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Kerry Katona found herself in the firing line from Susanna Reid, after the Good Morning Britain presenter questioned her over allowing her eight-year-old daughter to use social media.
The reality TV star and mother-of-five was a guest on GMB on Tuesday (July 21) to talk about the worrying trend of young girls becoming obsessed with skincare via social media.
Kerry, 45, appeared on the sofa along with her influencer daughter Heidi Katona, 19, who explained that she had grown concerned after seeing younger sister Dylan-Jorge watching “get ready with me” videos and later using skincare aimed at adults.
After hearing from Katona, presenter Reid addressed the TV personality directly, asking her: “I’m going to say something a bit spiky here, Kerry: why is an eight-year-old on social media?”
Reid was critical of Katona for her daughter's social media useITV“Well, I’ll be honest with you, yes, I know,” Kerry replied, with Heidi saying: “I agree.”
Echoing words by Reid’s GMB co-host Ed Balls, Heidi said that her mum had been “really tough” on her growing up and had banned social media until she was 13, but had gone ”soft” on her younger children.
“Can I answer?” said Kerry, as Reid asked for the others to let her speak.
“I’ve had every generation of children,” said Kerry, whose eldest child is 25. “What I have noticed with all of my children is how the generations have changed, and how older, despite how younger they are, they have gotten.
“So each trend and each generation, it has changed. And as much as I try to keep her off it, everybody else is doing it. It’s hard.”
Katona defended herself as she appeared alongside daughter Heidi, 19ITVPointing out from our own experience that it was easier enforcing rules with older children, Reid said: “I understand. I’m not criticising you, I’m only saying.”
The growing trend of young children – particularly girls – using powerful skincare aimed at adults is often linked to social media and the rise of beauty content creators.
In 2024, the British Association for Dermatologists warned that doing so can leave children with irreversible skin problems.
There is hope that this problem will be lessened by the UK social media ban, which will prevent under-16s from using ”addictive” social media.
The ban was introduced by Keir Starmer in his last months as prime minister, with the government aiming for the first set of new regulations to be in effect by Spring 2027. Ofcom will enforce the ban as the online safety regulator.