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Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, have launched an initiative to support families who've lost a child through social media use. It's called
Announced on Meghan's 43rd birthday, the network gives bereaved parents a space to speak openly about their loss, and discuss ways of combatting cyberbullying, sexual exploitation, depression and more to create a better online space. It was started through the couple's Archewell Foundation after they spent time with families impacted by online harm and subsequently helped amplify their voices at a summit on "Mental Wellness During the Digital Age" in October last year.
Speaking to CBS Sunday Morning's Jane Pauley, Prince Harry explained that no one is immune from online bullying:
"That's one of the scariest things that we've learnt over the course of the last 16,17 years that social media's been around, and more so recently, is the fact that it could happen to absolutely anybody....We always talk about in the olden days, if your kids were under your roof, you knew what they were up to. At least they were safe, right? And now, they could be in the next-door room on a tablet or on a phone and can be going down these rabbit holes. And before you know it, within 24 hours, they could be taking their life."
He added that the situation is so dire, "every parent needs to be a first responder" which is an unfair burden given that "even the best first responders in the world wouldn't be able to tell the signs of possible suicide. That is the terrifying piece of this."
During the interview, Meghan was asked about her own connection to online bullying and suicidal thoughts (which she first shared with Oprah Winfrey in 2021). She said that she hopes by speaking out she might help others:
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"When you've been through any level of pain or trauma, I believe part of our healing journey, certainly part of mine, is being able to be really open about it. I really scraped the surface on my experience, but I do think that I would never want someone else to feel that way. And I would never want someone else to be making those sort of plans and I would never want someone else to not be believed."
She continued, "So, if me voicing what I have overcome will save someone, or encourage someone in their life to really genuinely check in on them and not assume that the appearance is good, so everything's okay, then that's worth it. I'll take a hit for that."
The network is currently available to parents in the US, Canada and UK. For parents in other countries, the Archewell Foundation has shared a set of resources including Parent Guides to various social media sites including Snapchat and TikTok, as well as mental health support.
One TPN parent who lost her teenage son to a fentanyl overdose after he purchased it online says she hopes the network will help others: "This is just a labour of love in honour of my son and all the other children who have lost their lives to fentanyl, for the mother who cannot get out of bed, for the dad that won't leave his house. I stand here for them too. I hope that one day when it's my turn to go home, I will see my son and he'll tell me 'good job, mum.'"
On their website, the Archewell Foundation says, "As it exists currently, platforms and online spaces put our children at risk. We understand that the desire for connection is rooted in our collective humanity. That is why these platforms should be a destination where young people can communicate, thrive and learn. Instead, online spaces are designed to keep our children scrolling and waiting for the next notification, like or comment. Without safety standards in place, platforms are serving inappropriate and dangerous content, leaving the door wide open for abuse, cyberbullying and the spread of harmful material."
Part of Harry & Meghan's initiative is to get people talking about the issue online using the hashtag #NoChildLostToSocialMedia.
(Feature Image Credit: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle phoeo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for W+P)
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