Prince Harry appeared on stage at his latest royal-style engagement in New York and spoke about Archie and Lilibet in a plea to better protect children from the “harm” caused by social media.
The Duke of Sussex, 40, addressed the audience at the Clinton Global Initiative 2024 event this morning, warning of the “crisis” facing young people due to the online world.
Harry took to the stage alone and began delivering a speech about the dangers of social media and “the pervasive threat our online world poses to us, especially our children.”
In an emotional speech, she said her phone’s lock screen has a picture of Archie and Lilibet. But she then shared pictures of children who have taken their own lives because of the “harmful effects of social media”.
Harry said that through The Archewell Foundation Parents’ Network, his and Meghan’s charity, they will campaign for More to support families of children who have lost their lives to online abuse and stop further tragedies.
He also poked fun at the antics of his own youth, prompting laughter from the audience. Harry said: “Some say kids will be kids and, well, that may be true. Kids can get into trouble. I know a thing or two about that. But our kids are being targeted. The harmful effects of social media are done on purpose.”
Prince Harry on stage at the Clinton Global Initiative 2024 event in New York today
He began by saying ‘Good morning’ to which someone in the audience responded by shouting the same, with Harry smiling and saying ‘thank you’.
The Duke said: ‘I stand before you today to speak about the pervasive threat our online world poses to us, especially our children.
‘If we allow the status quo to continue in an era where our lives are intertwined with technology, we cannot afford to view the online world solely as a space of profitability, competition and rapid growth.’
He said he and many other parents never grew up with a mobile phone and were struggling to understand the online world and help their children navigate it.
The Duke of Sussex, in an impassioned speech, said: ‘These platforms are designed to create addiction.
‘Young people are kept there by mindless, endless, paralyzing scrolling, being force-fed content that no child should ever be exposed to.
“I, like many of you, did not grow up with a phone. Young people today have an incredible understanding of technology that older generations may have found difficult to comprehend.”
He continued: ‘Our laws and regulations are different from state to state and country to country.
We may have different backgrounds, views, beliefs and even internet access, but the one thing we can universally agree on is the safety of our children.
“So why do the leaders of these incredibly powerful social media companies continue to refuse to change? Why do we hold them to the lowest ethical standards?”
In an apparent nod to his youthful antics that drew laughter from the audience, Harry said: “Some people say boys will be boys and, well, that may be true. Boys can get into trouble. I know a thing or two about that.
“But our children are in the crosshairs. The harmful effects of social media are driven by a specific design.”
On Monday, the Duke of Sussex, 40, appeared on stage in New York to discuss mental health and climate change with two young winners of a legacy award given in memory of Princess Diana.
But before taking to the platform, the King’s youngest son held a FaceTime video call with his wife, Meghan Markle, 43, and their children, Prince Archie, five, and Princess Lilibet, three, according to People Magazine.
The publication wrote that Harry reportedly showed his family around the room, giving them a brief tour of the hotel space before taking part in the 14th Annual Concordia Summit in support of the Diana Award.
“Backstage, he was calling Meghan. I thought it was really sweet and it helped humanize him,” Chiara Riyanti Hutapea Zhang, 18, a Diana Legacy Award winner who joined Harry on the mental health panel discussion, told the publication.
On Monday, the Duke of Sussex, 40, appeared on stage in New York to discuss mental health and climate change with two young winners of a legacy award given in memory of Princess Diana.
Prince Harry will be away from his home in Montecito for eight days as he takes a solo trip around the East Coast and the UK, but clearly, his family (pictured) have been on his mind during his visits.
“He made sure we didn’t get nervous at all… He’s so kind. He not only helped us feel comfortable speaking on stage, but also comforted us afterwards,” the award winner added.
Harry, who cracked his knuckles and looked nervous as he sat on stage, spoke about the importance of mental wellbeing at the event, where attendees spoke about their climate anxiety.
He personally interviewed Chiara Riyanti Hutapea Zhang from Indonesia and Christina Williams from Jamaica, who received the Legacy Award in memory of Princess Diana, joking: “For some reason they gave me the microphone to ask the questions.”
She told them: “I applaud you for having the confidence to stand on this stage. I know my mother would be incredibly proud of you. Your activism is true to how my mother lived her life.”
Harry, wearing a navy suit and tie with a Diana Award pin on his lapel, asked: “Do you feel like you are being listened to by leaders and people in positions of power?” adding that he wanted the Diana Award to help his campaign to tackle climate change and build influence around the world.
And when asked what gives him hope for the future, he said: “I’ve said it years ago and I’ll say it again. The younger generation is what gives me hope. The courage they have gives me hope.
“We all need courage to make a difference in this world, probably more than ever. We need to listen and act accordingly, because it is our future that will be stolen from us and that is unacceptable.”