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prince harry And meghan markle She was named “Humanitarian of the Year” at a ceremony in New York City on Thursday (October 9), where she also spoke about the dangers of social media.
royal family Honored for his work at the third annual ceremony world mental health day Gala, hosted by Project Healthy Minds,
“Tonight, we are all here together to focus attention on what is one of the most important issues of our time,” Harry said after receiving the award.
“I want to share a number with you: 4,000. That’s how many families the Social Media Victims Law Center is currently representing – families whose children have been harmed or lost forever by social media.
“Four thousand cases in just one firm. And that number only represents those parents who are able to link their child’s condition to their use of social media.”
He added: “Parents who have learned that legal action is possible, who have the ability to pursue it while grieving, and parents who have found their way to help fight against some of the wealthiest, most powerful corporations in the world.
“And yet there may be no closure for unhappy parents because these companies refuse to disclose their children’s information and activity on their platforms. If these were unintended consequences 10 years ago, what are they now?
“This is a critical moment in our collective mission to protect children and support families in the digital age.”
Meghan said the couple often discuss how they will protect their children, six-year-old Archie and four-year-old Lily, as they grow up.
“Like many parents, we are constantly thinking about how to embrace the benefits of technology while protecting against its dangers,” the Duchess said.
“That hopeful intention of separation is increasingly becoming impossible.”
The couple’s Archewell Foundation announced that its Parents Network initiative is teaming up with ParentsTogether, a nonprofit dedicated to family advocacy and online safety.
The move comes as Duke warned of an “explosion of uncontrolled artificial intelligence”.
“As our network has grown, we’ve seen the full scope of what we’re facing,” Harry said. “We have seen the explosion of unregulated artificial intelligence, heard more and more stories from broken families, and seen parents around the world growing increasingly concerned about their children’s digital lives.
“When we learned that thousands of families from every corner of society were facing similar challenges, with many learning for the first time that it was actually social media that took their child, we knew this movement needed to grow.
“These families are up against not only corporations and lobbyists, many of whom spend millions of dollars every year to suppress the truth, but also algorithms designed to maximize data collection at any cost.
“And their children? They weren’t struggling with mental health issues, they weren’t obviously vulnerable, they were preyed upon.”
Philip Shermer, founder and CEO of Project Healthy Minds, praised the couple’s work, telling the crowd: “It is a privilege to honor Prince Harry and Meghan, Duke and Duchess of Sussex at our World Mental Health Day celebration this year.
“His leadership, generosity and unwavering commitment to advancing mental health awareness have made a profound difference in the lives of many people.”
The non-profit organization credited Harry as “a humanitarian, mental health advocate, environmentalist and military combat veteran.” his 2023 memoir Excessive was also noted as one of his greatest achievements.
Meanwhile, the Duchess of Sussex was described as “a mother, wife, entrepreneur and philanthropist” whose “lifelong advocacy for women and girls remains a constant thread she weaves through both humanitarian and business ventures”.
Additional reporting by PA