'I don't care what people say about me': Why Candice Warner wants her daughters on social media despite new age restrictions

Sky News AU

13-05-2025

Candice Warner has opened up about her and husband David Warner's decision to allow their young daughters to be on social media, explaining why she's not worried about the backlash.
The former ironwoman, 40, and Australian cricket star, 38, share daughters Ivy, 10, Indy, nine, and Isla, five, and set up a joint Instagram account for them in October 2023.
"During Covid, David was really big on TikTok. He loved doing all the dances and the girls would often get involved," Candice told Stellar.
"I saw how much fun we were having as a family. It brought us together on the weekends.
"So I started the Instagram account and it was a way for us to teach the girls how to use social media responsibly."
Despite having famous parents, Warner said her daughters are "no different to any other kid".
"Yes, they've got parents with a high profile, but for us, it was all about putting out a positive image," she said.
"At the moment, it's fun. They're not influencers. They're just young girls living their life, having fun, being sporty, and I capture it and I put it on a page."
The move comes in the wake of the Federal Government's Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Act, passed last year, which set the minimum age for social media accounts at 16.
The legislation is expected to be implemented by year's end and cites connections between social media use and mental health issues among young Australians.
Warner, who has been outspoken about mental health issues, said she supports the change- but believes education at home is just as crucial.
Last month, she opened up about her own struggles following the public fallout from a 2007 incident involving footballer Sonny Bill Williams, which saw her face years of scrutiny and online abuse.
"Suicide happens from all this online trolling," she said.
"It's very serious."
Still, she reiterated that her daughters don't actually run the joint account themselves.
"Our girls don't have (personal social media) accounts because I don't believe that young kids have the mental capacity to deal with trolls," she said.
"But for us, their joint social media is about teaching our girls how to use it responsibly."
Candice added that while both she and David still "experience trolling", shielding their kids from it completely isn't realistic.
"I don't care what people say about me, about my husband, about us as a family- it's their opinion, it's not fact. They don't know us," she said.
"I'm not here to defend (the girls' social media) page, but I'm here to say that, yes, it can be dangerous.
"I truly believe what (Prime Minister) Anthony Albanese is doing is the right thing to protect young adults.
"But we also have an obligation as a parent- most parents have social media- to teach our kids how to use it in a positive way."
The Warners, who marked their 10th wedding anniversary in April, are "incredibly proud of where we're at in life," she added, "and the parents that we've become."
Since retiring from Test cricket in 2024, David has been playing in domestic T20 leagues, including for the Sydney Thunder, and has even hinted at a potential career in politics.
Candice, meanwhile, has continued to build her media career, with a regular gig on Triple M's Dead Set Legends radio show every Saturday.
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