Pinterest CEO demands under-16 social media ban as he slams tech giants for “failed” self-regulation
Bill Ready, Pinterest's CEO, is calling on governments to ban social media for users under 16.
In an editorial on Time’s website, he says that children today are “living through the largest social experiment in history” as they have been given “unfiltered access” to social media platforms.
Scientific research has perfectly demonstrated the dangers of social media to young users: rising anxiety and depression, eroding concentration, exposure to strangers, and fueling addiction. Nowadays, AI bots are also thrown into the mix, influencing children's behavior, emotions, and identity.
The companies that build these websites have given insufficient thought to the consequences. Therefore, Ready praises Australia’s social media ban for children under 16.
“If tech companies fail to prioritize youth safety, other governments should follow Australia’s lead,” he said.
“As both a tech CEO and parent, I know legal compliance is not the same as safety. And I understand broad restrictions come with difficult tradeoffs. But social media, as it’s configured today, is not safe for young people under 16. Instead, it’s been designed to maximize view time, keeping kids glued to a screen with little regard for their well-being,” the Pinterest CEO continued.
Ready is calling for restrictions and guidelines for social media platforms, just as we see in other branches.
“We set age limits on driving, smoking, and consuming alcohol, knowing rules are imperfect and will sometimes be broken. And yet we still set them because we know such policies can improve, and sometimes save, lives,” he urged.
The Pinterest CEO went on to claim that social media platforms have had years to mitigate the risks but have failed again and again.
“The time for self-regulation has passed, and if tech companies don’t change, then the path should be obvious to lawmakers,” he said.
This means that social media should now be allowed for teenagers under the age of 16, backed by real enforcement and accountability for mobile phone operating systems and the apps that run on them.
“It’s time to raise the bar on safety and well-being for kids. We need clearer rules, better tools for parents, and stronger accountability for platforms and social media apps,” Ready concluded in his editorial.
In Europe, there’s a fragmented approach to whether there should be a ban on underage users on social media, which can lead to unequal protection across the EU.
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