• by Steven Rosenbaum , Featured Contributor, August 5, 2024

There may be no more powerful group of activists than the parents who lost children due to the harms of social media.

Now Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have emerged as a convener of parents, bringing them to support each other and form a voice fighting for social media change. Their group is called simply The Parents' Network.

As the newly launched site explains, “Parents in our community share a range of experiences. Many have lost a child and are working together to navigate grief and everything that comes with it. Others have children who have experienced near-fatal harm, or are actively struggling with present-day issues of cyberbullying, depression and anxiety, sexual exploitation, eating disorders, and a range of other traumas related to social media use.”

The website launched with a rare interview with Jane Pauley on “CBS Sunday Morning.”

The voice of the site is the voice of parents: “All of us are seeking safe, supportive environments where we can talk openly about experiences often kept under lock and key, and forge meaningful relationships with others who understand.”

The group is more than a support group for grieving parents; it's “seeking ways to channel pain into purpose.”

Said Harry: “One of the scariest things we’ve learned over the last 15 to 17 years that social media’s been around, and more so recently, is the fact that it could happen to absolutely anybody. At this point, we’ve gotten to the stage that every parent needs to be a first responder."

And Meghan sharpened the point: “Look at it through the lens, what if it was my daughter, what if it was my son, and one day -- right under my roof -- our entire lives changed because of something that was out of our control.’

The mission of the Parents' Network doesn’t pull any punches. “As it exists currently, social media platforms put our children at risk. We understand that the desire for connection is rooted in our collective humanity. Today -- online spaces are designed to keep our children scrolling and waiting on the next notification, like or comment, leaving the door wide open for abuse and cyberbullying and the spread of harmful content."

Harry and Meghan hope the Parents' Network will grow, embracing both the needs of parents who’ve suffered terrible loss, and parents seeking answers and holding platforms responsible.

From the website: “We, The Parents’ Network, Say 'No More.' 'No More' blaming families. 'No More' allowing social media companies to prioritize profit over our children’s safety. 'No More' watching our youth suffer. The time for change is now. And it begins with us.”