Prince Harry has a personal photo on his phone lock screen. During his speech at the Clinton Global Initiative in New York, Prince Harry, 40, revealed the family members featured while discussing the urgent need to address online challenges.
The father of two, who lives in Montecito with wife Meghan and their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, was a special guest at the end of a 90-minute session titled “Everything Everywhere All At Once.”
Pulling out his phone from his jacket pocket, Harry said, “My lock screen is a picture of my kids. What’s yours?”
As images of young people appeared on a large screen behind him, he remarked, “These children and thousands more meant the world to their families. Their beautiful faces, their smiles, their dreams, all lost too soon, and all because of social media.”
Harry explained that these children inspired his Archewell Foundation to launch the Parents Network, a support group for parents whose children have been harmed online. He continued, “I stand before you today to speak about the pervasive threat that our online world poses, especially to our children. If we allow the status quo to persist in an age where our lives are intertwined with technology, we must not view the online realm solely as a space for profit, competition, and rapid growth.”
He emphasized, “Young people today are disproportionately affected by negative online experiences and mental health issues stemming from digital interactions. The statistics bear this out. They’re navigating an often hostile and overwhelming environment. Reports of anxiety, depression, and social isolation linked to these platforms have surged in recent years, creating a crisis that cannot be ignored.”
Harry also highlighted the issue of misinformation, stating, “These challenges are exacerbated by the relentless spread of unreliable information, leaving many feeling isolated, confused, and scared. These are not distant problems; they are epidemics testing our resolve and cannot be overlooked.”
In a light-hearted moment that drew laughter from the audience, Harry referenced his own youthful mischief, saying, “Some say kids will be kids, and that may well be true. Kids may get into trouble. I know a thing or two about that. But our kids are being targeted. The harmful effects of social media are intentional.”
Harry, who made a solo trip to New York for engagements with charities important to him, also attended an event with The Halo Trust on Monday, which works to clear landmines and other explosive remnants of conflict.
He noted, “Much has changed in my life and the world since 2019 when I first visited. In those five years, I’ve become a father for the second time. While you don’t need children to care about the future of our planet, I know my mother would have been horrified that anyone’s children or grandchildren would live in a world still plagued by mines.”
