Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s Latest Call to Action on Social Media’s Toll on Youth
On October 9, 2025, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, made a powerful plea at the third annual World Mental Health Day Gala in New York City, hosted by Project Healthy Minds. Speaking as parents to their own children, Archie (6) and Lilibet (4), they urged families worldwide to unite against the “predatory” practices of social media giants. They highlighted how algorithms are engineered to exploit children’s personal data, fueling an “explosion of unregulated artificial intelligence” that amplifies harms while delivering few safeguards. This isn’t a one-off statement—it’s the latest in their ongoing advocacy through the Archewell Foundation, which has positioned them as vocal critics of Big Tech’s role in the youth mental health crisis.
The Core of Their Message: “By Design” Exploitation
Harry and Meghan didn’t mince words: Social media’s dangers are “made by design,” with platforms prioritizing addiction and data harvesting over user well-being. They pointed to:
- Algorithmic Predation: Features that push age-inappropriate content like pornography, violence, cyberbullying, and sexual harassment directly to kids, often without parental controls.
- AI’s Double-Edged Sword: While tech offers benefits (e.g., education, connection), unregulated AI exacerbates isolation, anxiety, and depression—creating an “epidemic” Harry has described as devastating today’s youth.
- Personal Stakes: As parents, they shared raw vulnerability. “Like so many parents, we think constantly about how to embrace technology’s benefits while safeguarding against its dangers,” Meghan said, echoing her own battles with media scrutiny and mental health. Harry added a poignant note: “My lock screen is a picture of my kids—what’s yours?”—a reminder of the human cost when algorithms claim young lives.
This builds on their April 2025 unveiling of The Lost Screen Memorial in NYC: An installation of 50 locked smartphones, each showing a child’s final photo—tributes to kids lost to social media-driven suicides or harms. It’s a stark visual call to action, emphasizing that “no child should face exploitation online.”
A New Partnership to Amplify the Fight
At the gala, they announced a major expansion of The Parents’ Network—launched in 2022 as a support hub for families reeling from online trauma. Now partnering with ParentsTogether (a nonprofit aiding 1.5 million families), it will:
- Provide peer counseling, resources, and advocacy tools.
- Support youth-led groups pushing for “responsible technology.”
- Target policy changes, like better content moderation and ethical AI standards.
This aligns with Harry’s recent Movember speech (October 2025), where he targeted young men: Algorithms are “raising” boys to feel “powerless and hopeless” instead of empowered by mentors. He called for “incentive structures” that reward empathy over exploitation.
Broader Context and Echoes in Public Discourse
Their efforts resonate amid rising alarms. Studies back the claims: U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy’s 2023 advisory labeled social media a top youth mental health threat, with 95% of teens using platforms and 1 in 3 girls reporting worsened body image. Harry’s September 2024 Clinton Global Initiative talk framed it as a “toxic environment” for kids, urging shareholders and parents to demand accountability.
On X (formerly Twitter), reactions are passionate. Supporters praise the couple’s “bravo” push for digital literacy and emotional intelligence programs, while critics (e.g., one user accusing Archewell of “dark money” ties to censorship efforts) highlight polarized views. Broader posts, like Jonathan Haidt’s chat with Harry on screen-time battles (“Once kids get a phone… family life turns into a fight”), underscore the universal parental struggle.
Why This Matters Now
With World Mental Health Day on October 10, 2025, their message lands at a pivotal moment—amid U.S. debates on kids’ online safety bills and global AI regulations. Harry and Meghan aren’t just calling out harms; they’re mobilizing a movement, blending celebrity influence with grassroots support. As Harry put it in a Fortune interview: “The future of our world, our youth, depend on it.” If you’re a parent or advocate, resources like The Parents’ Network (via Archewell.org) offer a starting point. What’s your take—time for tech to step up, or more parental tools?