EastEnders' Natalie Cassidy opens up on 'guilt' over parenting decision as she admits daughter was 'in tears' over preventing teen from getting social media
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EastEnders legend Natalie Cassidy opened up on the 'guilt' she felt over a parenting decision which prevented her teen daughter from getting a phone on Thursday's episode of Good Morning Britain.
The actress, who played Sonia Fowler in the BBC soap between 1993 and 2025, appeared on the ITV show to chat to Richard Madeley and Kate Garraway about a new campaign.
The new algorithm experiment, made by Big Tech's Little Victims, saw the company adopt four fictional teen personas - which went on to highlight how much harmful content that youngsters are being exposed to on social media.
Natalie, 42, - who is mum to two daughters - took part in the experiment and has backed the ban for under 16-year-olds to not be able to use it.
Kate, 58, asked the soap star: 'What do we do as parents?'
Natalie replied: 'I think as parents, it's a battle. I think as parents, and mothers and fathers, we feel guilty and worried.
EastEnders legend Natalie Cassidy opened up on the 'guilt' she felt over a parenting decision on Good Morning Britain on Thursday
Natalie, 42, - who is mum to two daughters Eliza and Joanie (pictured) - took part in the experiment and has backed a ban for under 16-year-olds to not be able to use social media
'For me, I had Eliza in tears saying I'm the only one who hasn't got it mummy, please. Please let me have it.
'That went on for a while. I gave in. I did not want to give that to her when she was 13.'
Richard went on to ask if she thinks that the UK should follow in the footsteps of Australia's social media ban for under 16s.
'You'd back that, would you?' he asked.
Sonia said: 'Absolutely.'
She added: 'I don't know what we are waiting for.'
Natalie confessed that the other shocking thing for her was with how there was a 'dark narrative that sort of went together'.
She explained: 'In terms of the girls stuff was very much the sexualisation of what you need to be for your man, the boy stuff was that you need to be a certain way for your girl.
The actress, who played Sonia Fowler in the BBC soap between 1993 and 2025, appeared on the ITV show to chat to Richard Madeley and Kate Garraway about a Big Tech's Little Victim campaign
'It all went to together, it was very dark to me.'
The actress explained that after seeing the content, she spoke to her daughter Eliza about her own feed.
Natalie explained: 'I said to my Eliza, who is 15, I said Eliza, I'm very, very worried here, are you seeing this stuff that I have seen today?
'I feel like a bad parent, I feel naive and angry.
'She said "Oh I'm not seeing that mum, because I don't like that". The other thing is are they scrolling through and is it so normal to them?!'
Natalie is mum to Eliza, who she shares from her previous relationship with Adam Cottrell.
She also shares Joanie, nine, with her fiancé, cameraman Marc Humphreys.
The couple got engaged in 2015.
Natalie shocked fans last year when it was revealed that she was taking a step back from her iconic alter-ego.
Back in January last year it was revealed that Natalie had quit her role as Sonia on EastEnders.
The star announced she was be leaving the BBC soap for good following her return last year for its 40th anniversary.
In a statement given to The Sun, Natalie said: 'I feel extremely sad to be writing this, but also very excited.
'After another 11 solid years back on The Square, I have decided it's time to move on to pastures new. EastEnders is in my bones so I will never forget where I started my career and I will continue to love the show.
'Thank you to Chris Clenshaw for the opportunity to be such a big part of the 40th anniversary – it's an honour. See ya, Sonia, going but never forgotten.'
Good Morning Britain airs weekdays from 6am on ITV.
