Prince William has revealed he fears for the future of Prince George and Princess Charlotte as instances of online bullying and trolling continue to rise.
The Duke of Cambridge uncovered his worries at the 2016 Founders Forum in London, a conference event for the world’s leading digital and technological minds.
The father of two stressed how crucial it was in the digital realm to consider how to protect children online now and in the future.
“As Catherine and I started our family a few years ago, I was alarmed about the increasing reports of online bullying that were making headlines around the world,” he said.
Prince William revealed he worries about the world his children will grow up in.
He continued: “From the girls developing eating disorders after being subjected to a campaign of abuse on social media, to the teenage boys who took their own lives following constant targeting – as a parent myself, I was appalled.”
“What we were seeing was that social media and messaging had transformed bullying from something that was not only the torment of the classroom and playground, but something that followed you home as well – to the one safe haven that children should have,” he said.
See William’s impassioned plea at the Founders Forum. Post continues.
And while he took the time to praise the efforts of many in combatting this online threat, the Duke of Cambridge pointed to Apple as a company who has not yet come to the party in terms of joining his anti-bullying task force.
He added: “We have a lot of work ahead of us, but by this time next year we expect to have a plan in place to achieve fundamental improvements in online safety for bullied children.”
“To school-age children today, there is no difference between their online and offline lives. Bullying is bullying, wherever it happens.”
William, pictured here at the Patron’s Lunch, has put together a task force to combat online bullying and help keep kids safe on the internet.
But the Duke does believe there is a lot of good technology can bring to our lives.
“I must admit, like most people my age, I’d struggle without my smart phone – for news, sports, music and the odd bit of gaming. And technology is a big part of my working life, too,” he confessed.
“As an air ambulance pilot, I love the fact that the helicopter I fly is fitted out with some of the life-saving medical equipment; and I consider social media to be central to how the Royal Family communicates in the 21st century.”
