The UK Government made a major announcement today that social media will be banned for under-16s. And not long after, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle issued a statement with their reaction to the news.
“We welcome the U.K Government’s announcement of new measures to better protect children online,” the statement began. “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.”
However, while Harry and Meghan concluded the move was a “welcome step forward,” the couple was also clear that they feel more needs to be done by tech companies to keep children safe. “While measures such as these may help reduce harm, they do not fix the problem at its source,” the statement said. “Lasting change requires safer platforms by design, meaningful accountability, and a commitment to putting children’s wellbeing ahead of engagement and profit. 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.”
The UK Government’s plans are expected to come into force by Spring 2027. The ban will include platforms Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook and X but not messaging services like WhatsApp and Signal. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer described it as “going further than any country in the world.”
Last month, Meghan made a keynote speech at the unveiling of the Lost Screen Memorial in Switzerland. Earlier this year the Sussexes also issued a rare statement after a landmark legal battle saw Meta and YouTube found negligent in harming a young woman with design features on its platforms that were deemed addictive.
Town & Country Contributing Editor Victoria Murphy has reported on the British Royal Family since 2010. She has interviewed Prince Harry and has travelled the world covering several royal tours. She is a frequent contributor to Good Morning America. Victoria authored Town & Country book The Queen: A Life in Pictures, released in 2021.