YouTube CEO Neal Mohan, who was recently named TIME's CEO of the Year, joins a growing group of tech leaders advocating for limited social media use. As the negative impact of these platforms on young minds becomes increasingly evident, Mohan shared with TIME Magazine why he restricts his children's access to media, carefully controlling their screen time.
While discussing the effect of social media interaction on children in an interview with TIME Magazine, Mohan said, "The best thing we can do is to make it easy for parents to manage [the platform] on behalf of their children, in a way that's suitable to their household."
This development comes on the heels of a nationwide ban on social media for teenagers in Australia, marking the end of a year-long debate and cementing the Australian government’s position. Social media has been seen as a breeding ground for cyberbullying, harmful content, and online predatory behavior.
Australia recently became the first country in the world to implement a social media ban for children under 16. Platforms are racing to deactivate existing accounts and block new sign-ups, while questions linger over enforcement, account handling, and appeals for mistakenly flagged users. Non-compliance could cost companies up to $50 million. Here’s what you need to know.
The CEO of YouTube is a parent to three kids, consisting of two boys and a girl. He mentioned that the principle of 'everything in moderation' is effective. Using an analogy, he explained, “We do limit their time on YouTube and other platforms and other forms of media. On weekdays, we tend to be more strict; on weekends, we tend to be less so. We’re not perfect by any stretch.”
Mohan emphasizes a "paramount responsibility" to both young users and their parents, advocating for greater control over how children engage with YouTube. Given that many young children are exposed to the platform before others, YouTube has implemented several safety features to protect them.
Some of the tech world’s top leaders are taking a firm stance on social media, advocating for reduced usage. Graham Dugoni, founder of Yondr, has gone so far as to call social media “lame.” His company’s magnetic phone pouches encourage users to disconnect and voluntarily cut down on screen time, particularly in response to smartphone bans at schools and institutions.
Likewise, Twilio CEO Khozema Shipchandeler, a member of Gen X who begins his days at 4:30 AM, practices total abstinence from social media. He labels it a “distraction” and has intentionally made it part of his personal routine to stay disconnected. These actions reflect a growing trend among tech leaders pushing for more mindful engagement with technology.
