YouTube's CEO limits his kids' social media use – other tech bosses do the same

Original Article ↗ Hacker News Discussion ↗

Framing the CEO’s Limits: Hypocrisy vs Normal Parenting

  • Many see “YouTube CEO limits kids’ social media” as obvious: all good parents limit harmful or addictive stuff (compared to soda, candy, cigarettes, alcohol, x‑rays).
  • Others argue there is a story: a chief of an engagement-maximizing product publicly acknowledges it must be limited for his own kids, contradicting the “harmless fun / educational” marketing, especially for kids.
  • Some emphasize this isn’t total bans: both current and former YouTube leaders reportedly use time limits or kids’ modes, i.e., “everything in moderation.”

Harms of Screens & Social Media (Especially for Young Kids)

  • Multiple parents describe iPads and YouTube for young kids as “normalized neglect,” some even call it “abuse.”
  • Reported harms: expectation of constant stimulation, stunted emotional development, fine-motor and executive-function issues, tantrums when screens removed.
  • Short-form video and algorithmic feeds are seen as especially “brainrotting,” often likened to cigarettes; others say “brainrot” more narrowly refers to low-effort content.
  • Several distinguish between:
    • screens for young kids,
    • short-form feeds for teens, and
    • older-style peer-group social media, arguing impacts differ.

Parents’ Responsibility vs Systemic and Economic Factors

  • One side: “Just parent harder” – set boundaries, use parental controls, ban or whitelist content, fill time with sports, hobbies, and imaginative play.
  • Counterpoint: this underestimates exhaustion, lack of knowledge, and the power of products engineered to be addictive; many parents are caught in the same attention traps.
  • Inequality angle: wealthy families can buy childcare, therapy, and tech literacy; poorer kids may be most exposed and least protected.

Tools, Tactics, and Workarounds

  • Strategies mentioned: strict time limits; no smartphones for young kids; banning certain platforms (e.g., Roblox); using Switch instead of phones; Plex/local mirrors of approved videos; YouTube Kids with whitelist mode; Apple/Google parental controls.
  • Some find these tools powerful; others describe them as confusing, easy for kids to bypass, and requiring constant vigilance.

Peers, Culture, and Regulation

  • Peer pressure is a major problem: kids risk social exclusion if they’re off the dominant apps/games.
  • Some advocate treating social media more like regulated vices; others fear this becomes a pretext for censorship and state control.
  • Several conclude that no law or tech can substitute for active, present parenting.