Prince Harry has penned an essay for Fast Companyabout the concerns he and Meghan Markle shareabout social media's damage on young peopletoday, including his son, and called for sweepingchange.
The Duke of Sussex, 35, wrote that after speakingwith experts, he and Markle, 39, believe society hasto rethink the way social media is used in order to create a space with less hate and more love.
"We believe we have to remodel the architecture of our online community in a way definedmore by compassion than hate; by truth instead of misinformation; by equity andinclusiveness instead of injustice and fearmongering; by free, rather than weaponised, speech,"he said in the essay.
Calling on social media industry leaders for their help, he expressed concern for his andMarkle's 1-year-old son, Archie, writing: "Because, if we are susceptible to the coercive forcesin digital spaces, then we have to ask ourselves—what does this mean for our children? As afather, this is especially concerning to me."
He stressed that leaders should act now, writing: "For companies that purchase online ads, it isone thing to unequivocally disavow hate and racism, white nationalism and anti-Semitism,dangerous misinformation, and a well-established online culture that promotes violence andbigotry. It is another thing for them to use their leverage, including through their advertisingdollars, to demand change from the very places that give a safe haven and vehicle ofpropagation to hate and division."
