Barack Obama picks Prince William as his favourite

Barack Obama picks Prince William as his favourite

Former US president Barack Obama has warned against using social media in a divisive way during an interview with Prince Harry.

Mr Obama, 56, did not mention his successor in the White House by name, but many will see the comments as a thinly veiled rebuke aimed at Donald Trump.

He was being questioned by Prince Harry, 33, as part of the royal's guest editorship of BBC Radio 4's flagship Today programme.

During the interview, Mr Obama said there was a danger of people becoming stuck in their biases due to social media use.

The ex-president said: 'The question, I think, really 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 our society, but rather continues to promote ways of finding common ground?

'And, I'm not sure government can legislate that, but what I do believe is that all of us in leadership have to find ways in which we can recreate a common space on the internet.

'One of the dangers of the internet is that people can have entirely different realities. They can be just cocooned in information that reinforces their current biases.'

President Trump has drawn widespread criticism for the way he uses Twitter to attack opponents, and condemn what he brands 'fake news'.

During the same interview, Obama said he prefers Prince William over his brother while he was getting grilled by the prince.   

Prince Harry's interview with Obama was played just after 8.30am.

At the end of the 40-minute chat, the fifth in line to the throne fired questions at the 56-year-old and asked him who he preferred, 'William or Harry'.

He joked: 'William, right now.'

Harry also asked him which popular US television show he preferred out of legal drama Suits - the programme which his fiancee Meghan Markle made her name - or the Good Wife.

And to his delight he answered: 'Suits, obviously' with Harry replying: 'Great, great, great answer.'

In his guest editing slot, Harry also focused on climate change, the military and mental health.

During the 'lightning round' of questions, The former president declined to say whether he wears boxers or briefs.

But he was willing to say he prefers Aretha Franklin to Tina Turner - 'Aretha is the best,' he said of the Queen of Soul - and favors retired basketball star Michael Jordan over current star LeBron James.

He also said he prefers 'The Queen' to the band Queen to which Harry said: 'Another great answer.'  

Obama also told the prince he felt serene on the day he left the White House despite feeling important work remained unfinished. 

He said it was 'hugely liberating' to be able to set his own agenda in the morning and to have the time to talk with his wife, Michelle, now that he is no longer president.

Both men said the interview, recorded in Canada in September, was Obama's first since leaving the presidency in January.

Obama, speaking about his eight years in the Oval Office, said: 'I miss the work itself because it was fascinating.'

He did not mention his successor, President Donald Trump, but did say people in government should be careful in their use of social media.

Obama also revealed he is 'obsessed' with helping to train the next generation of leaders and said the world is in many ways healthier and wealthier than it has ever been. 

At the end of the show, Harry would not say whether Obama will be invited to his May wedding to American actress Meghan Markle, saying the guest list hadn't been drawn up yet.

It comes after Trump's Christmas tweet received a million fewer 'likes' than Obama's.  

President Trump tweeted a video wishing viewers a 'MERRY CHISTMAS!!!' on Monday morning, but a photo that his predecessor tweeted a couple hours later was far more popular.

On Tuesday morning, Trump's tweet had received more than 177,000 likes and more than 45,000 retweets.

Obama's message - a picture of him with his wife and two daughters, standing in front of five adorable children - with the caption, 'We wish you joy and peace this holiday season,' got more than 1.2 million likes and more than 229,000 retweets.