Harry shares tough talks with Meghan about Archie and Lilibet's social media future
A Growing Concern for Digital Safety
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have consistently emphasized the need for greater protection for children and young people from online dangers. Prince Harry recently highlighted the impact of social media on children, calling it “one of the most pressing issues of our time.” The couple has already discussed how they plan to handle their children’s access to technology as they grow older.
Prince Archie, six, and Princess Lilibet, four, are the focus of these discussions. During an appearance on the Hasan Minhaj Doesn’t Know podcast, Harry shared his thoughts on the challenges parents face when their children ask for a phone. He reflected on the importance of making informed decisions about digital access for young people.
Navigating the Challenges of Modern Technology
Harry was asked by host Hasan Minhaj about the dilemma many parents face: whether to give their children a smartphone or not. “I don’t know if you guys have hit this crossroads yet,” Minhaj said. “But what are you going to do when your kids ask for a cell phone? Are you going to give them a phone?”
Harry responded that he and Meghan have had many conversations about this topic. “We talk about it a lot,” he said. He expressed concern about the risks associated with early exposure to social media. “Because in no logical, fair, ethical, moral world, should a parent have to consider this app, which sits on the phone—having a phone for your kid is a really important thing—but the moment that you give them the gateway to everything else, kids will be kids.”
He also acknowledged the difficulty parents face as their children grow older. “You’re right, a lot of parents feel as if they don’t have a choice,” Harry said. “And a lot of kids don’t have a choice. Because the reality is, if you're talking about just having a smartphone and an old-school phone, they’re two very different things.”
Balancing Communication and Safety
Harry suggested that parents might consider giving their children simpler devices rather than smartphones. “If you want to be able to contact your kid, maybe we should just be giving them the old-school phone,” he said. However, he emphasized the importance of ensuring that children are not exposed to the same risks that exist today.
“We have to make sure that when our children get to that age, that the situation now isn’t the situation then. There's no reason why it should be.”
Sharing Photos Online: A Delicate Balance
Meghan Markle has been active on Instagram since her return, sharing glimpses of family life with Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet. She often posts photos of the children from behind or with their faces obscured. When asked about whether parents should post images of their children online, Harry expressed concern.
“Parents can do whatever they want,” he said. “The reality is, from what I've learned, what I've seen, what I've heard and experienced through, especially through the Parents Network, is you should be really, really worried, concerned and cautious about putting photographs of your kids online, especially now with this surge of unregulated AI.”
He added that the issue is complicated. “You just don't know where it's going to go. You don't know how it's going to be used. But that's also really sad. And like now there's parents watching this going, 'How am I supposed to share photographs of my kids with so-and-so on the other side of the world?'”
Age and Social Media Access
When asked about the appropriate age for children to join social media platforms, Harry suggested that it should be when their brains are fully developed. “I think once your brain is properly formed. Once you are starting to learn who you are,” he said. “I think 21 is a sensible age, but [social media] companies won’t ever allow that. They will throw tens of millions of dollars to lobby against that.”
A Family Approach to Technology
This conversation comes at a time when other members of the royal family are also taking a cautious approach. Prince William recently spoke about his children—Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis—being without mobile phones. He emphasized the importance of family time, saying, “We sit and chat; it’s really important. None of our children have any phones, which we're very strict about.”
As technology continues to evolve, the challenge of balancing safety and connectivity remains a key concern for parents everywhere.
Post a Comment