Pinterest CEO Endorses Global Social Media Bans for Under-16s

Pinterest CEO Bill Ready has publicly endorsed global bans on social media access for users under 16, aligning with Australia's recent law prohibiting such platforms for minors in that age group. In an opinion piece published in Time magazine, Ready described current social media configurations as unsafe for young people and urged governments to enforce age restrictions with accountability measures for app stores and operating systems.

Ready's stance comes amid increasing international scrutiny of social media's impact on youth mental health. He argued that children have been subjected to an unprecedented "social experiment" through unfiltered access to these platforms, leading to consequences such as exposure to strangers, screen addictions, rising anxiety and depression, diminished concentration, and disruptions in educational settings. "Social media, as it's configured today, is not safe for young people under 16," Ready wrote. He compared tech industry leaders to past tobacco executives who prioritized profits over public health, warning that failure to act could result in a generation overwhelmed by mental health challenges.

Pinterest, an image-sharing platform popular...