Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex have praised Australia’s world-leading under-16s social media ban – but they also say it’s only a “band aid” solution and doesn’t address how social media can be a “lifeline” for marginalised communities.
“We celebrate Australia’s leadership for seeing and acting on how these technology companies are negatively impacting young people with little to no recourse or accountability, and feeble efforts from the companies to stem the flow of harms,” the statement, released on the couple’s Archewell Foundation website, reads in part.
“This bold, decisive action to protect children at a critical moment in their development sends a strong signal that a child’s mind is not a commodity to be exploited. It buys young people valuable time back in their childhoods, but it doesn’t fix the fundamental issue we all still face with social media platforms.”
Prince Harry and the Duchess of Sussex, pictured in April on a trip to New York City to advocate for stronger protections for children from the dangers of social media.Credit: Getty
The duke and duchess, who resigned as senior working royals in 2020 and have since pursued advocacy work through their non-profit organisation while fulfilling their obligations to their reported $US100 million ($150 million) Netflix contract, said the ban is an “effective measure to stop imminent harm”.
“But ultimately [it] only works as a band aid that does not address tech’s broken design and exploitive [sic] business incentives, requiring us to protect young people in the first place,” part of the statement read.
“For LGBTQ+ young people and those suffering mental health emergencies we’ve spoken with, it can be a genuine lifeline. These platforms have immense potential for good, connection, and hope. But when there’s no option to opt out of the harms, the very lifeline they might depend on, can become the very thing that kills them.”
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