Prince Harry and Meghan Markle ask families to join fight against predatory social media policies

NEW YORK — NEW YORK (AP) — Prince Harry And Meghan Markle have urged parents to speak out against social media companies they say prey on children with exploitative algorithms, as the “explosive growth of unregulated artificial intelligence” heightens their concerns that the benefits of technology are inseparable from its dangers.

To highlight the point, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex cited a study by advocacy group ParentsTogether, which found that researchers posing as children were exposed to a harmful interaction for every five minutes they spent with an artificially intelligent chatbot.

“This was not content created by a third party. These were companies' own chatbots working to promote their own evil internal policies,” Prince Harry said at Spring Studios in Manhattan on Thursday night as he and Markle were named Humanitarians of the Year by the nonprofit Project Healthy Minds. “But here’s what gives us hope: These families are not facing this challenge alone.”

To build a movement of families fighting for online safety, the couple also announced Thursday that their foundation's Parent Network will be joining forces with ParentsTogether.

Their remarks came at the annual gala of Project Healthy Minds, a technology nonprofit targeting millennials and Gen Z that operates a free online marketplace aimed at providing patients with the mental health care they seek.

The couple has made youth mental health a cornerstone their philanthropic activities since the launch of the Archewell Foundation in 2020 following step away from working as members of the royal family. Through its network for families harmed online and its support of youth organizations shaping responsible technology, the nonprofit works to make digital spaces safer.

Prince Harry has previously stressed the need to hold social media influencers to account. Last year he warned that young people were worried “epidemic” of anxiety, depression and social isolation due to negative experiences on the Internet.

According to numerous studies, there are few barriers reduce children's exposure to age-inappropriate content, including pornography and violence on social media, where they also face cyberbullying and sexual harassment.

This issue can also be considered personal for the couple. Markle was spoke openly about her mental health problems due to what she describes as intense pressure from the royal family and tabloid attacks. Harry's personal life has been the subject of numerous tabloid reports, including targeted hacking and phone surveillance.

Prince Harry launched his awareness campaign at a reception Wednesday night hosted by men's health nonprofit Movember. In a conversation with TV journalist Brooke Baldwin, he stressed that men should not feel isolated because he constantly hears the same problems when he talks to them.

“The biggest obstacle is the belief that no one will understand,” he said in published comments. on his blog. “Loneliness convinces you that you are the only one, which is rarely true.”

According to Project Healthy Minds CEO Phil Shermer, “culture makers” such as Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are important voices in the mental health debate as they inspire their huge audiences to seek help.

But Shermer stressed that “moments of inspiration are fleeting” and it's important for celebrities to take the extra step and partner with trusted organizations that can actually provide medical care.

He pointed to NBC anchor Carson Daly, the gala's host, as an example. Daly spoke about his anxiety on air after reading NBA champion Kevin Love's 2018 essay about having a panic attack in a game.

Daly, a board member of Project Healthy Minds, said mental health is now the most common topic that comes up when fans learn about it publicly.

“I thought, ‘I want to put all my eggs in this basket,’ because I see the power, even when I tell my story, it opens the door to a lot of other people telling their story,” Daly told The Associated Press. “And I think this process is how destigmatization works.”

The money raised Thursday night will help the nonprofit create new filters that will determine care options from their insurance companies and preferences for in-person or telehealth options, Shermer said. He compared these features to those on travel planning sites such as Expedia, which allow users to select times, prices and airlines for flight options.

Shermer said having a recognizable host in Daly also makes it “cool to talk about your emotions.”

“It’s not just a lack of stigma,” Shermer said. “It’s also having a sense of pride that vulnerability, honesty and openness are actually your greatest superpower.”

Thursday night's other honoree was Indianapolis Colts co-owner and chief brand officer Kalen Jackson. An NFL executive who talks openly about battling anxiety continued strong support of the mental health team following the death of her father and beloved former owner Jim Irsay.

The Healthy Minds Project awarded Jackson its inaugural Sports Visionary of the Year Award, presented by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. Jackson leads his family's “Kicking The Stigma” initiative, which raises awareness of mental disorders and tries to expand access to care in Indiana and the country.

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