In a joint video message, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle addressed the public for the first time in months.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex shared plans to prioritize finding new ways to protect children from becoming victims of digital violence. They emphasized that we have reached a critical moment in the digital age, wherein awareness needs to transform into action.
“We are at a crossroads,” Harry said in the clip. “The urgency to reassess and redefine our approach to protecting children has become increasingly evident. While the necessity has always been apparent, it’s now time to translate that awareness into meaningful action.”
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He continued, “While the online world can help develop strategies to protect children from violence, it also introduces new risks, such as from individuals who exploit gaps in our outdated legal systems, which often don’t account for today’s digital realities.”
In August, the Archewell Foundation — an organization founded by Harry and Meghan in 2020 — launched The Parents’ Network, which acts as, “a support network for other parents and caregivers whose children and families have been gravely impacted by social media harms,” per The Archewell Foundation.
The Parents’ Network aims to provide kids with skills to combat online threats, support parents and caregivers whose children have suffered at the hands of digital violence and push for regulations that protect children online, per The Archewell Foundation.
“My husband and I recognize that today’s reality is marked by greater connectivity and advanced technology, which, of course, has many positives,” Meghan said in the clip. “However, it also compels us to better understand how digital violence against children is manifesting itself in this age.”
“At the Archewell Foundation, we engage with young people, families and experts worldwide, learning about how every aspect of a child’s life — from their livelihood to their physical and mental well-being — now operates within an online economy that has both the power to shape and misshape our connections,” she said. The couple concluded their three-minute message will a call for commitment to prioritizing children’s safety and push to establish new norms surrounding minors’ access and use of technology.
