Julia Roberts’ Daughter Ditches Smartphone Inspired by ‘Stand by Me’
Julia Roberts shares daughter's inspired smartphone decision after watching Stand by Me. [Image Source: YIMG]
Julia Roberts’ daughter, Hazel Moder, decided to give up her smartphone after watching the 1986 coming-of-age film Stand by Me. This choice reflects a growing awareness among young people about how constant phone use can hinder genuine communication.
The actress revealed that Moder voluntarily handed over her phone to Roberts, inspired by the movie’s depiction of childhood friendships without digital distractions. Roberts described this moment as a meaningful step toward deeper, more personal connections within their family.
Reflecting on the Impact of “Stand by Me” on Personal Interaction
During an interview about her new film After the Hunt with The New York Times, Roberts discussed how the story resonated with her daughter. She said,
“I think people don’t realize how much they miss talking,”
highlighting the contrast between modern communication and the natural conversations depicted in the film.
Roberts recounted the conversation when Hazel handed her the phone:
“For some reason, I was thinking this morning about when my kids were young and we showed them Stand by Me, and our daughter said to me, ‘I’m going to give you my phone.’ And I said, ‘OK. What do you want me to do with it?’”
Hazel’s Perspective on Smartphones and Authentic Friendship
Roberts explained how her daughter viewed phones as a barrier to meaningful interaction. She shared,
“She said: ‘You just keep it. I don’t want it,’”
adding that Moder believed the boys in the film would not have connected as deeply if they had phones. Roberts elaborated,
“Seeing that movie, I just thought if those boys had phones, they wouldn’t be talking to each other like that. They wouldn’t have gone looking for that body, they wouldn’t sit around the fire and share these stories.”
This insight underscores the tension between the digital world and the kind of immersive social experiences that occur without devices, which Hazel clearly found meaningful enough to step away from her smartphone.
Roberts on Family Rules and the Digital Age
Julia Roberts also discussed the phone rules she and her husband, cinematographer Danny Moder, set for their children. She explained that they established boundaries to limit screen time, stating,
Image of: Julia Roberts
“We just had sort of simple rules where we had a charging station, where everybody’s phone goes when you get home,”
and added,
“There’s no phones at the table, certainly.”
These measures were put in place to encourage more face-to-face conversations and reduce distractions during family time, reflecting the couple’s intent to foster closer relationships despite the pervasive presence of technology.
Concerns About Technology’s Effect on Young Minds
In a separate interview with the U.K. publication The Times, Roberts voiced her worries about the overwhelming nature of constant digital input, especially for children. She said,
“Our brains are incapable of that influx,”
and added,
“Our eyeballs, brains, all that is too much, especially for little, sweet, soft mushy brains, that need to be filled instead with mud and fields.”
Her comments highlight a deeply felt concern about the neurological and emotional consequences of excessive technology use on development and well-being.
The Cultural and Personal Relevance of “Stand by Me”
Stand by Me, directed by Rob Reiner and based on Stephen King’s novella The Body, follows four boys in 1959 Oregon who set out to find a dead body. The film captures the essence of youth, adventure, and friendship without the interference of modern technology. Its cast included Wil Wheaton, River Phoenix, Corey Feldman, Jerry O’Connell, and Kiefer Sutherland, who was once briefly engaged to Roberts in 1991.
The film’s enduring impact is apparent in Hazel Moder’s decision, illustrating how some stories still hold lessons about connection that resonate in today’s digital age.
Julia Roberts’ Current Work and Ongoing Conversations
Roberts is currently promoting After the Hunt, a film directed by Luca Guadagnino, featuring actors Andrew Garfield, Ayo Edebiri, Michael Stuhlbarg, and Chloë Sevigny. The movie is now playing in theaters, continuing Roberts’ engagement with projects that explore human relationships.
The story of her daughter’s smartphone decision also contributes to a broader cultural discussion about finding balance in a world where technology often disrupts personal bonds. As families and society wrestle with these challenges, examples like Hazel’s choice offer food for thought about communication and presence in daily life.
