Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have quietly withdrawn from a significant initiative they launched, the Archewell Foundation Parents Network in summer 2024. The network aimed to support parents who had experienced the loss of a child due to online harm and raise awareness about social media dangers.
Recently, the management of the Parents Network has been transferred from Archewell to ParentsTogether, an independent organization providing resources to parents concerned about online threats to children. Archewell has granted ParentsTogether full operational control of the Parents Network and provided financial support for its initial year of operations.
In a previous announcement in October, Harry and Meghan revealed a partnership with ParentsTogether during an event in New York commemorating World Mental Health Day. Harry emphasized the importance of expanding the parents’ movement to drive real change and expressed pride in uniting The Parents Network with ParentsTogether.
An insider from Archewell mentioned that transitioning initiatives to sustainable organizations is a standard practice for them, citing previous examples like Invictus and Travalyst. The source highlighted ParentsTogether’s established relationships with families and expertise, making them a fitting permanent home for The Parents Network.
Although stepping back from the Parents Network, Harry and Meghan remain passionate about addressing the challenges posed by social media for children. They recently expressed their pride in contributing to efforts focusing on the impacts and risks of social media on young individuals.
In a conversation with authors Jonathan Haidt and Catherine Price, known for their work on youth and digital spaces, the couple commended the authors’ research and highlighted the importance of solutions to ensure children’s safety online. They also shared their efforts to implement the authors’ suggestions in their own parenting with their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.
Harry and Meghan’s commitment to advocating for a safer online environment for children remains steadfast, despite their reduced involvement in the Parents Network initiative.