Why YouTube CEO Neal Mohan Puts Screen Limits on His Kids

As concerns around children’s mental health and excessive screen time continue to grow, YouTube CEO Neal Mohan has joined a widening group of tech leaders acknowledging the need for firm boundaries at home.

Despite leading one of the world’s most influential platforms, Neal says his own household operates with clear limits when it comes to social media and online video consumption.

In an interview with TIME, Neal explained that his three children - two sons and a daughter - do not have unlimited access to YouTube or other digital platforms.

Instead, their screen time is carefully managed. He said in a TikTok video posted by TIME: “We do limit their time on YouTube and other platforms and other forms of social media.

“On weekdays we tend to be more strict, on weekends we tend to be less so. We’re not perfect by any stretch.”

He stressed that “everything in moderation” is what works best for him and his wife, and that the philosophy extends across all digital services his children use.

Global reaction to children's screen time

The YouTube CEO’s comments come amid heightened concern from experts about the effects of excessive smartphone and social media use on young people.

In an interview with CNBC earlier in the year, Jonathon Haidt, an NYU professor, argued for stricter limits, advocating for children to avoid smartphones until age 14 and social media until 16.

He said: “Let them have a flip phone, but remember, a smartphone isn’t really a phone. They could make phone calls on it, but it’s a multi-purpose device by which the world can get to your children.”

Governments are also beginning to respond as seen in Australia, which recently became the first country to formally bar users under the age of 16 from accessing major social media platforms.

Ahead of the law’s passage, a YouGov survey found that 77% of Australians supported the ban, although its rollout has faced resistance and raised questions about enforcement.

Against this global awareness, Neal said he feels a “paramount responsibility” to protect young users while also supporting parents.

In an interview with TIME, he said: “The best thing we can do is make it easier for parents to manage [the platform] on behalf of their children, in a way that’s suitable to their household.”

CEO of the year 

This approach has shaped YouTube’s vision for child safety for years. The platform launched YouTube Kids in 2015 as a more controlled, child-friendly version of the service.

Neal emphasised that different families have different standards and that platforms should enable parent choice.

The CEO’s comments on parenting and responsibility come as he was named TIME’s CEO of the Year for 2025 - thanks to YouTube’s growth and his leadership style.

According to TIME, the award reflected strong company performance, strategic decision-making and an approachable way of leading during a period of major change in the media industry.

Since taking over as CEO in 2023, Neal has overseen YouTube’s expansion across screens, including its growing role as a television alternative in many households, 

The introduction of YouTube Shorts has helped the platform compete more directly with short-form video rivals, while advertising and subscription revenues continue to rise.

Described by TIME as calm and deliberate, Neal said: “I’m a technologist by passion and training. I also happen to be somebody who loves media in the broadcast sense of that term.”

That blend of technical expertise, media insight and personal responsibility, have placed the CEO and father at the centre of conversation about approach to media usage.