By Alasdair Pal SYDNEY, April 16 (Reuters) - Britain's Prince Harry on Thursday praised Australia's "epic" leadership on curbing harmful social media use for teens, as his wife Meghan, Duchess of
Prince Harry Applauds Australia’s Social Media Leadership as Meghan Discusses Online Abuse
Prince Harry and Meghan’s Visit to Australia: Social Media, Online Abuse, and Public Reception
By Alasdair Pal
Australia’s Social Media Ban for Teens
SYDNEY, April 16 (Reuters) - Britain's Prince Harry on Thursday praised Australia's "epic" leadership on curbing harmful social media use for teens, as his wife Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, spoke of a decade of online abuse.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are on a four-day trip to Australia, with engagements covering sport, mental health and veterans' affairs.
Legislation and Global Impact
Australia in December became the first country in the world to ban social media for children under 16, blocking them from platforms including TikTok, Alphabet's YouTube and Meta's Instagram and Facebook, in legislation being copied around the world.
Prince Harry’s Remarks
"Now we can sit here and debate the pros and cons of a ban – I'm not here to judge that. All I will say is from a responsibility and leadership standpoint – epic," Harry said in a discussion with young people organised by Australian mental health organisation Batyr in Melbourne on Thursday.
Meghan’s Experience with Online Abuse
Meghan told the same discussion she had been the target of relentless online bullying.
A Decade of Bullying
"For now, 10 years, every day for 10 years, I have been bullied and attacked. And I was the most trolled person in the entire world," she said.
The Sussexes’ Transition and Previous Visit
Stepping Down from Royal Duties
The couple stepped down as working members of the British royal family and moved to the U.S. in 2020, citing a desire to be financially independent and to escape what they characterised as media intrusion into their private lives.
2018 Visit to Australia
They last visited Australia in 2018 while still working royals, announcing Meghan's first pregnancy hours after arriving in Sydney.
Commercial Deals and Public Reaction
Mixed Reception in Australia
Harry and Meghan have received a mixed reception in Australia, where Britain's King Charles is the head of state, though a sizeable minority supports becoming a republic.
Funding and Public Response
The couple's travel is being privately funded, though local media reported some policing costs associated with the visit would be paid by Australian taxpayers, sparking a protest petition signed by more than 45,000 people.
Private Meetings and Special Projects
In contrast to their previous visit, the Sussexes are also undertaking what their office called "private meetings and special projects" while in Australia.
Harry’s Engagements
While Harry met military veterans on Wednesday, Meghan filmed an episode of cookery show MasterChef Australia, where she was a guest judge.
Meghan’s Wellness Retreat
She is also co-hosting a luxury wellness retreat in Sydney over the weekend. Tickets for the event, which includes yoga, manifestation and sound healing, start from A$2,699 ($1,912) per person.
(Reporting by Alasdair Pal in Sydney; Editing by Kate Mayberry)
