Michelle Obama: Sasha and Malia Not on Facebook

Malia Obama, right, and Sasha Obama, daughters of President Barack Obama, laugh during a visit to the Children's National Medical Center in Washington, DC, on Dec. 22, 2009.

/ SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images)

Updated at 9:55 a.m. ET

First Daughters Sasha and Malia Obama aren't on Facebook, First Lady Michelle Obama said on NBC's "Today" Show.

"I think we're lucky that there are a lot of real constraints, things like Secret Service and stuff like that," Mrs. Obama said. "I'm not a big fan of young kids having Facebook. It's not something they need, it's not necessary right now."

She added that she may allow Malia, 12, and Sasha, 9, to join the social networking site after leaving the White House, depending on how old they are at that time. In the meantime, she said she and President Obama are working to give the girls a normal childhood.

"If you talk to our kids, they're really very normal," she said.

"There are a lot of great kids who have come out of the White House," Mrs. Obama added. "The Bush girls are magnificent. Chelsea Clinton, she's a solid young woman... Caroline Kennedy -- we've got a pretty good track record. The Obama girls will hopefully be in that group."

Part of parenting is maintaining balance in children's lives, Mrs. Obama said -- a message she has tried to get across in her Let's Move campaign, a national initiative to promote healthy eating and living habits.

"I've always talked about balance in this campaign," she said. "If you go at a parent and say you can never take your kid to get a burger, you've lost them because that's not the reality we live in. That's not my reality."

Sasha and Malia Photos: Growing Up at the White House

"The changes we have to make in our lives are not wholescale changes," she added. "Many of the changes for kids are small things like adding fruits and vegetables and getting our kids moving."

The nation spends $147 billion a year to treat obesity related conditions, she said on "Live with Regis and Kelly" on ABC this morning, and the amount spent treating obesity in children is increasing.

"I came to this issue as a mom," she said. Parents, she added, "need to the tools, advice and support from a nation" to raise healthier kids.

The first lady is appearing on several television programs today to promote the one-year anniversary of the Let's Move campaign.

[chris_whatswhat_me]

Instead of ignoring social why not teach kids to be responsible digital citizens? There is an age appropriate, safe and secure social networking site for kids, check out WhatsWhat.Me and its Parent Resource Center.?

There are organizations out there doing great work keeping kids safe on the internet. The Family Online Safety Institute (FOSI) cites that?99% of children ages 8-17 access the internet and spending 25% of their time social networking.?The answer isn't keeping kids off the internet, because they are going to be on social networks, regardless if their parents know or not. ?Let's teach kids how to be safe on the internet and instead of hiding them from it.

While Facebook is definitely not appropriate for kids under 13 that doesn't mean these "tweens" should be banned from social networks altogether. WhatsWhat.Me is a safe, secure, "kids-only" social network for "tweens" ages 7-13 - launches today using patent-pending facial recognition technology, moderation and kid-friendly features to teach?kids positive online behavior, Internet safety and related life skills.?Compliant with the Children's?Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), WhatsWhat.me (Beta) provides an age-appropriate, "no-bullying allowed" community that requires parental permission to join. ?For parents, WhatsWhat.me offers its online Parent Resource Center providing expert?advice, news, Internet safety tips and information on cybersafety for children.

[thinking-voter]

Like Craigslist, Facebook participation (or anything internet, really) requires sound judgement to be safe. Even adults are not always clear on what's mature or safe. Just ask that teacher or the newly resigned Congressman.

[mari1963]

My son is 13 and he is not on facebook either. He has sports and his schoolwork and I agree with Mrs. Obama - it is not necessary. I will keep my son off of it as long as I possibly can. Hopefully he will never become part of social networking. It's a bad idea all around.

[RedWings_ninety_one]

Amen

[RedWings_ninety_one]

Riverjump,
Ye I am quite sure..I am in college and the last thing that I need is another distraction to obsessively check that keeps me from doing the work that needs to be done. I suppose that a facebook or twitter account would be alright for after you are done with school, but I cannot see myself getting one. This account is the closest thing that I have to a facebook or twitter account

[Hamm33]

that not right.

[WeHappyFew]

The way the Palin's have raised their children and in fact go on to guide their children is not outstanding. One doesn't have to be a 'lib' to appreciate this. Michelle Obama is by no means without fault but she is committed and driven as any career professional when it comes to raising her children.

[Calendular]

Mrs. Obama in my opinion is a wonderful First Lady. I think she is demonstrating excellent parental judgement concerning youngsters and the Internet.

One of the most important roles of parents is to protect children from potentially harmful situations. There have been media reports about young people being bullied or otherwise mistreated online by other youngsters at some social networking sites. So it is essential if parents do decide to permit their children to be online that the parents monitor their teens online surfing carefully if they are permitted to visit social networking sites.

[RedWings_ninety_one]

Good! I am not on Facebook either....Facebook and twitter are the biggest damn wastes of time there are on the internet. I get real sick of my brother asking to use MY computer so he can check his Facebook...Such a worthless damn site. If you want to speak to someone that obsessively then call/email/text them.

[RedWings_ninety_one]

BTW...I forgot to mention..I am 18 and don't have a Facebook or twitter account.

[RedWings_ninety_one]

It is just another thing to waste your time obsessively checking when you could be doing productive things. None of that stuff is too expensive if you know where to look. I pay one reasonable price for all of those things and have no problems. I have no doubt that people around the world are happy using them; however, that does not make it any less of a waste of time. Do something productive for once. Studies show that people's social skills are decreasing due to these things because they are not actually face to face with the person, and can mask emotions with a keyboard.

[mick7744]

Perhaps the First Lady is depriving her girls of some education in certain areas...

If they were allowed on Facebook...and since Willow and Bristol Palin are already on Facebook...

The Obama sisters would have an opportunity to learn lots of new words that they would never hear at home (especially from Willow)

[nomorelibs]

Perhaps your mother deprived you of cander, intelligence and good will toward others.

[mick7744]

Perhaps, unlike you, nomorelibs...

I not pnly had a healthy, loving relationship with my mother...but also knew who my father was...

[nomorelibs]

Good for the First Lady. Things that will hopefully make a difference in kids lives.

[bundye]

Those girls wouldn't need to be on Facebook even after leaving the White House. No child should be!