The Chief Executive Officer of Telegram, Pavel Durov, has warned that government bans on social media for teenagers will not protect them but will rather expose them to greater online risks.
Durov stated this on Tuesday, while reacting to a new law by the United Kingdom government that restricts teenagers under the age of 16 from accessing social media platforms.
He said on his X handle that total prohibition would drive young people toward encrypted networks and unregulated online spaces where real harm thrives. He noted that such restrictions force tech-savvy adolescents to bypass rules by using Virtual Private Networks (VPNs).
“Banning social media for teenagers only puts them in greater danger. Teens are forced to switch to VPNs and unlock far worse illegal content.”
Drawing from the Russian government’s attempt to ban telegraph, the tech executive noted that the restriction failed as 95 per cent of Russian teenagers continued using the application via VPNs.
Durov further said the UK’s mandatory age verification measures, which require users to provide identity cards, face scans, or bank details, raise questions about whether the policy is truly aimed at child protection or mass digital surveillance.
LEADERSHIP reports that British Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, had announced plans to ban children under the age of 16 from using major social media platforms like Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, and X, describing the move as necessary to protect young people from online harm and addiction.
“Social media is making children unhappy. It is designed to be addictive, with features that lock you in for hours. I am not prepared to compromise on the safety and happiness of our children, and that is why this ban must happen, and why this ban will happen.”
Durov, however, maintained that state regulation cannot substitute for active parenting, adding that parents already possess the necessary tools, such as parental controls and screen time limits, to manage their children’s digital habits.
“No law can replace good parenting. Parents already have the tools to limit kids’ digital consumption: parental controls, screen time limits or no smartphone at all. Instead, many parents give toddlers iPads just to keep them quiet. No amount of regulation will fix that.”
