> At a Glance
> – Prince Harry and Meghan Markle made an unannounced virtual appearance at Oprah’s book-club session for The Amazing Generation
> – The couple spoke with authors Jonathan Haidt and Catherine Price about curbing kids’ smartphone use
> – Why it matters: Their backing spotlights rising parent anxiety over screen time and online harms
Harry and Meghan’s surprise cameo at the Jan. 7 event signals fresh momentum for the child-tech safety movement they’ve championed since launching Archewell’s Parents’ Network.
The Book Behind the Buzz
The Amazing Generation brands itself as a roadmap for raising kids “that isn’t hijacked by a smartphone.” Haidt and Price argue digital overconsumption is eroding real-world play and mental health.
Harry praised the authors for sparking a “parent-led movement,” noting their research has guided Archewell’s work with families who lost children to online dangers.
From Theory to Highchair
Meghan said she’s already testing the book’s tips with Prince Archie, 6, and Princess Lilibet, 4:
- Swapping emoji laughs for real belly laughs
- Scheduling screen-free play sessions
- Modeling offline hobbies themselves
She emphasized that “the more we encourage our children to do this, we mimic those same behaviors.”
A Larger Campaign
The Sussexes’ advocacy now includes:
- The Lost Screen Memorial-50 phones displayed in NYC last April, each lock screen honoring a child lost to social-media harm
- Monthly parent support circles run through The Parents’ Network
- Public calls for platforms to build safer defaults
Lori Schott, a network member, told News Of Los Angeles the initiative gave her husband “his voice as an advocate” after their daughter’s death.
Key Takeaways
- Harry and Meghan see tech boundaries as a universal parenting issue, not a royal talking point
- Their nonprofit channels academic research into peer support and policy pressure
- The couple views parents as “first responders” in the digital era
With another high-profile boost, the push to reclaim childhood from screens moves further into the mainstream.
