The Download: failed social media bans, and extending pets’ lives

Plus: Insurance is the next big obstacle for AI .

October 16, 2026

This is today's edition of The Download, our weekday newsletter that provides a daily dose of what's going on in the world of technology.

Kids are outsmarting social media bans. That’s not a problem we need to solve.

—Michal Luria, Aliya Bhatia, and Danah Boyd

Social media bans are stacking up. In July, France joined Australia in restricting minors from accessing social media—barring children under 15 from…