Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have spoken out after Australia became the first country in the world to ban social media use for children under the age of 16. The new law affects major platforms including TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat, X, YouTube, Reddit, Twitch and others. Companies that fail to comply face significant financial penalties, with the legislation designed to reduce young people’s exposure to harmful online content.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, who have long campaigned for stronger online protections for children, welcomed the move but also raised concerns about whether it goes far enough to tackle the deeper problems behind social media harm.
Archewell issues a carefully worded statement
A statement published on the Archewell Foundation website carries the headline “Australia Takes Bold Action to Protect Kids Online. But It Shouldn’t Have Come to This”. The charity, founded by Harry and Meghan in 2020 after they stepped back from royal duties, focuses on community support, mental health and digital responsibility.