Prince Harry and Prince William might not see eye to eye on everything, but when it comes to parenting in the digital age — the royal brothers are completely in sync.
On October 29, the Duke of Sussex sat down with comedian Hasan Minhaj on his podcast Doesn’t Know to discuss the dangers of social media for children, a topic he and Meghan Markle have long championed through their Parents’ Network initiative.
When asked what he would do when his kids — Prince Archie, 6, and Princess Lilibet, 4 — eventually ask for their own phones, Harry gave a firm and thoughtful response.
“We talk about it a lot. Because of what we know now, we will be way more cautious and hesitant of allowing our kids to have access to social media,” he shared.
“So many parents don’t have that awareness.”
“Kids Will Be Kids,” Says Prince Harry
Harry, 41, acknowledged that giving children phones is a balancing act between safety and exposure.
“Having a phone for your kid is a very important thing… but the moment that you give them the gateway to everything else — kids will be kids,” he said.
His statement mirrors comments made by his estranged brother Prince William, who recently spoke about the same issue during his appearance on Eugene Levy’s The Reluctant Traveler.
Prince William and Kate’s Strict No-Phone Rule
The Prince of Wales revealed that he and Princess Kate have a strict policy for their children — no smartphones allowed.
“None of our children have phones, which we’re very strict about,” William explained, referring to Prince George, 12, Princess Charlotte, 10, and Prince Louis, 7.
Instead of spending time online, the young Wales siblings prefer outdoor activities like trampoline jumping and netball, keeping them active and engaged offline.
Harry’s Take: Bring Back ‘Old-School Phones’
Prince Harry agreed with his brother’s cautious approach, pointing out that even when kids are physically safe at home, the digital world can expose them to harmful content and pressures.
“Gone are the days of having your kid under your roof knowing that they’re safe,” he said. “They could be in their room scrolling on social media and be in the deepest, darkest thoughts.”
To combat this, Harry suggested a practical alternative — giving children “dumbphones” instead of smartphones, allowing basic communication without unrestricted internet access.
“Once your brain is properly formed, once you are starting to learn who you are,” he said, “that’s when they should have access to smartphones.”
Despite their differences in recent years, this shared perspective on protecting their children from the harms of social media shows that both princes are committed to raising the next generation of royals — and citizens — with mindfulness in an increasingly connected world.
