The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have backed the UK government's proposed ban on social media for children under 16, calling it a “welcome step forward” but stressing that further measures are required to address the root causes of online harm. Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced the plan on Monday, following Australia's similar ban introduced in December.
In a statement, the couple said: “We welcome the UK Government’s announcement of new measures to better protect children online.” However, they added: “While measures such as these may help reduce harm, they do not fix the problem at its source.” They called for “safer platforms by design, meaningful accountability, and a commitment to putting children’s well-being ahead of engagement and profit.”
Harry and Meghan have long campaigned for online safety. Last month, Meghan described children’s online safety as a “public health issue” at the opening of the Lost Screen Memorial in Geneva. She warned that children are “shaped by systems designed to capture attention at any cost”.
The couple has faced criticism for posting their own children, Archie and Lili, on social media while obscuring their faces. Commentator Duncan Larcombe accused Meghan of “exploiting” the children and using them as “clickbait”.
The government's ban, to be passed by Christmas and in force by spring 2025, will hold tech firms liable for non-compliance. Measures will also prevent children from chatting with adults on gaming and livestreaming platforms. Starmer said the government was “giving children their childhoods back”.
