Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have released a new statement through the Archewell Foundation following Australia’s decision to prohibit social media use for everyone under sixteen. The country has introduced a sweeping restriction across nearly every major platform, including TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat, X, Threads, Reddit, YouTube, Twitch and Kick. Companies that fail to enforce the rule will face significant penalties. The move is being described as a world-first attempt to shield young people from harmful digital environments.
Because the Sussexes have spent years advocating for greater online protections, their reaction arrived swiftly. The Archewell website published a lengthy message titled “Australia Takes Bold Action to Protect Kids Online. But It Shouldn’t Have Come to This,” reflecting approval of the effort while raising concerns about its limits.
A firm message and a cautious war:ning
The statement opens by applauding Australia for taking a clear stand. It reads, “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. 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.” The message continues by noting that the new restrictions “buy young people valuable time back in their childhoods.”
The tone shifts as the couple outlines the deeper issues they believe remain unresolved. They describe the ban as a temporary shield that cannot solve the core problems underlying social platforms. “The ban is an effective measure to stop imminent harm, but ultimately only works as a band aid that does not address tech’s broken design and exploitive business incentives,” the statement says. They also highlight concerns expressed by teenagers themselves, including questions about how the age limits will be enforced and whether stricter verification could introduce new forms of surveillance.
The message concludes by urging global leaders and tech companies to learn from past failures and to place the well-being of young users at the forefront. “The world is watching to see if they’ll finally take responsibility and make the changes the world so desperately need,” the couple notes.
A long-standing mission for the Sussexes
Child safety online has been one of Harry and Meghan’s most consistent causes. Through Archewell, they created the Parents’ Network in 2022 to support families whose children suffered harm linked to social media. Earlier this year, they unveiled a memorial in New York City honouring young people whose deaths were connected to dangerous online content. Their response to Australia’s new law fits squarely within that broader campaign, signalling that they intend to keep pressing for reforms that go far beyond age restrictions.
