Penélope Cruz says one thing matters most when raising teens in the social media age

Penélope Cruz says parents have to work harder to build trust with their kids in the age of social media. Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty Images Penélope Cruz says the key to raising kids in the social media age is open communication. "It is so difficult to be a teenager right now; what the boys are being fed, what they are being tricked into thinking," she said. Parents have to "work much harder" so kids feel safe sharing what's on their minds, Cruz said. Penélope Cruz says the rise of social media has made home more important than ever for teenagers. Speaking to Porter Magazine for their July cover story, Cruz spoke about the challenges of being a parent today and how she hopes to foster open communication with her kids. "I remember puberty being a very challenging time for me.