Barack Obama tells Prince Harry 'irresponsible' social media use risks fragmenting our society

Former US President Barack Obama said that social media should allow "a diversity of views," not lead to "a Balkanisation of our society" in a wide-ranging, one-off interview with Prince Harry.

The prince was guest editor for Radio 4's Today programme on Wednesday morning.
Obama continued: "One of the dangers of the internet is that people can have entirely different realities. They can be cocooned in information that reinforces their current biases.

"The question has to do with how do we harness this technology in a way that allows a multiplicity of voices, allows a diversity of views, but doesn't lead to a Balkanisation of society and allows ways of finding common ground."

Despite the warning, Obama also credited social media platforms with his electoral success. "It was that grassroots army that really fuelled my campaign - in part brought together by the new technologies of the time of social media," he said.

Prince Harry went on to call Obama the first social media president.

Current US President Donald Trump was not directly mentioned during the interview.

Barack Obama also said that he doesn't have a New Years resolution as he doesn't believe in them: "People typically tend to break them. I believe in making sure that each day you try to do a little better than you did before," Obama said.

Kensington Palace said the interview was recorded during the Invictus Games in Toronto in September.

Harry, who was recently at the inaugural summit of the Obama Foundation in Chicago, has forged a strong bond with the Obamas, through his work with servicemen and his trips to America.

At this year's Invictus Games, Obama reportedly quizzed Harry on his romance with Meghan Markle as they watched the wheelchair basketball.

Mr Obama was among those to congratulate Harry and Meghan on their engagement, writing on Twitter: "Michelle and I are delighted to congratulate Prince Harry and Meghan Markle on their engagement.

"We wish you a lifetime of joy and happiness together."