Prince Harry made a rare comment about his children with Meghan Markle, Archie, three, and 11-month-old Lilibet, and how he wanted to ensure they were protected.
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry treat Lilibet to incredible birthday cake – see photo
The royal appeared virtually at the 5Rights Foundation’s Global Child Online Safety Toolkit from his home in California.
He joined representatives from the United Nations, European Union, and African Union, as well as many aged 13-21 from across the world to call for a safer digital world for the youth.
The Duke of Sussex spoke of the “ground-breaking” work that the Foundation was doing in this regard, and criticized social media companies for making “unimaginable money” by harnessing the time and attention of people.
He further opened up about how he desired to protect his own two kids from such a world, saying: “My kids are too young to have experienced the online world yet and I hope that they never have to experience it as it exists now – No kid should have to.”
He further elaborated: “The internet business model is doing exactly what it’s meant to do – let us in and keep us scrolling, get us angry, anxious, or make us numb to the world around us.”
Harry further expanded on the adverse effects this had on adults versus kids, who are a lot more impressionable and can easily be hooked.
He talked more about his own kids, adding: “My two little ones are still of the age of innocence.
“Sometimes I feel I can keep them away from the online harms that they could face in the future forever but I am learning to know better.
“As parents, my wife and I are concerned about the next generation growing up in a world where they are treated as digital experiments.”
He shared his hopes for a changing digital world, saying: “The online world is changing and it’s on every single one of us to make sure that the change ahead prioritizes our children’s right to a safe and happy future.”
Sophia, not Lilibet. I agree with everything else you said, especially the need to keep not only our kids but all kids safe online. I know that my biologicals will especially be targets because of who I am and what I represent, so I know that evil, sick nutcases are going to try to get to them. I’ve always said, once the internet and social media sites came on the scene, I’d police my kids when they were old enough to go online. Don’t get it twisted, I WILL be their “friend” or “follower” on every site they frequent and will know who they are talking to. They won’t be able to be on the internet, without me being sitting right beside them, until they are at least 15 years of age and their time will be limited and monitored. I’m not playing that mess.