Prince Harry appeals for a better digital future for children
“I stand before you today, to speak about the pervasive threat that our online world poses to us, especially our children, if we allow the status quo to remain,” said Prince Harry, introducing The Parents’ Network and appealing for corporate accountability for design of service at the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) 2024.
“Our kids are being targeted. The harmful effects of social media are made by design… We were promised a human experience, instead we’ve been a human experiment.” The rousing appeal made by the Duke of Sussex to thousands of guests at the CGI global conference in NY on 24 September was met by a standing ovation.
Prince Harry, a long-time supporter of the work of the 5Rights Foundation and founder of the non-profit Archewell Foundation, introduced the Parents’ Network, an initiative supporting the families of victims of online harms, in partnership with 5Rights, and made an emotional appeal for urgent action to combat online harms through tech accountability.
“While we embolden both youth and parents, we must also hold digital platforms accountable. Surely none of us want to live in a world where there is no consequence or accountability. Parenting doesn’t end at the birth of a child. Neither does founding a company. Whether parent or CEO, we have a duty and responsibility to see our creations through. If corporations unabashedly lack responsibility, it doesn’t mean we should do the same. Their platforms may be under our fingertips, but we have the fate of the future—their future—in our hands.”
Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex.
Our Executive Director Leanda Barrington-Leach, who attended the address alongside our Chair and Founder, Baroness Kidron, stated, “The reception to the Duke’s speech was heartwarming” and said that “Together with Archewell we hope to be back at CGI next year to discuss with partners and change-makers from around the world how we can deliver the change that children so desperately need and deserve.”
Delivering the digital world that children need and deserve is a large-scale task that will require global collaboration. The Secretary-General of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), Doreen Bogdan-Martin, affirmed this sentiment at the Broadband Commission’s Annual Fall meeting by stating “Our work is interconnected with the lives of billions around the world,” and with this comes an understanding that there “…is a responsibility and an opportunity to use the power of broadband power to do good — now and for generations to come.”
At 5Rights, we look forward to continuing to work with the Archewell Foundation and their Parents’ Network to hold digital platforms and services accountable to create a better digital future for children.
Watch the full speech at the Clinton Global Initiative here.