popularity and commercial success. Princess herself has spoken confidently about the program, even suggesting that it deserves recognition at the National Television Awards.

In a recent interview, Princess addressed rumors about her romantic life, confirming that she had split from her boyfriend of two years. She did not reveal his name, choosing to keep that part of her life private, but explained that her busy schedule and focus on her career left little room for a relationship. According to reports, the couple had grown apart, leading to their eventual separation.

Despite the breakup, Princess has made it clear that she is not closed off to the idea of love. She has said she is currently prioritizing her work and enjoying her independence, but if she were to meet someone naturally, she would be open about it. She also suggested that any future relationship might feature on her reality show, allowing viewers to follow that part of her journey as well.

Princess has spoken candidly about the challenges of dating while in the public eye, noting that it can be difficult to meet someone when your life is constantly scrutinized. She admitted she has not given much thought to whether a future partner might come from within the entertainment industry, acknowledging that it is hard to predict how such things will unfold.

Her confidence and openness stand in contrast to the strict privacy Peter now enforces for his youngest children, highlighting how his parenting philosophy has adapted over time. While Junior and Princess have grown into adulthood navigating fame and public attention, Peter is determined to offer his younger children a quieter upbringing, shielded from the pressures of online exposure for as long as possible.

For Peter, these decisions are not about control but about protection. He believes that childhood should be a time of innocence, free from the judgment and permanence of the digital world. By setting firm boundaries now, he hopes to give his youngest children the freedom to grow up without the added burden of an online footprint they did not choose for themselves.

As conversations about children’s safety online continue to gain momentum worldwide, Peter’s stance reflects a growing shift among parents, especially those in the public eye. His support for Australia’s under-16 social media ban underscores his belief that meaningful change is needed and that safeguarding children must take priority. Drawing from his own experiences, Peter has made it clear that if he could do things differently in the past, he would—and that insight is now shaping the way he raises the next generation of his family.