Prince Harry raised the alarm on the epidemic of anxiety, depression, and social isolation among today’s youth, largely due to negative online experiences. He brought his campaign to help children and parents navigate cyberspace to this week’s Clinton Global Initiative in New York.

In his speech, Prince Harry emphasized how social media platforms are designed to create addiction, trapping young people in mindless scrolling and exposing them to harmful content. He stressed the need for corporate accountability and called on shareholders to demand tangible change.

As part of the “What’s Working” theme at CGI, Prince Harry highlighted his foundation, Archewell, and their initiative, The Parents Network, aimed at supporting families affected by online harms. He also proposed greater collaboration between tech companies, governments, and philanthropic organizations to ensure child safety online.

Pressure is mounting on social media giants like Meta, Snap, and TikTok to make their platforms safer for younger users. Companies have made some changes, such as Instagram’s recent announcement to make teen accounts private by default, but advocates argue that more work needs to be done to protect children from harmful content.

Prince Harry’s message resonated with attendees at CGI, with many viewing it as a call to action for addressing the negative impact of social media on youth. Advocates like Nia Faith and Ashley Lashley praised his efforts to raise awareness and push for better safeguards for children online.

As Prince Harry continues to champion online safety and child protection, he underscores the importance of collective action in creating a safer digital environment for future generations.

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