United Kingdom, Feb. 3 -- Bill Gates has warned of the dangers facing social media users.

The Microsoft co-founder has insisted platforms such as Instagram can "absorb your time" and "make you worry about other people approving you" and he's convinced banning under-16s from using them is a "smart thing".

In an interview with the BBC, he went on to add: "Social networking, even more than video gaming, can absorb your time and make you worry about other people approving you ... [We have to be] very careful how it gets used."

When asked about a proposed ban on under-16s using social media sites in Australia, Gates said: "[There's a] good chance ... [it's] a smart thing".

Gates also admitted he's worried about the blurring lines between f...