Source: CNBC
Summary
Pinterest CEO Ben Silbermann compared social media to tobacco and alcohol, suggesting that similar protections are needed for children. He made the comments during a Senate Commerce Committee hearing on social media’s impact on kids. Silbermann emphasized the need for regulations to ensure the well-being of young users. The hearing also featured testimony from other tech executives and experts. Lawmakers are considering legislation to address concerns about social media’s effects on children.
Our Reading
The announcement sounds ambitious.
Pinterest’s CEO is calling for stricter regulations on social media, likening it to tobacco and alcohol. This isn’t the first time a tech exec has made such a comparison. Facebook’s former president, Sean Parker, made similar comments in 2017. It’s a familiar script: a tech company acknowledges the potential harm of its product, then asks for regulation. Because nothing says “protection” like asking the government to step in.
Author: Evan Null
