The Chief Executive Officer of Pinterest, Bill Ready, has called on governments worldwide to ban social media use for children under the age of 16.
Ready made the call in a post on LinkedIn, as a high-profile trial on youth social media use continues in Los Angeles, where companies including Google and Meta face allegations that their platforms contribute to a youth mental health crisis.
“We need a clear standard: no social media for teens under 16, backed by real enforcement, and accountability for mobile phone operating systems and the apps that run on them,” Ready wrote.
He cited Australia’s recent move to restrict social media access for under-16s as a model for other countries.
Ready’s position contrasts with that of many major technology firms, which have generally resisted blanket bans while facing increasing scrutiny from regulators, lawmakers, and courts over the impact of their platforms on young users.
Pinterest currently requires users to be at least 13 years old to create an account in the United States.
The company has in recent years sought to expand its appeal among younger audiences, particularly Generation Z, with data from research firm Apptopia indicating that about one-third of its users are aged between 17 and 25.
