Don’t leave your kids to social media, the people who control it don’t

As fears grow over kids' screen time, more tech CEOs now admit they limit social media use at home. One clear voice is YouTube CEO Neil Mohan. In a recent interview, he said his kids face strict rules on YouTube and other media apps. Time on screens is tight on school days and a bit loose on weekends. Even then, he says family rules are never perfect.

This view matters because Mohan helps lead one of the world’s top video sites. His stance shows a gap between how these tools are sold to users and how they are used by those who run them. When leaders set firm limits for their own kids, it sends a quiet but clear sign. These tools can help, but they can also harm if left unchecked.

Mohan says balance guides his home rules. That idea now shapes how he views kid safety online. It also shapes how firms like Google see their role in family life.

Scholars have long raised alarms about kids' screen use. New York scholar Jonathan Haidt warns that heavy phone and media use hurts young minds. He urges that kids avoid smartphones until age 14 and avoid social media until age 16. His view is clear. These tools bring far more than calls. They bring stress, fame chase, and peer harm into young lives.

Some countries now act on these fears. This week, Australia set a ban on major social media use for users under 16. Public polls showed strong support before the rule passed. Yet some push back has since grown. Still, the law marks a rare move by a state to draw a hard line for kids online.

These steps show that worry over kids' screen use is no longer fringe. It is now shared by schools, homes, and lawmakers.

Tech firms now claim a duty to protect young users. Mohan says Google holds a key role here. Tools like YouTube Kids aim to give parents more control. The goal is to help each home set rules that fit their needs.

Past leaders took the same path. Susan Wojcicki long kept her kids on YouTube Kids only and set clear time caps. Bill Gates banned phones at meals and kept them from kids under 15. Mark Cuban used network tools to watch app use and cut access when needed.

These stories share one truth. The people who built social media do not trust it to raise their kids. Parents should note that. Apps will not set limits on their own. Kids need rules, care, and real advice at home.

Leaving kids alone with social media is not freedom. It is neglect. If the people in charge see the risks, families should too.