Prince Harry, Meghan Markle release statement demanding 'safety'

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have released a pointed statement from their Archewell Foundation in a reaction to Australia's decision to ban under-16s from social media.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, who’ve been vocal about the harms of social media, praised the move but remarked, "It shouldn’t have come to this."

Australia has asked social media sites to ban users under 16 or face fines of up to $49.5 million (£25 million). Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese described the move as "the day when Australian families are taking back power from these big tech companies".

Harry and Meghan shared their view of the decision, adding, "This bold, decisive action to protect children at a critical moment in their development sends a strong signal that a child’s mind is not a commodity to be exploited. It buys young people valuable time back in their childhoods, but it doesn’t fix the fundamental issue we all still face with social media platforms."

"Here’s the truth: the ban is an effective measure to stop imminent harm, but ultimately only works as a band aid that does not address tech’s broken design and exploitive business incentives, requiring us to protect young people in the first place," the statement continued.

"We hope this ban is only the start of a reckoning between society and the tech companies that built these platforms with growth as their first principle instead of safety," it added. 

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle started the Archewell Foundation after moving to the U.S. in 2020.