Tech Billionaires Limit Their Children’s Screen Time Despite Creating Popular Devices and Platforms

Many of the world’s leading tech billionaires, including Peter Thiel, Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, Steve Chen, Evan Spiegel, and Elon Musk, are publicly restricting their children’s access to the very technologies and social media platforms they helped develop. Steve Jobs, as early as 2010, said he limited his kids’ use of iPads. Peter Thiel allows his children only 1.5 hours of screen time per week, a practice mirrored by Snap CEO Evan Spiegel. Bill Gates delayed giving his children smartphones until age 14 and banned phones at dinner. Elon Musk acknowledged that not setting rules around social media for his children may have been a mistake. TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew allows young children to use the app only under the under-13 safety settings, including vetted content and restricted posting. The caution comes amid growing evidence linking excessive screen use and short-form videos to reduced attention spans, poor cognition, and declining mental health in both minors and adults. Recent legislation in countries like Australia and Malaysia has banned social media for under-16s, with others considering similar measures. Meanwhile, social media companies like Meta argue their platforms are not addictive and highlight safety measures for younger users. This trend underscores a contrast between the private practices of tech leaders and the products they publicly promote, raising awareness about the impact of technology on child development and the attention economy.