As US officials push for regulation on social media use among children, Peter Thiel, an early investor in Facebook, has revealed that he only allows his children to use screens for 1.5 hours a week. Thiel’s stance on limited screen time for kids aligns with other tech CEOs like Evan Spiegel and Sundar Pichai, who have openly stated that they strictly limit their own children’s screen time.
According to Thiel, it is “too easy” to blame Big Tech for all the problems society faces today. However, he acknowledges the interesting critique made about social media executives limiting their own children’s screen time while promoting their products to the masses. Thiel’s children, ages 3 and 5, are allowed just an hour and a half of screen time each week, reflecting his concerns over the effects of excessive screen time on young kids.
Evan Spiegel limits his 8-year-old’s screen time to 1.5 hours a week while Pichai does not allow his middle school-aged son to have a cellphone and has all the TVs in his home locked with an “activation energy” barrier to discourage binge-watching. These measures reflect a growing concern among tech leaders about the impact of excessive screen time on children’s health and well-being.
