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Prince Harry takes aim at Fortnite, calls social media 'more addictive than alcohol and drugs'

2:04
Prince Harry slams popular game Fortnite
Rex via Shutterstock
ByKatie Kindelan
April 05, 2019, 1:48 PM

Prince Harry took aim at social media and, more specifically, the popular game Fortnite, describing them both as addictive.

“That game shouldn’t be allowed,” Harry, 34, said during a visit to a London YMCA on Wednesday, according to the BBC. “Where is the benefit of having it in your household?

Fortnite allows players to compete against each other on various platforms including Playstation, Xbox and even a cellphone.

In December, Epic Games, which owns the game, said 200 million unique users have played Fortnite since its launch.

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“It’s created to addict, an addiction to keep you in front of a computer for as long as possible,” Prince Harry said of the game. “It’s so irresponsible. It's like waiting for the damage to be done and kids turning up on your doorsteps and families being broken down."

Prince Harry visits YMCA South Ealing in west London to learn more about their work on mental health and see how they are providing support to young people in the area, April 3, 2019.
Rex via Shutterstock

Harry visited the YMCA in an event sponsored by Heads Together, the mental health initiative spearheaded by Harry, Duchess Meghan, Prince William and Duchess Kate.

Britain's Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex listens to the Youth Ambassadors Mental Health Champions during a visit to YMCA South Ealing in west London on April 3, 2019.
Adrian Dennis/AFP/Getty Images

The soon-to-be-dad -- his wife, Meghan, is expected to give birth this month to their first child – also spoke out about social media, calling it “more addictive than alcohol and drugs.”

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Harry’s comments about social media came just days after he and Meghan launched their own Instagram account, @sussexroyal, that has quickly amassed nearly 4 million followers.

“Let’s keep reminding each other that it’s OK to not be OK, and to listen to each other,” Harry captioned an Instagram post featuring photos of his visit to the YMCA. “After all, how we think determines how we act, how we feel, and how we treat ourselves and those around us.”

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