YouTube chief: I take my children’s mobiles – so they talk to real people

THE boss of YouTube has revealed that she takes away her children’s mobile phones – to help them ‘be present’.

Susan Wojcicki, chief executive of the video-sharing site, said it was important for her five children to learn that there were times when having a conversation with real people took priority over surfing the internet.

‘I have times when I take away all my kids’ phones, especially if we’re on a family vacation, because I want people to interact with each other,’ she said. ‘So I take away their phones and say, “We’re going to focus on being present today.”

‘It comes back to balance – people need to learn when it is a time to be focused on the conversation, and when it is OK to go and watch videos and do other activities on the internet.’

Ms Wojcicki said balance was important to her and her family. She told The Guardian: ‘What is important to me is that kids learn how to manage technology responsibly. Just like you talk to your kids about what you do when you go out on the street, you need to have a conversation with them about safety on the internet, and also find a way to manage screen time and balance that with other activities.’

The 51- year- old revealed that she wanted to let her children work out their own ‘self-control methods’ regarding online time.

‘TV was the same when I was growing up,’ she said. ‘I was taught that, sure, some TV is enjoyable, but it needs to be balanced with sports, school, homework, reading, and other activities.’

Ms Wojcicki is not the first Silicon Valley mogul to limit their children’s access to technology.

In 2010, Apple boss Steve Jobs said he did not allow his children to use his company’s newly released iPad, and limited technology at home. Sir Jonathan Ive said ‘constant use’ of the iPhone – which he designed – represented ‘misuse’.

In 2017, Microsoft founder Bill Gates told how he had banned his children from having mobile phones until they were 14 and that no technology use was allowed at mealtimes.

His wife Melinda later claimed that she wished she had held out further against smartphones, adding: ‘I probably would have waited longer before putting a computer in my children’s pockets.’

In 2017, a survey of those working in technology, carried out by the Silicon Valley Community Foundation, found that parents were concerned about how gadgets could have an impact on their children’s development.

Ms Wojcicki said she was trying to give her children a ‘normal life’, adding: ‘I work hard to make sure my children are hard- working, respectful, and live balanced lives, and I try to set that example.’

Ms Wojcicki also claimed that her site – owned by tech giant Google – was making ‘tremendous progress’ in dealing with extremist, violent, and sexually explicit content being uploaded, with 8.3 million clips taken down in the first three months of this year.

YouTube’s human moderators, as well as its automated systems, had helped tighten things up, she added.