Prince Harry Fights 'Hate And Division' On Social Media; Urges Firms To 'Demand Change'

In an attempt to fight "hate and division" on social media, Prince Harry has urged organizations to reconsider their role in supporting online platforms that have created conditions of hate.

In an essay for Fast Company, Prince Harry said, "The digital landscape is unwell and companies like yours have the chance to reconsider your role in funding and supporting online platforms that have contributed to, stoked, and created the conditions for a crisis of hate, a crisis of health, and a crisis of truth."

He added that since several people across the globe rely on social media to get information, "a better online experience" is important.

"One could argue that access to accurate information is more important now than any other time in modern history and yet, the very places that allow disinformation to spread seem to throw their arms up when asked to take responsibility and find solutions," he wrote.

The Duke of Sussex added that he and Meghan Markle have recently spoken with "leaders across the racial justice movement, experts in humane tech, and advocates of mental health. And the collective opinion is abundantly clear: We do not have the luxury of time."

"From conversations with experts in this space, we believe we have to remodel the architecture of our online community in a way defined more by compassion than hate; by truth instead of misinformation; by equity and inclusiveness instead of injustice and fearmongering; by free, rather than weaponised, speech," he wrote.

"This remodeling must include industry leaders from all areas drawing a line in the sand against unacceptable online practices as well as being active participants in the process of establishing new standards for our online world. Companies that purchase online ads must also recognise that our digital world has an impact on the physical world—on our collective health, on our democracies, on the ways we think and interact with each other, on how we process and trust information," he added.

Prince Harry also urged organizations to move beyond statements denying "hate and racism, white nationalism and anti-Semitism, dangerous misinformation, and a well-established online culture that promotes violence and bigotry."