Prince Harry knows “a thing or two” about getting in trouble.
While speaking at the Clinton Foundation in New York City Tuesday, the Duke of Sussex blasted online platforms for being designed to lead youngsters to addiction.
The father of two — who has admitted to doing drugs as a teen — said, “Some say kids will be kids and that may well be true. Kids may get into trouble – I know a thing or two about that.”
He continued, “Our kids are being targeted. The harmful effects of social media are made by design.”
As part of his work with the Archewell Foundation, Harry and his wife, Meghan Markle, are working with bereaved parents on their new initiative, The Parents Networks, designed to “change the very system that stole their child.”
To make his point, Harry stood in front of a screen filled with images of children on lock screen images — all of whom had lost their lives to social media.
“My lock screen is a picture of my kids,” he revealed, referring to Prince Archie, 5, and Princess Lilibet, 3.
“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.”
He then blasted, “We were promised a human experience, instead we’ve been a human experiment.”
“We have the fate of the future — their future — in our hands,” he said before the crowd gave him a standing ovation.
Markle previously backed her husband while speaking on CBS last month.
“Our kids are young — they’re 3 and 5. They’re amazing,” she said. “But all you want to do as parents is protect them.
“So as we can see what’s happening in the online space, we know that there’s a lot of work to be done there, and we’re just happy to be able to be a part of change for good.”
The renegade royal — who just celebrated his 40th birthday — previously admitted to drug use both as a teenager and an adult.
In his bombshell memoir, “Spare,” he talked about how he did cocaine as a teen and smoked marijuana while a pupil at his posh school Eton. Both drugs are illegal in the UK.
He had to apologize after his drug use was first made public when he was a kid, and it was reported that his father, King Charles, made him visit a rehab center. However, Harry later wrote in his book that the visit came well before the drug exposé.
Following his confession, lawyers warned that his drug use could affect his US visa. However, on Monday, it was ruled that precisely the visa he is living and working under will remain private.
Harry joined a lineup that included actor Matt Damon, Jane Goodall and Chef José Andrés for the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) Annual Meeting, with the royal speaking on day two of the event.
He is set to make an appearance at the Lesotho charity and Travalyst later on Tuesday.
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