Shakira is opening up about the kind of world she believes children are growing up in, and she does not sound especially impressed by it.
In a candid TV interview in Spain, the singer spoke about the pressure women face, the damage social media can do, and why she is taking a very firm approach with her own children. One detail in particular stood out fast. Shakira said her sons are not allowed to use YouTube, and that their screen time is tightly controlled.
Shakira Says Social Media and School Both Get It Wrong
During the interview, Shakira spoke bluntly about the impossible expectations often put on women. “I think women have been boxed in, placed in a display case, expected to look pretty, beautiful, perfect,” she said. She also pointed to the pressure to keep relationships alive, earn money, and raise children all at once.
But her criticism did not stop there. She also questioned the way social media shapes how people think about success and failure. “In this crazy era where everyone appears to be happy, suffering isn’t talked about, failure isn’t talked about,” she said.
For Shakira, that creates a dangerous illusion, especially for children. “You only learn from failure,” she said. “You don’t just learn from success, you learn even more from failure.”
That idea carried over into her criticism of education systems, which she suggested are too focused on perfection and not open enough to mistakes. “How are we going to get the geniuses of tomorrow if we don’t allow them to fail?” she asked.
Why Her Kids Are Not Allowed on YouTube
When the conversation turned to parenting, Shakira made clear she is extremely cautious about technology. Her sons do not have phones, she said, though they do have access to an iPad under very strict limits. “They don’t have a phone, they have an iPad, but it’s very controlled,” she explained. “I give it to them on Saturday morning for about an hour.”
Then came the part that will likely get plenty of parents talking. She said YouTube is banned entirely.
For Shakira, the point is not just screen limits. It is about teaching her children that real happiness is not something they are going to find online. “They know they have to look for happiness in simple things,” she said. “The truth isn’t on social media.” She also said she tries to keep herself away from the worst of that online noise. “I don’t go online to see what people say about me,” she said.
Shakira Says Raising Boys Now Comes With Bigger Responsibility
The singer also spoke about raising her sons with honesty, depth, and a stronger sense of what real character means. She said there is “a great responsibility” in raising boys well, especially at a time when ideas around masculinity are under pressure and constant debate.
For her, being a man is not about image or toughness. It is about integrity. “Being a real man means keeping your word,” she said. “Your word is what defines a human being.”
That line may end up being one of the biggest takeaways from the interview. Because while Shakira covered everything from digital overload to modern womanhood, her bigger point was simple. She wants her children to grow up grounded in reality, not in performance.
