Jessica Alba explains the need to monitor her children's social media activity while talking about Instagram Teen Accounts

Jessica Alba, the 43-year-old American actress and entrepreneur, is actively involved in her children's social media presence while promoting Instagram's new Teen Accounts feature. In a recent interview with PEOPLE, Alba explained her approach to parenting in the digital age and why she believes in closely monitoring her kids' online activity.

Alba, who has two teenage daughters and a son, stressed the importance of setting a good example for her children regarding social media use.

"I think it's important to try and set as good of an example as possible," she told PEOPLE in an exclusive conversation while supporting Instagram's initiative aimed at providing safer spaces for teens online.

"I do believe, more than telling your kids what to do, that leading by example is important," Alba continued. While discussing her approach, she also made it clear that she's mindful of what she posts online as a public figure and a mother.

"And nothing against thirst traps, but I'm not going to post a bunch of thirst traps as a mother of two girls and a boy, you know what I mean?"

Alba believes that her online persona should reflect her multifaceted nature.

"It doesn't only need to be one thing," she said. "And I think, for me, it's also just reflective of who I am. I'm not a one-dimensional person, and [it's about] being able to show that."

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Jessica Alba adopts tailored parenting strategies for her children's social media use

The Trigger Warning star revealed that her eldest daughter, Honor, 16, is currently the only one of her three children active on social media. Jessica Alba shares Honor, along with her other daughter Haven, 13, and son Hayes, 6, with her husband, Cash Warren.

When Honor first expressed interest in joining social media at around the age of 12 or 13, Jessica Alba set strict rules.

"I said [she could] if we shared an account, it needed to be private and I wanted to be able to monitor who she was following," she explained.

Jessica Alba takes an active role in ensuring that her daughter's online experience is a positive one.

"When I see her following too many accounts that, to me, don't feel healthy or good for her, I'll unfollow them," she said.

Instead, Jessica Alba steers her toward more uplifting content, such as body-positive influencers and funny animal accounts.

In contrast, Jessica Alba's middle child, Haven, isn't yet on social media, and the star believes in adapting her parenting style to each child's needs.

"We have different rules for different kids," she said, emphasizing that her approach isn't one-size-fits-all. "You can parent the kids the same way, but the way that they respond is so different. So Cash and I have realized that taking different tactics with each kid is what works best, instead of just treating them all the same."

Given her focus on her children's digital safety, it's no surprise that Alba is involved in Instagram's new Teen Accounts feature. These accounts have built-in protections that limit who can contact the teens and what kind of content they can view. They also include time limits, sensitive content restrictions, and a sleep mode to encourage healthy habits.

"All parents, we all want our kids to have the best experience in life," Alba explained. "The exposure that they have day in and day out in the digital world is something that is undeniable, and I think we as parents, we just want to make sure that our kids have the best experience — and the most appropriate experience — for every stage and age."

Jessica Alba praised the program, calling it a valuable tool for parents. She also believes that this new program and the intent behind it is quite appreciable, noting that the new features give parents much-needed peace of mind.

Jessica Alba continues to balance her acting career with her business ventures. She recently starred in Trigger Warning, a Netflix thriller that highlights her action skills. Additionally, Alba is actively involved in her company, The Honest Company, which focuses on eco-friendly and non-toxic household products.

Beyond her work in entertainment and business, Jessica Alba is committed to promoting digital safety, as seen through her partnership with Instagram's new Teen Accounts feature. Fans can expect to see more of her in these diverse roles as she continues to expand her career.