With rising concerns over the impact of social media on teenagers, Pinterest CEO Bill Ready has called on governments worldwide to impose a ban on users under the age of 16. He warned that current platforms are harming young people’s mental health and development, urging authorities to introduce strict and enforceable rules instead of relying on tech companies’ self-regulation.
In his opinion article published in Time magazine, Ready said today’s teenagers are part of the 'largest social experiment in history,' with years of unrestricted access to digital platforms leading to increased anxiety, depression, and difficulty in focusing.
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Who is Bill Ready?
Bill Ready is the Chief Executive Officer of Pinterest, a global visual discovery platform. He took over as CEO in 2022 and has since focused on transforming the company into a more commerce-driven platform.
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Before joining Pinterest, Ready held key leadership roles in major tech companies. He served as President of Commerce at Google, where he worked on payments and shopping products. Prior to that, he was the Chief Operating Officer at PayPal, playing a major role in expanding its global payments business.
With decades of experience in the tech and financial sectors, Ready is known for his expertise in digital payments, e-commerce and platform growth. While his exact net worth is not publicly confirmed, it is estimated to be in the multi-million dollar range, given his senior roles at top global companies.
Calls for strong global rules
Ready stressed that governments must create clear and uniform rules to protect children from the harmful effects of social media. He said these regulations should be easy to implement worldwide and not vary from country to country.
He also urged policymakers to ensure that both smartphone makers and app developers share responsibility for enforcing these rules, especially when it comes to restricting access for underage users.
Warning over AI risks for teenagers
Along with social media, Ready also raised concerns about the growing use of AI technologies like chatbots on these platforms. He warned that such tools could further increase risks for teenagers by influencing their behaviour and emotions during a critical stage of development.
He emphasised that without proper regulation, these technologies could deepen the negative impact on young users, making the need for action even more urgent.