Prince Harry and Meghan praise UK social media ban for under-16s

Prince Harry, 41, and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, 44, have issued a statement welcoming the UK Government's announcement that children under the age of 16 will be banned from major social media platforms, including TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram, Facebook, X, and YouTube. The couple responded on 15 June, the same day British Prime Minister Keir Starmer made the announcement.

The couple's statement

Harry and Meghan opened their statement with direct support for the government's move. "We welcome the U.K. Government's announcement of new measures to better protect children online," they said.

The couple invoked the Lost Screen Memorial — an initiative from their charity, Archewell Philanthropies — to underscore the human cost behind the policy debate. "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 said. "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."

Accountability must lie with tech companies

The Duke and Duchess were clear that the responsibility for child safety online should not fall solely on families. "The burden cannot rest solely on parents and children," they argued, adding that it "must also be borne by the companies."

Harry and Meghan are parents to two young children — Prince Archie, 6, and Princess Lilibet, 4. "Until then, every day without meaningful change is another day that children remain exposed to preventable harm," they said. "Stronger protections are better than inaction, and today's announcement is a welcome step forward."

The UK ban and its scope

The ban, reported by the Associated Press to be expected to take effect next year, places the UK alongside Australia, Canada, Brazil, and Indonesia in introducing legislation or regulatory measures to limit children's access to online content. Britain's restrictions will apply to TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram, Facebook, X, and YouTube.

Archewell's work on children's online safety

Advocating for a safer online environment has been a central pillar of Harry and Meghan's charitable work since they stepped back from their royal roles in the UK and relocated to the United States in 2024. Their charity, formerly known as the Archewell Foundation and renamed Archewell Philanthropies late last year, launched The Parents' Network as a resource for families who lost a child to social media-driven suicide or whose children had been harmed by online platforms.

In partnership with The Parents' Network, Archewell introduced the Lost Screen Memorial in New York City in April 2025 as part of the No Child Lost to Social Media campaign. While Archewell has since transferred The Parents' Network to the nonprofit ParentsTogether, the couple have continued to champion the cause.

In May 2026, Meghan attended the unveiling of the Lost Screen Memorial in Geneva ahead of the 79th World Health Assembly. During her speech, she described safe online spaces as "not simply a technology issue" but a "public health issue," and called on the global community to install greater safeguards for the next generation.

In March, Harry and Meghan also applauded a Los Angeles jury's ruling that found Meta and YouTube liable for negligence in a landmark social media addiction case, describing the verdict as a turning point for families.