Pinterest’s CEO says kids need protection from social media harm, just like age limits exist for tobacco and alcohol.
New York: Pinterest’s leader Bill Ready says governments should stop kids under 16 from using social media platforms. He wants kids to be safe online just like they’re protected from things like cigarettes and alcohol.
Ready wrote that children today are part of “the biggest social experiment ever” because they can use social media without limits. He says this has made more kids feel sad and worried, and harder for them to pay attention in school.
The Pinterest boss praised Australia for already banning social media for young users. He thinks other countries should do the same if tech companies won’t make their apps safer for kids on their own.
Ready explained that Pinterest still has many teen users even though they can’t use the social parts of the app until they’re 16. He compared tech leaders who make excuses to old cigarette company bosses who didn’t care about health.
Many countries are thinking about this idea now. France wants to ban it for kids under 15, while Malaysia, Spain, and Indonesia already announced plans. States in America are also trying to figure out how to protect kids online.