Pinterest CEO urges government to ban social media for users under 16

Pinterest CEO Bill Reddy has called on governments to ban social media for users under 16 in a new Time magazine op-ed.

As countries around the world begin introducing or considering ways to restrict children’s online time and accurate methods of verifying their age, he is now one of the few top CEOs to call for such restrictions.

Reddy wrote that today’s children are “living through the greatest social experiment in history” because they are given “unfiltered access to social media platforms.” Research shows that the damage this unfiltered access has done is increasing rates of depression, anxiety, and difficulty concentrating among today’s youth.

He praised Australia’s ban on social media for children, saying there was “not enough forethought about the consequences” of what social media platforms could do to children. “If technology companies can’t prioritize the safety of young people, then other governments should follow Australia’s lead.”

He pointed to restrictions and guidelines put in place by industries such as tobacco and alcohol, writing that “these policies can be improved and, in some cases, can save lives.” He also said Pinterest has been successful with Gen Z, even after banning users under 16 from accessing the site’s social features.

“When they make excuses for not acting in the best public interest, tech company CEOs sound like 20th century tobacco company executives who were shamed, sued, and forced into submission,” he wrote.

Besides Australia, Malaysia, Spain and Indonesia have also announced social media bans. The move is controversial within the tech industry, but lawmakers show no signs of bowing to pressure. France’s parliament also just approved a ban on users under 15, and Germany’s ruling party also said it supported a type of social media ban. States across the country are also considering ways to restrict minors’ access to social media.