Prince Harry issues chilling warning that smartphones are 'stealing children's childhood'

Prince Harry expressed his worries about the influence of smartphones on today's youth during a discussion with Jonathan Haidt, author of The Anxious Generation and social psychologist, to commemorate World Mental Health Day on October 10.

In a video shared with Fortune Well, the 40 year old Duke of Sussex initiated their conversation by asserting that "in many cases, the smartphone is stealing young people's childhood," drawing attention to the increasing reliance children have on these handheld devices.

Despite appearing as a bold statement, Haidt concurred with the Duke's evaluation and proceeded to underscore how numerous individuals born post-1995 in English-speaking nations started experiencing puberty with heightened levels of anxiety, depression, self-harm, and suicidal thoughts, all directly linked to their interactions with smartphones , as reported by PEOPLE.

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Reinforcing the necessity for accountability regarding this issue, Harry challenged the widespread misbelief that "social media companies point the finger at parents" for the escalating mental health crisis, quoting companies that state: " 'Well, you know, this is down to you. This is down to your parenting.'"

Haidt challenged the idea that some parents might be navigating the digital age with their kids better than others, arguing: "If there were some parents who were getting this wrong and most parents were getting it right, then I'd be very receptive to that argument," he said. "But once kids get a phone and social media, the rest of family life turns into a fight over screen time. And this is happening everywhere."

"The tech companies put us in a bind, and then they're trying to blame us for what they did," Haidt expressed his frustration.

While acknowledging the conveniences and safety net a smartphone could provide, like allowing children to reach out to their parents in emergencies, Prince Harry emphasized that many parents appreciate the security of knowing their child had a phone. However, Harry wasn't blind to the other side of the coin, suggesting that platforms such as Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat are seen by many youngsters as vital lines of communication to their peers.

Yet, Haidt debunked this notion, calling it a "myth" and noting, "The research, I think, is very clear: When kids have a best friend or especially a small group [of friends], they generally do well," Haidt said. "When kids don't have a close friend or close group, they're much less likely to do well. When you have 300 connections, you don't have time for anyone."

Addressing alternatives, Haidt advised, "Give them a phone. Just don't give them a supercomputer connected to everyone in the world."

Prince Harry, a father himself to Archie, 5, and Lilibet, 3, also highlighted the importance of real connections over virtual ones, referring to the common perspective that social media serves as a lifeline for young people to interact with one another, a belief Haidt had earlier refuted based on research findings about friendships.

"This year, 2024, is the turning point. Terrible things have happened to our kids. We see that now... I don't want to blame any parent because we didn't know this 10 years ago," Haidt concluded. The conversation came just one month after Harry highlighted the dangers of social media and children consuming online content for the Clinton Foundation.

Appearing on CBS Sunday Morning to discuss the efforts of the Archewell foundation in highlighting the dangers posed by social media, Duchess Meghan also echoed her husband's concerns. She said: "Our kids are young - they're 3 and 5. They're amazing. 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."

Harry added, "At this point, we've got to the stage where almost every parent needs to be a first responder. And 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."