Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s Archewell Foundation has issued a report that shows how young people are craving authentic leaders in the digital age.
The Archewell Foundation is a non-profit organisation set up by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, with a mission to “show up, do good.”
The Foundation does Insight Sessions, which have entered their third year, with over 100 young people taking part, aged 10 to 25.
The latest report revealed what the Foundation believes to be a “troubling vacuum”.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's charity has revealed young people want "authentic" leaders
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It read: “Young people initially named tech giants and high-profile figures—reactions that were largely negative.
“But when asked to identify leaders of their own generation, many struggled.
“Across every geography, young people distinguished between influencers and true leaders. Influencers, they explained, are ‘performative,’ ‘inauthentic,’ and ‘profit-motivated.’”
The report also suggested that while technology can be helpful to young people, they also struggle with the “overwhelming” nature of it.
The document continues: “Three out of four young people told us technology plays a positive role in their lives.
“‘Growing up in the digital age has its advantages,’ explained a Canadian participant. ‘Whether it’s socialising with friends, academics or work, [technology] has made my life more efficient in so many ways.’
“Yet when asked to describe that same digital experience, they reached for words like ‘overwhelming,’ ‘confusing,’ and ‘overstimulating.’
“One American young person captured it perfectly: ‘There’s so much stuff that’s being pushed on you that you don’t know what’s true and what’s not… we live in a landscape where we have to second guess everything constantly.’”
The Archewell Foundation was set up in 2020
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This year’s report was taken from 106 young people from Australia, Canada, Panama, the UK, and America.
The report continued to reveal the participants' thoughts on AI and social media.
It revealed: “AI has become non-negotiable in young people’s lives.
“Nearly half identified personalised learning as AI’s most positive use, praising its ability to act as a free, accessible tutor.
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“But overdependence emerged as their top concern. Older participants expressed relief they developed critical thinking skills before AI arrived, worrying younger generations won’t have that foundation.”
While “young people describe social media with both ‘connection’ and ‘toxic’ in the same breath. They’re trying to disconnect—and failing. ‘I honestly think life would be a lot simpler without specific social media,’ explained a Canadian participant.”
The report concluded by saying: “At the end of each session, participants wrote letters to tech leaders.
The Archewell Foundation's report has claimed young people need more help with digital issues
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“Their demands were clear: prioritise user safety over profit, design for inclusivity, implement strong regulations, empower users with control and education, and most importantly—listen to young people and act on their insights.
“As one Panamanian participant concluded: ‘Young people trust you to create safer environments online, and we are committed to using these tools in a healthy way.’
“The solutions are within reach, especially when we recognise that young people aren’t the problem to be solved, they’re essential partners in building the digital world we all deserve.”