Prince Harry is a thorn in the side of social media in its current form. His ambitious plan is to reform the digital world.
New sign of life from Prince Harry (35) from the USA. The Queen's grandson has written an essay for the US business magazine "Fast Company". In it, he buttons social networks such as Facebook, Twitter and Co. – without naming their names specifically. "Social media divide us. Together we can redesign it," said Harry.
"We have the opportunity to improve and redesign the digital world"
The son of the British heir to the throne Prince Charles (71) also writes that he and his wife Meghan (39) have spent the last few weeks contacting bosses and marketing managers of well-known companies and market leaders. Your message: The digital world is "unhealthy". The appeal of the former senior royals: companies should think about the form in which they invest in them or advertise there.
The Duke of Sussex also points out the supposed dangers. Because while many people around the world enjoy social media, it would seem that it is a free medium. "The price is high," said Harry. With each click, additional information, personal data and habits would be collected and exchanged for advertising space and money. "While we are normally consumers who buy a product, we are the product in this constantly changing digital world," says the 35-year-old.
He continues: "We have the opportunity to improve and redesign the digital world, to look at the past and use it for the future."
"Truth instead of misinformation"
According to Harry, the algorithms and recommendations that social media users are exposed to could "drive people into radicalism and extremism, a path they might not otherwise have followed".
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex would like the online community "to be defined more by compassion rather than hatred, truth rather than misinformation, justice and inclusiveness rather than injustice and fear, and free speech rather than violent speech".
"Tolerance and empathy and above all joy and kindness" should be prevalent. "We can – and must – encourage these platforms to be more responsible and compassionate. The world will feel it and we will all benefit from it," Harry concludes.