Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have been savaged over what critics described as a “condescending” statement regarding a major UK government decision on children’s online safety. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex released a statement on Monday welcoming the incoming ban on under-16s using social media, but they insisted more needed to be done to protect children from harmful material.
Government’s Plan on Social Media Ban
Sir Keir Starmer announced the plan on Monday, citing concerns that social media platforms are unsafe, make children miserable, and could cause lasting damage to their mental health. The announcement was welcomed by bereaved parents and child safety campaigners, but major tech firms pushed back, warning that the ban could drive under-16s toward unregulated online spaces.
Harry and Meghan’s Statement
In their statement, the duke and duchess said: “We welcome the UK Government’s announcement of new measures to better protect children online. The stories shared through The Lost Screen Memorial remind us that behind every debate about technology and regulation are real families whose lives have been forever changed.” They added: “While measures such as these may help reduce harm, they do not fix the problem at its source. Lasting change requires safer platforms by design, meaningful accountability, and a commitment to putting children’s wellbeing ahead of engagement and profit.”
The couple emphasized that “the burden cannot rest solely on parents and children. It must also be borne by the companies. Until then, every day without meaningful change is another day that children remain exposed to preventable harm. Stronger protections are better than inaction, and today’s announcement is a welcome step forward.”
Social Media Backlash
However, the statement sparked a wave of criticism on social media. One user on X wrote: “This annoys me to NO end. They say in this condescending statement that ‘the burden cannot rest solely on parents and children. It must also be borne by the companies. Bulls***. Why isn’t it the parents' responsibility to parent and monitor their children's online activity? Why is parenting being farmed out to social media companies? When my kids were young *I* set the rules and limits on their social media use.”
Another user blasted: “The hypocrisy of these laughingstocks…” A third user sarcastically commented: “Would they like some cheese and crackers with that whine?” A fourth opined: “Democrat speak, take away responsibility from parents, the state steps in, communism again.”
Some critics also targeted Meghan for sharing a picture with her friend’s baby. One user added: “Harry & Meghan lecturing on protecting kids from social media? These two have zero relevance to UK policy yet insert themselves for headlines while Meghan posts their own children online for clout.”
Meghan’s Previous Advocacy
In May, Meghan spoke at the opening of the Lost Screen Memorial in Geneva, Switzerland, where she urged global health leaders to act to keep children safe online. She described children’s online safety as a “public health issue.”
