Nick Jonas opens up about what terrifies him as a girl dad

Credit: Instagram/Priyanka Chopra
Nick Jonas opens up about the one thing that terrifies him as a girl dad—and it’s a fear every parent can relate to in the age of social media.
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When Nick Jonas became a dad, his world, and his worries, shifted. In a recent interview, he admitted there’s one part of parenting that still keeps him up at night. It’s not sleepless newborn nights or toddler tantrums. It’s something far more modern, and familiar to parents everywhere.
“There’s just a terrible amount of online trolls and pressures, especially for young women,” Nick Jonas admitted in an Esquire interview. “As a girl dad, I know that terrifies me.”
Even if you’re not raising a child in the public eye, any parent who’s handed a smartphone to a preschooler (or a tween) is likely to feel the same chill. The digital world is thrilling, educational, and endlessly entertaining, but it’s also full of pressures, comments, and images that can leave young girls questioning themselves long before they hit middle school.
Related: Ryan Reynolds on being a girl dad: ‘I love every second of it’
Why it hits parents hard
It’s one thing to worry about scraped knees or missed homework. It’s another to feel powerless over the tiny scrolls, swipes, and likes that shape how kids see themselves.
Nick Jonas isn’t exaggerating, research consistently shows that teenage girls are more likely than boys to report negative experiences on social media. According to a 2025 Pew Research Center study, 25% of teen girls say social media has hurt their mental health, compared to 14% of boys. Additionally, 50% of girls report that social media negatively impacts their sleep, and 20% say it harms their confidence
What parents can do tonight
These tips are about helping them navigate social media safely. Small, consistent conversations build awareness, confidence, and open communication, so children feel supported rather than monitored.
- Talk before you scroll: Ask your child what they saw online today, what made them laugh, or what made them feel off. These small conversations build resilience and curiosity.
- Set gentle boundaries: Decide together which posts, comments, or apps are okay, and which are for private use only. No lectures required, just guidance.
- Practice responses: Roleplay a few ways to reply to mean comments or DMs, giving kids scripts that keep engagement low without taking control away from them.
- Check in weekly: A quick “feed check” can help kids notice what affects their mood or confidence, and open the door for discussion.
Modeling, connection, and real-life role models matter more than online metrics
Nick Jonas’ solution is simple, but telling: “I try to make sure they’re around a lot of superpowerful women like their mom,” he told Esquire. At the end of the day, exposure, modeling, and connection matter far more than algorithms, filters, or follower counts. Even celebrity dads have to face the same fears that keep most parents awake at night, and that reminder alone can be surprisingly comforting.
Related: This girl dad cried at Olivia Rodrigo concert—and the reason has us tearing up, too
Connection and empathy are the ultimate online safety net
You don’t need to have a famous last name to worry about your daughter online. Tools and filters help, but presence, conversation, and empathy are the real safety net. If Nick Jonas can admit that the digital world terrifies him, maybe it’s okay to let yourself feel that too—and then take a deep breath and talk to your kid tonight.
Source:
- Pew Research Center. 2025. “Teens, Social Media and Mental Health”




















































































