The Duke of Sussex warned social media companies not to put anything in front of children that they would not put in front of their own, speaking at the European Parliament

The Duke of Sussex has urged social media companies to prioritise children’s safety online, telling them not to put anything in front of other people’s children that they would not put in front of their own.

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Prince Harry made the remarks while addressing the European Parliament in Brussels on Tuesday as part of a discussion on online safety for children.

“Don’t put anything in front of our children that you wouldn’t put in front of your own children,” he said.

He explained that he used the phrase because many technology executives do not allow their own children on social media, knowing the risks.

“So why would you create something that you know is going to harm someone else’s child?” he asked.

Speaking as a father, Harry said he was not there as an expert or politician but alongside parents who had lost children to online harms.

“All children should be able to go online and discover something wonderful. A friend. An interest that becomes a passion. A place where they feel understood,” he said.

“They deserve to feel safe wherever they are. In a classroom. On a playground. At any time, no matter where they are.”

He called for “safety by design” so that protective measures are built into platforms before content reaches a child’s device, arguing that action after the fact comes too late.

Harry also criticised privacy policies that can prevent bereaved parents from accessing their children’s phones for years after a suicide, saying this cannot be right.

The Duchess of Sussex accompanied him but did not deliver the keynote address.

The couple have long campaigned on the issue through their Archewell Foundation and its Parents’ Network, supporting families affected by online harms.

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Harry noted significant progress in the past year in parents’ efforts against major technology companies in the United States but said more must be done to ensure transparency and protection across borders.