Catherine, Princess of Wales, voiced her concerns about the impacts of digitalization on children in a personal essay published on a Friday. Her essay emphasized the need to shield children from the pervasive presence of screens in their lives.

During a recent official visit to Reggio Emilia, Italy, Catherine reflected on the importance of establishing authentic connections. She urged society to help children build these connections rather than relying heavily on digital devices. Highlighting the necessity of human interaction in today’s tech-centric world, she wrote, “The need for genuine human connection has never been greater in an increasingly digitalized world where so much of life is mediated through screens.”

Catherine stressed that activities like spending time outdoors or engaging in creative pursuits cultivate essential skills such as awareness and empathy. “By spending time in nature or being creative, we can nurture the very skills and emotions that cannot be digitized: awareness, empathy, humility, and above all, love,” she added.

This essay was shared on the website of the Royal Foundation Center for Early Childhood, a charity supported by the princess. The timing of her essay coincides with Britain’s recent announcement to ban social media use for children under 16. While the royal family typically refrains from political commentary, this essay’s publication shortly after a significant policy change appears noteworthy.