Bill Ready, CEO of Pinterest, has publicly called on governments to ban social media access for users under the age of 16. In a recent opinion piece published by Time, he positioned the issue as one of public safety, arguing that the current digital environment exposes children to risks at an unprecedented scale.
Ready described today’s youth as participants in “the largest social experiment in history,” highlighting how unrestricted access to social media has coincided with rising levels of anxiety, depression, and reduced attention spans. He argued that the tech industry underestimated these consequences and failed to implement sufficient safeguards early on.
The proposal aligns with a broader global shift toward stricter regulation. Australia has already introduced measures to restrict children’s access to social platforms, a move Ready openly supports. Similar initiatives are being explored or implemented in Malaysia, Spain, Indonesia, and across parts of the United States. In France, lawmakers have approved a ban for users under 15, while policymakers in Germany have expressed support for similar restrictions.
Ready compared potential regulation of social media to existing controls in industries like tobacco and alcohol, suggesting that age-based limitations could significantly reduce harm. He also pointed to Pinterest’s own approach, noting that restricting certain social features for users under 16 has not prevented the platform from maintaining strong engagement among younger audiences.
The debate is intensifying across both the tech sector and policymaking circles. While companies weigh the impact on growth and user acquisition, governments appear increasingly willing to intervene, signaling a shift toward stricter digital governance focused on youth protection.
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