Former US President Barack Obama told Britain's Prince Harry
he was concerned social media was “corroding civil discourse”, in what
he said was his first interview since leaving the White House, aired on
Wednesday.
“One of the dangers of the internet is that
people can have entirely different realities,” he told the prince, who
was guest editing BBC Radio 4's Today programme.
“They
can be cocooned in information that reinforces their current biases.
Things aren't as simple as they've been portrayed in whatever chat room
you've been in,” he added.
“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.”
The
interview was recorded in Toronto, Canada, in September on the
sidelines of the Invictus Games, the athletic tournament created by
Harry for wounded former soldiers.
Despite admitting
concern over the future of the US, Obama, who did not mention his
successor Donald Trump by name, said he felt a sense of “serenity” on
leaving the White House.
“There was a sense that we had run a good race,” he added.
On his new routine, Obama told the prince: “I wake up later, it's wonderful to be able to control your day.”
The
prince opened the discussion by saying: “This is the first interview
you've said 'yes' to doing since you handed over the reins”, to which
Obama replied: “that's true”.
Harry is due to marry his US actress girlfriend Megan Markle on May 19 at St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle near London.
According
to British press reports, civil servants are concerned that a wedding
invite from the couple to Obama could cause a further rift between
Britain and Trump following a series of high-profile spats.
