Pinterest chief Bill Ready calls for 'no social media' for under-16s

Pinterest chief executive Bill Ready has urged world leaders to implement a global ban on social media for children under the age of 16.

In a statement published on LinkedIn on Friday, 20 March, Ready argued for a rigorous new standard to protect younger users from the potential harms of digital platforms.

His appeal coincides with a high-profile legal battle in Los Angeles, where tech giants Google and Meta face allegations that their applications have significantly contributed to a mental health crisis among the youth.

Ready has distanced himself from other industry leaders by advocating for strict age limits and robust oversight of mobile operating systems.

He highlighted Australia’s recent legislative move to bar those under 16 from social media as a viable international model.

In his essay, Ready noted: “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.”

Despite this call for restriction, Pinterest currently maintains a minimum sign-up age of 13 in the United States.

The image-sharing platform has increasingly targeted Generation Z as its primary audience.

Market research from Apptopia indicates that approximately one-third of the platform's active users are aged between 17 and 25.

The company has sought to position itself as a safer alternative to traditional social networks, focusing on inspiration and design.

A spokesperson for the company declined to provide further comment following the chief executive's public appeal for age-based restrictions.