Prince Harry and Meghan Markle unveiled a poignant memorial in New York City that draws attention to the harmful impact of social media on young people.
With their charitable organization, Archewell, Harry, 40, and Meghan, 43, revealed the installation, titled “Lost Screen Memorial” on Wednesday, March 23.
The memorial comprises 50 large, illuminated smartphone lock screens, which each have an image of a child who lost their life due to the harmful effects of social media.
The images of the children were shared by their parents, who were present at the unveiling.
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The parents are members of The Archewell Foundation’s Parents’ Network and allowed the images to be used to honor their children and also highlight the “urgent need for safer online spaces,” according to a press release issued to Us Weekly. Meghan shared a video from the event on Thursday afternoon.
The private installation will be open for 24 hours, the press release said. Meanwhile, a virtual version of the memorial shares the stories of each child, with some parents recording personal voice notes for the public to listen to, the press release added.
“These children were not sick. Their deaths were not inevitable—they were exposed to, and in many cases were pushed harmful content online, the kind any child could encounter,” Harry said in a statement issued to Us.
“No child should be exploited, groomed, or preyed upon in digital spaces. To the platforms, they may be seen as statistics. To their families, they were cherished and irreplaceable,” he added.
“While social media companies claim to be taking action, most still withhold critical data from grieving parents—data that could provide answers and accountability. This is a growing crisis. Social media is quietly taking our children, and those with the power to make change are failing to act,” the statement concluded.
Archewell launched The Parents’ Network in August 2024 as a resource to caregivers in the U.K., the U.S., and Canada.
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As for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, the couple has spoken openly about the dangers of social media and opened up about their own experiences. Speaking on the “Teenage Therapy” podcast in 2020, Meghan said she was the “most trolled person in the entire world” in 2019, adding that her situation was “almost unsurvivable.”
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“This memorial is a collective act of remembrance, and a call to action. Each photo represents not just a child lost, but a family forever changed,” Archewell’s executive directors James Holt and Shauna Nep said in a joint statement.
“These parents are sharing the most painful parts of their lives so that no other family must experience the same heartbreak,” the statement added. “We hope this memorial inspires all of us — tech leaders, policymakers, and community members alike — to listen to their stories, to learn from them, and most importantly, to act. Online spaces should be safe by design, not an afterthought.”
