Meet the social media CEO who won't let his own kids on social media: 'Parents are oblivious to the world' | Fortune

"These parents don't understand that their kids sent 5,000 TikToks or snaps in the last 6 days. They're oblivious to the world in which their kids are living. This massive social media knowledge gap exists between kids and parents, with many guardians unaware of the extent of their children's digital engagement and the content they consume daily."

"American teens today are clocking onto social media sites like it's their day job, with more than half spending nearly five hours per day on social platforms, according to a 2023 Gallup poll. They're scrolling for an average of 35 hours per week through thousands of videos across apps like TikTok, Youtube, and Instagram and sending hundreds of snaps, messages, and videos to friends."

"As parents around the world wake up to the reality of the dangers of social media, some governments have taken steps to block kids from logging on, with Australia outright banning social media use for teens, and other countries, like France and Denmark, are making moves to follow suit. That debate has made its way to the U.S., with Florida enacting a ban."

American adolescents spend approximately five hours per day on social media platforms, consuming thousands of videos weekly across TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram while exchanging hundreds of messages with peers and strangers. Joe Gagliese, CEO of Viral Nation, recognizes the dangers despite working with social media creators. He restricts his own children's digital access due to a significant knowledge gap between parents and their children regarding online activity. Parents often lack awareness of the extent of their children's social media engagement and content exposure. Governments globally are responding to these concerns, with Australia implementing outright bans on teen social media use, while France and Denmark pursue similar measures. The United States has seen Florida enact restrictions, though legal challenges persist. Other technology leaders, including Peter Thiel and Steve Chen, adopt comparable protective parenting approaches.

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