Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were criticised after their latest statement on a major UK Government decision on children’s online safety. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex on Monday said the Government’s incoming ban on under-16s using social media is “a welcome step forward” but added more needed to be done to keep children away from harmful material.
Sir Keir Starmer announced the plan on Monday following concerns that social media was unsafe, making children miserable and could cause lasting damage to their mental health. While bereaved parents and child safety campaigners welcomed the Prime Minister’s announcement, some big tech firms hit back, saying it could push under-16s towards unregulated online spaces. Harry and Meghan welcomed the incoming ban, but warned: “While measures such as these help reduce harm, they do not fix the problem at its source”.
However, some fans thought their statement was “condescending” and criticised them on social media.
One user wrote on X: “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.
They added: “Social media is not a right, it’s a privilege, and my kids weren’t ALLOWED to have social media until a certain age.
“It’s such a neglect of parental responsibility to pawn it all off on Meta. Watch your kids, know how they’re interacting and behaving when they don’t think you’re watching.”
Another one blasted: “The hypocrisy of these laughingstocks…”
A third user said sarcastically: “Would they like some cheese and crackers with that whine?” A fourth one opined: “Democrat speak, take away responsibility from parents, the state steps in, communism again.”
Others criticised the Duchess for sharing a picture with her friend’s baby, with another user adding: “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.”
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.
“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 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.”
In May, Meghan spoke at the opening of the Lost Screen Memorial in Geneva, Switzerland and urged global health leaders to act to keep children safe online.
Speaking at the memorial for people who have died after suffering digital harm, the duchess described children’s online safety as a “public health issue”.
