Princess Kate shares warning for parents, caregivers about digital devices
Princess Kate is speaking out and sharing a warning for parents and caregivers about the dangers of digital devices and social media for children.
In an essay titled "The Power of Human Connection in a Distracted World," published Thursday, the Princess of Wales wrote that children and families are living in "an epidemic of disconnection" with the widespread use of digital devices like smartphones, computers and tablets, which she called "sources of constant distraction."
"We're raising a generation that may be more 'connected' than any in history while simultaneously being more isolated, more lonely, and less equipped to form the warm, meaningful relationships that research tells us are the foundation of a healthy life," Kate wrote.
She stressed the negative impact of being constantly online as particularly harmful for children.
"When we check our phones during conversations, scroll through social media during family dinners, or respond to e-mails while playing with our children, we're not just being distracted, we are withdrawing the basic form of love that human connection requires," the mom of three wrote.
She added that to build stronger connections, combat loneliness, and support children's health, parents and caregivers should nurture kids' social and emotional skills.
Kate has long been passionate about supporting young children and their development and wrote the essay in partnership with Professor Robert Waldinger -- a psychiatrist and the director of the Harvard Study on Adult Development -- for The Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood, which she founded in 2021.
Kate's husband Prince William previously revealed that his and Kate's three children -- Prince George, 12, Princess Charlotte, 10, and Prince Louis, 7 -- do not have smartphones, and said the family emphasizes spending quality time and eating dinners together.
"We sit and chat, it's really important," the Prince of Wales told actor Eugene Levy in an episode of the Apple TV+ series "The Reluctant Traveler." "None of our children have any phones, which we're very strict about."
