The Princess of Wales, Catherine, has voiced deep concern over how smartphones and digital screens are eroding real human connections and disrupting family life.
In a thought-provoking essay titled “The Power of Human Connection in a Distracted World,” co-authored with Harvard Medical School’s Prof. Robert Waldinger, Catherine described the rise of an “epidemic of disconnection” caused by excessive device use.
“While digital devices promise to keep us connected, they often do the opposite,” she wrote. The princess explained that constant exposure to screens has become a major distraction, pulling attention away from loved ones and fragmenting focus. “We are physically present but mentally absent,” she emphasized, warning that this behavior undermines meaningful family interactions.
During her visit to the Home-Start Centre in Oxford — a charity that supports young families — Catherine engaged with children and parents, highlighting the importance of nurturing emotional bonds in early childhood. She playfully noted that “the messier it is, the better the fun” while joining the children’s activities.
Catherine’s essay underscores research showing that strong, warm family relationships have lifelong benefits for mental and physical well-being. However, she warned that rising loneliness and isolation are evidence of how modern life is pulling families apart.
“When we check our phones during conversations, scroll through social media at dinner, or reply to emails while playing with our children, we’re not just distracted — we’re withdrawing a basic form of love that connection requires,” she wrote.
The princess also noted that this is a particularly pressing issue for children growing up in a tech-dominated world. Prince William recently shared that their three children do not have smartphones, reflecting the royal couple’s approach to digital balance.
Catherine’s Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood, established in 2021, aims to raise awareness about the vital role of early development and the impact of strong relationships on lifelong health and happiness.
