Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have spoken out after Australia became the first country in the world to ban social media use for children under the age of 16. The new law affects major platforms including TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat, X, YouTube, Reddit, Twitch and others. Companies that fail to comply face significant financial penalties, with the legislation designed to reduce young people’s exposure to harmful online content.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, who have long campaigned for stronger online protections for children, welcomed the move but also raised concerns about whether it goes far enough to tackle the deeper problems behind social media harm.
Archewell issues a carefully worded statement
A statement published on the Archewell Foundation website carries the headline “Australia Takes Bold Action to Protect Kids Online. But It Shouldn’t Have Come to This”. The charity, founded by Harry and Meghan in 2020 after they stepped back from royal duties, focuses on community support, mental health and digital responsibility.
In the statement, the couple praised Australia’s decision, calling it a decisive step at a critical moment in young people’s development. They said the ban sends a strong message that children’s minds should not be treated as commodities by technology companies, and noted that it gives young people valuable time back in their childhoods.
However, the statement also stressed that while the ban may prevent immediate harm, it does not address what they see as the root cause of the problem. According to Archewell, the underlying issue lies in the design and business models of social media platforms themselves.
A warning that the ban is only a temporary fix
Harry and Meghan argued that age restrictions alone cannot solve the problem of online harm. They described the legislation as an effective short term measure, but said it ultimately functions as a temporary solution rather than a permanent one. In their view, young people will inevitably grow up with social media, whether now or later, and are increasingly calling for platforms that are safe by default rather than reactive to tragedy.
The statement also raised concerns about enforcement, questioning how age verification would work in practice and whether it could lead to increased surveillance of young people’s private lives. The couple ended by urging global leaders and technology companies to take responsibility for design choices that have prioritised profit over wellbeing, adding that the world is watching to see whether meaningful change will finally follow.
Why the issue matters personally to the Sussexes
Online safety has been a central focus of Harry and Meghan’s public work in recent years. Through Archewell, they launched the Parents’ Network, a support initiative for families whose children have been harmed through social media experiences.
Earlier this year, the couple also unveiled a memorial in New York City dedicated to children whose families believe exposure to harmful online content played a role in their deaths. The project aimed to humanise the statistics and highlight the real world consequences of unchecked digital platforms.
For the Sussexes, Australia’s decision represents progress, but also a reminder that protecting young people online requires more than rules alone. In their view, it demands a fundamental shift in how technology companies are held accountable for the environments they create.
